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Love Is the Key to Successful Parenting
DR. WALLACE: I am a single parent of an 11-year-old daughter and a 13-year-old son. I had a lot of problems as a teen because my parents were super lenient in controlling me. Let's say I could do almost anything that I wanted with no questions asked.…Read more.
Give Intelligent Young Women a Break
DR. WALLACE: I'm angry that you encourage all girls, even the mentally, emotionally and physically mature young women who happen to be teenagers, not to get involved with older guys. You are dead wrong in your assumption that older guys and teenage …Read more.
Open and Honest Conversation Is Paramount
DR. WALLACE: Please tell me what to do. I'm 20, married three years and the mother of a 2-year-old son. I love my husband very much, but I'm lonely and depressed. My husband works 12 to 16 hours, 6 days a week. I have no friends, no job and no time …Read more.
My Friend's Mother Helps Her Cheat
DR. WALLACE: We have homework four days a week in world history. I do all my homework by myself, but my best friend's mother helps her with hers. I average a B on my homework, but my friend averages an A. I don't believe this is fair. Both of us are …Read more.
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Don't Complain about Your Last NameDR. WALLACE: I am responding to a letter from Peggy Zuker, who complained about having a last name that started with Z. Whenever things were done in alphabetical order, she was always last. I also feel cheated because my last name begins with A. What makes it worse is that my first name does, too. I hate sitting in the front of the classroom all the time and having to be the first one to give reports. I have complained to my teachers about the fact that I don't enjoy always being first. I'd love to switch places with Peggy Zuker! — Alicia Adams, New York ALICIA: Discontent seems to be basic to the human condition, no matter where we are on its alphabetical spectrum. The following letter should give both Alicia and Peggy some perspective on their predicament, and make them — and all of us — smile. DR. WALLACE: Please tell Peggy Zuker not to complain. Being last is at least a distinction. My name is Heidi Mason, and when it comes to an alphabetized list or line, I'm always surrounded by a mob. Sometimes I wish my last name was Aaron or even Zuker. That way I'd be noticed and have a little breathing room. — Heidi Mason, Ames, Iowa. MARRIAGE WON'T MAKE HIM CHANGE DR. WALLACE: I'm 19 and my boyfriend is 22, and we share an apartment together. Both of us are employed by his father and are paid fairly. For the first month, things were really smooth. It felt great being independent and in love. But lately things have changed, even deteriorated. We argue a lot and can't really agree on anything. For instance, he expects me to prepare supper even though we both get home at the same time. When I tell him to hang up his clothes instead of tossing them on the floor, he gets mad and tells me that I'm acting just like his mother. About a month ago, Dave asked me to marry him. I'm not so sure that's the right thing to do. I think I love him, but again, I'm not 100 percent sure. Last night we had a long discussion about our differences, and three hours later, he was still trying to convince me that once we get married a lot of this bickering would fade away.
I want to believe him, but I have my doubts. Your opinion will be appreciated. — Ashley, Orlando, Fla. ASHLEY: All marriage does for couples who live together before saying, "I do" is to make it legal. If you love Dave and feel that he loves you and you want to spend the rest of your life with him, then get married. But don't for a second believe that marriage will make him change his mind regarding the role wives should play after saying "I do." Accept him the way he is or wait to see if he ever changes his sloppy, macho life. If he doesn't change soon, chances are he never will. It's much easier to say goodbye now rather than after you are his wife. ONE IN TEN FEMALE TEENS IS ANOREXIC DR. WALLACE: You have written several columns on the eating disorder anorexia. You say that some teens die from anorexia (self-starvation to look thin), but you never say the percentage of young women and men who become anorexic, or the percentage of those who are anorexic who actually starve to death. I'd like to know because my best friend has been diagnosed as anorexic and was placed in a psychiatric hospital. — Nameless, San Luis Obispo, Calif. NAMELESS: My best source of information is the librarian at the University of California at Irvine. This time he directed me to the "Guide to Anorexia and Bulimia" by Robert DiCuio. The author estimates that one in 100 young women and one in 2,000 young men between ages 13 and 18 will develop anorexia nervosa, and that about 10 percent will die as a result of medical complications. Rarely can those who suffer from anorexia overcome this illness without the assistance of professionals. Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM
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