DEAR HARRIETTE: I live with my mom in Arizona. This would be fine, except that I don't care for her new boyfriend. He's very sarcastic, mean and angry. Every little thing my mom does wrong, she either gets cursed out or hit. I try to be the mediator in their arguments, but it just results in her boyfriend telling me to "stay in a child's place" and my mom yelling at me because I've "made him angrier." In two years, I'll finally be out of this house, but I don't want to leave my mom. How do I get her to see that this guy isn't "everything" and that he's no good for her? I want to help my mom, but she's not making this any easier. I want her to come with me so bad. What's worse is that I think she's pregnant. She's showing all the symptoms, and her boyfriend's been nicer lately. I honestly don't think a child should be brought into this, but my mom doesn't hear me. How can I get her to see that she doesn't have to settle for this? There's so much more to life. So many opportunities have gone down the drain due to her running behind this man. I just want her back to how she was before she even met him. -- Saving Mom, Dallas
DEAR SAVING MOM: You can tell your mother how much you love her and that you wish she would join you when you leave. You can also tell her that you want her to be happy, and that she deserves to be happy. You cannot force her to do anything, though.
(Lifestylist and author Harriette Cole is president and creative director of Harriette Cole Media. You can send questions to askharriette@harriettecole.com or c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.)