DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and started dating about four months ago. So far, I have dated two guys. The first guy is a friend of my cousin. He was nice, and I enjoyed going out with him. My mother didn't like him because he didn't speak correctly. He used the word "ain't" and made numerous other grammatical mistakes.

She begged me to stop seeing the guy, and I took her advice. But the reason wasn't because of his poor grammar; it was because I knew I could never have a long-term relationship with him.

Now I'm dating a guy who happens to be our high school principal's son. He is cute, but he has a reputation for being sexually aggressive. My mom, who is a teacher at the same school, is well aware of his reputation and is forcing me to stop seeing him. I think this is ridiculous because I can handle his aggression.

Now I'm to the point I'm going to ask my mother to pick out the guys she wants me to date. Why are parents so picky? I sometimes wonder if my mother's mother handpicked my father! —Courtney, Indianapolis, Ind.

COURTNEY: Parents should not pick out dates for their teens, but they should wield veto power and be able to say no if they disapprove of someone who is not morally acceptable. This is a nervous time for Mom and Dad, as well as for the teen who is entering the world of dating. The key to everyone's peace of mind is trust and open communication.

YOUR EX-FRIEND WAS A LOUSY FRIEND

DR. WALLACE: My best friend has been dating Nick for over a year. Nick's older brother called and asked me out. I said yes, and we had a good time. Mike is 18, and I'm 16, so our age difference is no big deal, but it is to my friend. She is furious that I went out with Mike and asked me not to go out with him again.

When I asked her why, she said that he was too old and too "street wise" for me. She also said that she didn't like me going out with Nick's brother. She also said that if I went out with him again, our friendship would end permanently. Well, Mike and I went out again and we had a good time together.

The next day at school, my ex-best friend announced that she never will talk to me again, and she called me a name that girls don't like to hear. I was flabbergasted. Why in the world would my best friend be upset that I'm going out with her boyfriend's brother? —Nameless, Las Vegas, Nev.

NAMELESS: This is not rational behavior, so something odd must be behind it. Only your ex-friend knows. Maybe she has a crush on Mike herself and is jealous of you. Maybe she's afraid that you will learn more than you should about her involvement with Nick. All one can do is speculate.

The only thing that's clear is that your former friend was a lousy friend, and it's just as well that she's out of your life. Enjoy going out with Mike!

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. Email him at [email protected]. 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.