I'm going through a bad time - I'm getting divorced and my best friend's just been diagnosed with breast cancer. So when my daughter suggested a night at the pub I jumped at the chance. Unfortunately, I got horribly drunk and ended up inviting a much younger man back to my place. It got far worse though - my teenage son walked in on us in bed together. He's totally disgusted with me and is threatening to tell the rest of the family what I did. I've apologised and apologised, but I'm scared I'm beyond redemption.

Susan advises
When we are feeling rejected - and have just had a reminder that life does not go on for ever - we often cling on to the first person we can for comfort and love. And when we are adult and mature, we understand why we do these things, we forgive ourselves and we carry on.

Your teenage son, smarting from the fact that his parents are splitting up, isn't adult and mature. He hasn't learned that we all make mistakes and that it isn't the end of the world. He isn't old enough to have made his own mistakes and regretted them.

But you are. You know you've been a bit silly - and you certainly know that you won't do it again. So stop apologising to your son and stop putting yourself in the wrong with him.

Instead take back the control in your family - by explaining to him that you love him very much, but that you are doing your best under a lot of stress and need his support, not his criticism. If he really loves you, he should put the whole thing in the past - and let you do the same.