My wife’s lazy 25-year-old son is taking us for a ride and I have had enough

DEAR DEIDRE: I’VE had enough of my wife’s lazy son, who is taking the mickey out of us.

He’s 25 but still lives at home and only works part-time, yet we clean up after him and wash his dishes.

I’m 52 and my wife is 53. We’ve been together for seven years and have a fantastic relationship, apart from this one issue.

Whenever I try to talk to her about her son, she gets defensive and we end up arguing.

She says he has mental health problems, so worries and won’t confront him.

I can’t cope with him for much longer but I don’t want to fall out with my wife.

DEIDRE SAYS: Being a step-parent is always very tricky to negotiate.

You need to talk to your wife and explain just how much this is getting you down.

She is understandably anxious about his mental health, but it is making you unhappy and resentful.

Discuss if there is any room for compromise.

He should be able to wash his own dishes.

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