Q: I am a single mum of a three-year-old and I have recently got into a serious relationship with a man I totally trust. The time has come to introduce my son to him, but how do I go about this? I don't want to overwhelm either of them.

A: The most important person in this whole process is of course your son, but you are right to worry about overwhelming both the men in your life as, ultimately, that would impact on your son.

The first thing to ensure is that your partner is ready to get involved with your son. If he is, then the time is right to introduce the notion of mummy's boyfriend to your little boy, before you even begin the process of physically introducing each other.

First of all, have you explained to your son that, while you love him more than anyone else in the world, mummy has also been spending some time with another special person who is making you happy?

Once the notion is in your son's head, ask if he would like to spend a few fun hours doing something together, such as feeding the ducks or visiting the park. Try to take as much guidance from your son as possible, and make sure the meeting venue or activity is something your son feels totally comfortable with.

As the meeting day gets nearer, it is probably a good idea to mention it here and there and ask if your son is still looking forward to it. As his mother, you will know if he isn't - even if he says he is - so don't do anything until you know your son is happy.

On the day itself, it is important to be gentle and keep the situation very simple. Introduce your partner and say that this is the person who you have been spending time with and you hope he'll like him too.

Again, follow your instinct and your son's guidance. If it is obvious that he has had enough, then it's time to leave and try again next time.

Keep following the routine of forward planning the meetings, following at all times your son's lead. Eventually, if all goes well and the two are happy in each other's company, your son is likely to adapt well and accept this new person in his life.

Have you introduced a new partner to your child? How did it go?