Can’t stand living with my boyfriend’s mother

Dear Pastor,

This is the first time I am writing to you. I am having a problem. I am living with a man at his mother's house.

This woman and I are not getting along well. It is because we can't do better why we are living here. We are not living here for free; she used to rent out two rooms that are at the back. She gave the people notice, so we have been renting the rooms from her. We do not owe her any money because she is the type of woman who, when anyone owes her, she is quick to say they have to leave. So we pay our rent on time.

I am older than my boyfriend, so she told him that he is a fool to have an old woman as his girlfriend, and that he should have gone for a younger woman. I am not disrespectful to this woman. She pretends that she is nice, but she is not a nice woman. I told my boyfriend that we ought to leave, but he does not want to leave right away because we are only paying her $15, 000 for the two rooms, and the neighbourhood is not bad. We do not have children.

This woman is 70 years old and she is behaving as if everything that she has will last forever. Sometimes when she cooks, she gives me food for my boyfriend, but I don't eat any. I feel his woman would poison me. I don't like her at all.

Initials Withheld

Dear Writer,

You are a tenant in the woman's house; make sure you pay your rent.

You don't like her and she doesn't like you. It is sad that both of you cannot live better. You do not have to eat her food. Whenever she gives you food for her son, make sure that he gets it. Ignore what she says about your age. It is her son who has chosen you to be his woman and that should not be her business. Try to leave her house as soon as you can and that is how I see it.

Pastor