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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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Better Late Than NeverDR. WALLACE: Susan was my best friend until a recent incident caused us to end our friendship. Last week, my "friend" brought a bottle of tequila to school, and she and another girl drank some during lunch. After lunch, she asked me to hide the booze in my locker, just in case a teacher smelled alcohol on her breath and decided to search her locker. Well, a teacher did smell alcohol on my friend's breath and also on the breath of the other girl. When they searched the girls' lockers and didn't find the alcohol, the vice principal said the girls would be suspended only three days instead of five if they told where they got the tequila. You guessed it; they blamed me! Of course, when my locker was searched, the alcohol was found and I was in a heap of trouble. For helping a friend, I was suspended for five days and my parents put me on restriction for three months, even though they knew that the alcohol wasn't mine. My restriction, they said, was for my stupidity. The reason for writing is to warn other teens not to get involved when a friend does something stupid and to choose your friends wisely. I've had to learn the hard way! — Nameless, San Jose, Calif. NAMELESS: The key is that you learned! Better late than never. Thanks for sharing with your fellow teens. WHEN VISITING GRANDPARENTS STAY CLOSE TO MOM DR. WALLACE: I have a very unusual and very delicate problem. My mother's father (my grandfather) is a dirty-minded buzzard. I hate going to visit my grandparents. When we are alone, he tells me dirty jokes and then asks me to tell him about my sex life.
I'm 16 and quite able to handle most of my problems by myself, but this one has me baffled. I can't discuss it with my family because I don't want my mother to learn that her father has sexually harassed me, and besides, my dad would blow his mind. He doesn't like Mom's father. So, you see that I could cause a family war if I discussed my problem with them. Any advice will be appreciated. — Nameless, Houston. NAMELESS: There is only one solution to your problem — never be alone with your grandfather. He has lost his self-governing capacity in your presence and is not to be trusted. When you visit your grandparents, stay close to your mother. Grandpa wouldn't dare open his dirty mouth in front of his daughter. I understand why you want to keep this to yourself and spare everyone else the shock and embarrassment of knowing the truth about your grandfather. Maybe this can be done — but don't let this "dirty" secret become such a burden that it gives you emotional stress or, worse, puts you at risk. If that happens, you must tell Mom the truth immediately and let the chips fall where they may. 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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