I'm left picking up the pieces when his selfish ex lies

I have a stepdaughter, who's 14 and lives with her dad and me, as her mum is unreliable, irresponsible and constantly lets her down.

- Dear Coleen

It’s a sad situation because, despite the way her mother behaves, my stepdaughter still worships her and hangs on her every word.

Last week, her mum was meant to pick her up for the weekend, but she called at the last minute to say she wasn't well and needed to postpone.

Naturally, my stepdaughter was very upset, then to add salt to the wound we saw her mum on Instagram, out drinking with friends and clearly in perfect health. I was so angry, not just because of the lies, but because she didn't stop to think that her daughter would see these posts and be devastated. Maybe she just didn't care. It felt like the final straw to me.