Dear Queenie,

  My parents have been divorced for several years and now my father’s girlfriend has moved in with him.

  The problem is that she doesn’t like me and I’m not welcome in her home. That means I don’t get to stay with my father every weekend like I used to. I only get to visit him now and then and when I do, she never leaves us alone together and whenever my father is not there to hear she makes nasty comments about the way I dress and the things I watch on TV and things like that.

  Queenie, how should I handle this? Should I just keep quite or tell my father or should I just tell her off? And if I tell her off is there any way to do it politely?—Harassed daughter

Dear Harassed daughter,

  There is no way I know of to tell someone off politely. However, I don’t think you should just keep quiet.

  Find a way to be alone with your father. Take your father out to lunch or visit him at work one day if that is feasible and tell him why his girlfriend makes you feel unwelcome in his house. He may not be able to change her attitude or even willing to try, but at least maybe he can arrange to see you more often away from his home.