My freshman year in high school my father passed away at the age of 49. Ever since then my brother has been a brat, my mom has been on the internet searching for men. I understand that they are hurting for a father/partner. But this is what recently happened...My mother met a guy named Richard. I haven't even met the guy, my mom met him once before. But then just a few weeks ago she told me she invited him over for about two weeks. The day he came I was already stressed because of finals, the graduation performance and a few of my brother's problems on him blaming me for every little thing he does but doesn't want to admit to doing it. I still feel uncomfortable with him in my own home. I don't want to mention it to my mom for a couple of reasons. One is because it might ruin both of their happy lives. Another reason is because every time I tell her how I feel about certain things she gets angry at me. I just don't know what to do. It gets me depressed because my mom and brother are the only family I have, I love them dearly, but they just love getting me to think for them. Could someone help me get through this problem? Before my brother does something stupid and my mom could stop being so desperate. I've told some of my friends about this but they just give me sympathy which I really don't need cause it makes me feel as if they are just 'throwing me into the wolves den'.

Have you tried talking to the school counselor or has classes already let out?

Honestly, you need to be blunt with them. Tell them you want a family meeting, and you want them to be quiet while you talk. Take turns explaining what's good/bad about what's going on. Don't stop if someone starts crying - continue on and explain how you feel and why you're not comfortable with the situation. If you don't want another man in your house yet, and your mother ends up taking his side, don't be afraid to tell her that it's a disgrace that she's putting her romantical interests ahead of her own children.

Sometimes, you just have to be hard with your parents to get them to understand.

>>2 School counselors should have nothing to do with your life. Bringing an outsider into a situation like this, especially, would make it a lot more unnecessarily complex.

A school counselor can assist in finding someone more experienced in such situations, such as putting you in contact with a family counselor. I stated such because a situation like this I am not qualified to give advice on. It sounds deeply as if quite possibly all three people need to seek counseling for unresolved issues pertaining to a loss in the family.

>>3 This. Also, if you have this meeting, write down everything you want to say and read from it so you can explain it better and don't forget stuff. In the heat of the moment it can be easy to lose your argument and reasoning.

Thank you so much, but I guess I'll have to keep trying my hardest to get them to understand.

>>6 Good luck. I know how you feel - I went through a similar situation a few years back. Hopefully you'll be more lucky than I was about it lol

^