Dear Amy: My husband and I have a special-needs teenage son. After more than a year on a wait list, we finally have an in-home therapist.
"Darla" comes three mornings a week to wake him up and help him get dressed and ready for school. This gives me rare and much-needed breaks.
My husband lets Darla into our home. I usually stay in my room and either sleep in or just enjoy the quiet until it is time for me to take my son to school.
I've picked up hints that Darla thinks I'm lazy. She also seems to have a crush on my husband and finds excuses to chat with him. It drives him crazy because he's busy working from home.
I sent Darla a text asking her not to disturb him unless absolutely necessary. She didn't respond to the text, but she did stop interrupting him as much.
Recently, after I let her in one morning, she told my son that he was slacking because his mother got up before he did. I didn't say anything about this, but I'm fuming!
Darla is good with my son, and if I fired her it would take months to find a replacement. How can I keep her on but put her attitude in check?
Amy says: Your concerns are related to boundaries and communication. Darla might have come to your home after working with other clients who have a different living and communication style.