Statistics on Unwed Teen Pregnancies by Dr. Robert Wallace on Creators.com

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Statistics on Unwed Teen Pregnancies

DR. WALLACE: We had a huge debate in our marriage and family class on the number of unmarried teenage girls in the United States who become pregnant yearly. And if the majority of these girls eventually have their babies, or if they choose to have an abortion. We attend Pius High School in Boston. — Students at Pius, Boston.

STUDENTS: Unwed teenage pregnancies, according to MD Magazine, add up to over a million a year in the United States. Roughly 60 percent of these girls give birth, while about 40 percent choose to terminate the pregnancy.

TEN TIPS FOR LASTING FRIENDSHIP

DR. WALLACE: Betty and I have been good friends since we were in first grade. We are now in our second year of high school. Even though we are good friends, it seems we are always getting upset with each other. Sometimes we don't talk to each other for weeks. I really like Betty and want to keep her as a good friend. What can I do to see that our disagreements are few and far between? — NAMELESS, Taladega, Ala.

NAMELESS: Teen Magazine printed an article called "Bugged by Your Buddies?" and listed 10 tips toward a truce. Clip this out and tape it on your bedroom wall. It's excellent reading if disagreements between Betty and you start to surface again.

— Put yourself in your friend's shoes. Ask yourself, "What could she have been thinking when she did this?"

— Unclear as to how to handle a problem? Put some time and distance between you and your friend while you think about it.

Clear your head. Then, when you're ready ...

— Talk things out. Communicating your problems often strengthens and deepens your friendship. If you really have trouble with words, write yourself a script and practice what you want to say.

— Don't talk to other pals about your problem with her. That's unfair. After all, the issue is between the two of you, no one else. So go straight to the source.

— When you talk, do so in private, not in public where either of you may feel self-conscious or embarrassed.

— If you're the type of person who can simply never bring yourself to say how you feel, then write your friend a letter. The point is to make sure you get things out in the open. It's when you clam up and ignore the problem that resentment grows and ruins a friendship.

— Listen.

— Be patient and give your friend time and encouragement to change.

— Remember, even good people can act not so good sometimes!

— Make up! It's not worth throwing away years of friendship over one upsetting incident.

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.