Dear Panel,

My fiancée has a 14-year old son from a prior marriage. We tried living together for a month or two but the stress of coping with her son's demands was just too much. He seems to feel that he's losing his mother. He is making unreasonable demands on her that she stop seeing me and she wants to be firm with him but is unsure as to how she conveys her point that she will lead her own life. She fears losing his affection and wants to do this the right way.

What do you suggest? How can she "have us both"? Seems like it's not me, but it's anyone she's seeing because she says it has happened before. Your advice is much appreciated.

Thank you,

John