You risk alienating your mother by opposing her views and choices, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith. If she’s at risk of exploitation, professionals can help
My mother spends her days serving a ‘holy man’. How can I make her see he is not a positive force?My 62-year-old mother has formed an attachment with a man 20 years her junior . It is not romantic. She spends around 12 hours a day at his house, cooking his meals and cleaning.
My mother met Luke at a prayer group and believes he is a very holy man; she seems to idolise him. Increasingly, she makes little attempt to see family. She expresses concerns about her finances and health, but refuses to open up about how much he pays her or how much she spends on his lifestyle. She refuses to ask for days off.Dad died seven years ago. It is as if Luke has replaced Dad. Mum seems constantly tired and irritable and no longer has time or energy for anyone else.
I’ll say what I know about your closing question – how to make her see that Luke is not a positive force. Extraordinary hypotheses require extraordinary evidence. Given how much time and identity your mother has put into this relationship, the idea that Luke is bad might seem like an extraordinary hypothesis.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Catholics ‘outraged’ at TV ad that swaps Holy Communion for crispsAn association of Catholic television viewers said the advert, shown on Italian TV channels and social media, offends the sensibility of millions of Catholics.
Read more »
Catholics ‘outraged’ at TV ad that swaps Holy Communion for crispsAn association of Catholic television viewers said the advert, shown on Italian TV channels and social media, offends the sensibility of millions of Catholics.
Read more »
‘Holy s***’: Aussie teen sensation’s hilarious reaction after stunning world champAthletics: Australian teenager Torrie Lewis shocked 100-metre world champion Sha'Carri Richardson to take out the 200 metres in her Diamond League debut in China.
Read more »
‘Holy cr**’: Aussie teen stuns world champA star has been born.
Read more »
Teenager finds ‘holy grail’ Lego octopus from 1997 spill off Cornwall coastBoy discovers octopus figurine that fell from cargo ship along with 5m other Lego pieces during storm
Read more »
'Holy grail' of flu vaccines: 'Enormous breakthrough' hopes after Australian discoveryThe yearly flu vaccine could become a thing of the past thanks to work by Australian researchers.
Read more »