I’m a single mum and my best friend won’t stop criticising my parenting skills

DEAR DEIDRE: I AM convinced my best pal won’t be happy with how I live my life until I’m her clone.

She’s only trying to be helpful, but it’s like she can’t trust me to do anything right

We have been friends since we were 12. We’re now 33.

I’m a single mum to four kids. My abusive ex left four years ago. I’m juggling solo parenting, a full-time job and two elderly parents – but she just says: “Get it together.”

She will walk into my house and criticise everything – from the way the sofa cushions are laid out, to how I’ve stacked the dishwasher.

Last week she told me, in front of our friends at the school gate, that my son had gone to school with a dirty jumper two days in a row.

How do I tell her that her “support” is more like a slap in the face?

DEIDRE SAYS:  This says far more about her than it does about you.

Perhaps she fears that other people think she’s failing and is pointing out the things she worries about.

Have a frank conversation with her. Explain how critical comments make you feel and you’d like them to stop.

I’m sending you my support pack Standing Up For Yourself to help.

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