THREE years ago, I found myself pregnant and married the man I thought was the father.
However, my son looks nothing like him, but bears a striking resemblance to a man I had a one-off date with a few weeks before.
I love my husband and we're very happy together – he's a wonderful father – but I'm worried he'll suspect our son isn't his.
Should I tell him before he guesses?
RB
FIONA SAYS: You panicked once, so please try not to panic again.
The man you married loves your son and you have nothing to gain by sharing your doubts with him now: you'd be risking the happiness of the whole family if you did.
You've got only a vague suspicion that your husband may not be the biological father, and your son's appearance will continue to change as he gets older.
It's quite possible for him to be your husband's son, yet not look a bit like him when he's only two.
If you feel the need to unburden yourself to someone, I suggest you contact Relate (relate.org.uk), who will treat what you have to say in complete confidence.
Unless the other man was of a completely different race to your husband, in which case it would become obvious.
If that's the case, then I'd definitely suggest you talk to Relate about the best way of breaking the news.
MY MOTHER DOESN'T APPROVE
MY boyfriend asked me to marry him and as I love him very much, I want to say yes, but my mum is being very difficult and says he isn't right for me.
She thinks that because he's builder and I'm a graduate with a high-powered job, we are somehow incompatible.
My dad has told her she's talking nonsense, and even the fact my boyfriend runs his own firm and is currently earning way more than me doesn't affect her thinking.
She also won't admit that he's always treated me way better than any of my previous (well-educated) boyfriends and he supports all my career decisions.
I don't want to hurt her, so what do I do?
How do I get her to see that he's right for me?
PT
FIONA SAYS: I'm sure your mum wants the best for you and, for some reason, in her mind this means a husband with a good education and a professional career.
As you've found, though, there is more to a successful relationship than similar educational backgrounds.
You have an ally in your dad, so enlist his help and explain to her all the reasons why you think he's right for you.
It may be that she feels, albeit subconsciously, that no partner is ever going to be good enough for you.
If she won't change her attitude to your boyfriend, then so be it.
You shouldn't give up on happiness with a man who you love and who clearly loves you because of a foolish prejudice on your mother's part.
She needs to accept that you have to make your own decisions about your life.
Ask her to be happy for you and then prepare for your wedding.
I'm sure she'll come around in the end.
I WAS ABUSED
AS a child, I was mentally and sexually abused by someone, but I have never had the courage to tell anyone.
No one would ever have believed this man had done what he did to me.
I am afraid to go to my doctor, but I know I need help and if I can't get this sorted out soon, it will ruin my life.
My husband is a good man, but I dare not confide in him as I'm sure he'd want to kill the person concerned and that would wreck everything we have together.
I've lived with this for nearly 20 years and I need help.
Anon.
FIONA SAYS: How you have lived with the pain of keeping this a secret for so long I don't know.
You've found the courage to put your feelings down on paper and write to me, so now it's just a small step more to tell someone who can help you.
Whilst I don't know who you are the victim of, in recent years we've heard just how many much-loved public figures have turned out to be abusers.
And whilst these celebrities have raised the profile of abuse, in most cases the abuser is a member of the immediate family.
Therefore, although you say no one will believe that this man abused you, you might well find you are indeed believed.
Your doctor is the obvious place to start and whilst he or she may not have the time or expertise to help you, they will certainly be able to refer you to someone locally who does.
Whether you feel able to talk to your doctor or not please also contact NAPAC (National Association of People Abused in Childhood – napac.org.uk) who will really understand all you're going through.
You have lived with this pain for far too long, but I am sure that you now have the strength to deal with it.
I GOT MY PERIOD AND AM CONFUSED
ABOUT four months ago, my periods started and although I knew a bit about what happens from friends, it was still a bit scary.
I am still confused about stuff to do with the way my body is changing and I suppose most girls would talk to their mum, but I don't have one.
I've grown up living with my dad since my mum left and, although he's great, I can't talk to him about things like this.
IP
FIONA SAYS: Your school will almost certainly be aware that your mother is not around, so if they have a school counsellor or if there is a female teacher you trust, you might like to start there.
Alternatively, you might have a female relative you could turn to.
There are a number of books available that could help -– Have You Started Yet? by Ruth Thomson is particularly helpful and What's Happening To Me by Susan Meredith, for example.
You could buy these online if you don't want to go to a book shop or library.
I'd also suggest that, if you do get a book of some kind, you leave it lying around.
Your father might not realise just how much you're growing up and, therefore, how much more information and advice you need now.
