I'm so glad the summer is over and my kids have gone back to school. Although I don't work, the holidays have been difficult and, at times, I've been at the end of my tether. I have three very active children and the youngest is six. My husband works very long hours, especially during the summer months, and sometimes he needs to work at the weekends too. He helps with the children when he can, but it's never for very long. I've tried to keep the children busy over the past few weeks, but I've been so exhausted that I've often resorted to screaming at them to behave. Although I've never hit them, I've come close to it a few times recently. I'm not usually a negative person, but I feel that I've become a bad mother and wonder if my children might be better off in care?

Let's get one thing straight; looking after a large family is stressful and exhausting. I'm not in the least bit surprised you've lost your temper on occasion - that doesn't make you a bad parent, it simply makes you human. Yes, you have thought about lashing out - but you haven't. You've also recognised that you're stressed and that you need help.To my mind, that makes you a good parent, and certainly not one who needs to consider care as an option for her children. Try to make more time available for things you enjoy doing. This might be a hobby, a sport, a club, or simply going for walks organised by groups.

It doesn't matter what you do, what's important is that you are able to focus on your needs and develop some new friendships that might provide additional support for you. When the next long holiday comes around, you will - hopefully - have more stamina and be better able to cope.

In future, before the holidays start, do some forward planning for trips out. Not only will it help you, but your children will also know what to expect and they won't pester you every day for an outing of some kind.

No one could afford to have a day out every day of the holidays, but having a few days of planned activity gives them something to look forward to. Perhaps you could ask the children to come up with ideas for things they want to do before the holidays start? Tell them you'll pick one from each list, so they don't expect to do everything.

Don't be afraid of just letting them play either - it's really important for kids to be able to play with toys and use their imaginations to build dens in the garden or create pirate ships from the sofa. It teaches them to be creative and to solve problems.

It also helps them to learn how to get along with one another. Even if they argue, don't interfere (unless they come to blows) because they're learning about co-operation.

Finally, please consider contacting Family Lives (familylives.org.uk). This national charity provides advice and support for parents on the phone, online or through local support groups.

It might also be particularly helpful during the school holidays if you can develop a network of other families or other parents at school, who could share the burden of child-minding too.

Readers in Scotland can contact Children1st (children1st.org.uk).

My boyfriend keeps talking about his ex-girlfriend and how wonderful she was.

I've told him that I am not interested and that it upsets me, but he keeps doing it.

I've also asked if he wants to go back to her, but he assured me that it's me he loves... so why does he need to talk about her all the time?

I've had boyfriends in the past and they didn't feel the need to talk constantly about their exes, so I know that this isn't normal.

How do I get through to him and make him stop?

His behaviour suggests to me that he's insecure and, for reasons unknown, wants you to see that someone else once loved him. However, what he's also got to understand is that he is hurting you in the process and, if he genuinely loves you, this must stop. He might realise just how hurtful it is if you start talking about old boyfriends. If that doesn't work, consider an ultimatum along the lines of, "Stop talking about her or go back to her". Stress that you love him and want to make this work, but that you're not prepared to let this continue to hurt you.