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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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I Eat Lunch with my Girlfriend's BoyfriendDR. WALLACE: Olivia is my best friend. Her boyfriend, Dan, and I have become good friends — but nothing more. Olivia has the late lunch period and Dan and I have early lunch, so we eat together almost every day. Sometimes he calls me after school to talk, usually about school or sports, but nothing at all romantic. Now Olivia has told me she doesn't want me to eat lunch with Dan anymore and is going to tell him not to call me after school either. And if he does call, she wants me to tell him not to call again. I think Olivia is out of line making these demands. After all, it's not like I'm trying to steal him away from her. What do you think I should do? — Brittany, Kingman, Ariz. BRITTANY: You're not doing anything wrong and Olivia is displaying needless jealousy. Yes, she's out of line. But if you want to continue having her as your best friend, distance yourself from Dan a little. If you don't care about remaining close friends with Olivia, enjoy having lunch with Dan and talking about school sports with him after school. Please read the following e-mail from Paula. I'm positive you will find it interesting. SHAME ON YOU DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and have a big problem. My best friend and I have been friends for over 11 years. I couldn't have a better friend. We do everything together. Her boyfriend and I are also good friends. He calls me several times a week and we talk about my best friend. Lately, he has been telling me that he is thinking about ending the relationship with Kristi. I asked Kristi how things were going with Josh, and she said things are great with him and that Josh said he loves her more and more each day and she feels the same about him. Last night Josh called me and wanted to know if I would go out with him if he broke up with Kristi.
PAULA: Josh is "off-limits." Even if he would break up with Kristi, he still would be "off limits." You are well aware that dating Josh would cause your best friend anguish and emotional pain. Best friends don't inflict this kind of treachery on each other. You know that going out with Josh would not be the right move to make. Shame on you for even considering it. START LOOKING FOR OTHER FRIENDS DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and don't smoke, drink or do drugs, but when I go to parties, I sometimes feel like a big boob because I'm such a goody-goody. Naturally, all of my friends want me to join them in their fun and games. So far I've had the courage to say no, but it's getting harder and harder. How can I keep from joining them? — Corey, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. COREY: Your party friends want you to join them because misery loves company. They really don't care about you or your well-being. It takes guts to say, "No thanks," but I know you have guts or you wouldn't have written to me. Don't give in. Keep your standards high. But why not also start looking for other friends and attending different parties, which don't feature drugs, alcohol and nicotine? Your letter is a perfect example of peer pressure in action. Finding more compatible friends could eliminate it. 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 2009 CREATORS.COM
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