Your emotional, health and sexual problems solved, by Jane O’gorman and Dr Rosemary Leonard

Our agony aunt gets to the heart of your relationship problems

Before lockdown, I popped into my son’s new flat only to hear his boyfriend huff, “Your ‘rotten’ mother is here again.” I fled in tears. I thought they liked me visiting with gifts and food. I thought they operated an open-door policy. My husband and I contributed a huge amount of money for our boy, 27, to buy this, his first property. He couldn’t have afforded the stamp duty or furniture without our help. Now my son says he’s sorry but he wants the spare key back and I’m devastated. How dare they treat me like this? Your son and his partner are entitled to feel comfortable and relaxed in the privacy of their own home. Of course, it’s exciting that they have set up home together – and I’m sure you generously popped round with the very best of intentions – but you have to respect their space. Start thinking more in terms of workable boundaries and less personal exclusion. I’m in no doubt that your son is grateful for everything you’ve done, but he’s a grown man now. Apologise if you believe you’ve overstepped the mark and ask if you can start again. Perhaps you could keep the key in case of an emergency, but promise not to simply turn up without checking first?