Is a friend interfering in your relationship?
As Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes announcer divorcing I can only hope (as I do for any parents who are splitting up) that they put their daughter first and recognise that children are emotional sponges that will pick up all their stress if they're not careful. Good luck if you're in this situation!
Loved chatting on Talk Sport radio with Paul and Andy yesterday afternoon about sporting stars and their relationships - it's hard enough to find a balance between your two needs. But throw in two intensive training schedules that athletes have, as well as worldwide travel, and it's almost bound to cause problems.
Sticking with relationships... are you in a relationship? Do you also have good friends? I've had quite a few e-mails recently about friends putting their nose into a couple’s business.
When it comes to you having a tiff with your partner, friends automatically feel they can stick their oar in. Because you might discuss your relationship with them at different times, they assume they have the right to do this.
The thing is it's one thing to discuss your ups and downs of your relationship - with a friend - but what really irks is when that friend gets critical of you or your partner. Even if they're critical of your partner that you're unhappy with at the moment!
TODAY’S TIP: So how do you begin to handle this situation? If it's a good friend you just have to be straightforward and say you really appreciate their support but criticising your partner isn't helping.
Most friends only need a simple reminder like that - because you and your partner having blowups doesn't mean you don't love each other!
If it's not a very close friend and really just a 'busy body' then I've got to ask why you shared so much with themanyway? Did you bring them into your confidence - but maybe regret that because they aren't very close to you?
Then this situation is probably more about you. So again it's about setting your boundaries with them - and saying you realise you started the conversation about you and your partner - but actually you don't want to continue it.
Sometimes sharing too much comes back to bite us on the 'proverbial' - but you can handle it!
Have a lovely weekend, I'll be tweeting a few tips over it, Pamx