DR. WALLACE: My high school years were not great, and my social life back then was a big zero! I was withdrawn, didn't dress up much and I was more than a few pounds overweight in those days.

Now, I'm a recent college graduate and I have a new outlook on life! I have a great job, many great college friends and I have lost those unwanted pounds via a vigorous exercise program coupled with eating really healthy food 95% of the time. I also do a very good job of portion control, especially during the 5% of the time I allow myself to enjoy some high calorie "comfort food" that I loved during my childhood.

So, my one college friend who also attended my high school just told me that late this spring our high school is having a 5-year reunion. I immediately told her I was not interested in attending, but she has been pretty persistent in encouraging me to attend with her.

I don't need to decide right away as I have several months before that date arrives. Do you feel I should attend or just let it go? I really don't know anyone but her very well from back in those days. Also, I'm not looking for attention or anyone to say to me, "I can't believe this is you," given my new look and more gregarious demeanor. Deep down I just feel it would be easier on me mentally to give this event a pass and forget about it. — Don't Need To Relive Those Days, via email

DON'T NEED TO RELIVE THOSE DAYS: I encourage you to attend; you can keep a low profile and see a few people you knew of, even if you did not socialize with them back then.

This type of event may also boost your confidence and self-esteem since you are doing so well these days. Seeing where others are at may give you some relief and allow you to just chuckle at those days gone by and focus on your very bright future.

And if you do attend and find that after 20 or 30 minutes you've had enough, you can easily slip out and get a ride home after making even a brief appearance. Attending the reunion with an open mind and no agenda other than quenching your mild curiosity is enough to warrant your attendance. However, if you do end up speaking to someone you find interesting these days, you may expand your circle of friends going forward. This is a "no lose" opportunity for you, so consider giving it at least a brief try.

THINGS ARE SMOOTH SOMETIMES, BUT LATER THREATS ARE SPOKEN

DR. WALLACE: My parents and I have a funny relationship. At times we get along pretty well, but there are instances that crop up from time to time that cause friction. During these times of friction, I get verbal threats, usually from my father, but my mother even chimed in once.

I'm now a high school student and I'm 16 and a half years old. I'm the only male sibling as I have two younger sisters. What do my parents say to me? Well, their favorite threat is, "You better knock that behavior off or we will kick you right out of this house onto the street!" The first time I heard this I was quite stunned, but now that I've heard it said a dozen times or more, I kind of view it as an empty threat.

Yet the other day when I last heard this, it got me thinking about what would happen if they actually were to follow through on their threats to me. Can my parents legally just dump me on the streets of our city if they get mad enough? It's pretty cold out there this time of year in our northern region of the country. — Wondering About This, via email

WONDERING ABOUT THIS: Your parents can't legally force you out of your home until your 18th birthday. However, on that very date they can absolutely and legally ask you to vacate the premises.

My advice to you is to do your best to dial down the friction as much as you can, as quickly as you can. Constantly having your parents threaten to send you out of their home, even if it's just an idle threat at present, is not in your best personal interests.

Perhaps during a time when things are cooler and more normal, tell your parents that your new goal here in 2024 is to find the best ways to keep your family relationship in harmony. Offer a sincere apology for your part in previous friction and mention some changes you are planning to make. Then ask your parents if they are willing to compromise just a bit on whatever issue is causing the strife. Even just a bit of movement by each party can really help to dial down the negative energy.

The next year and a half will fly by, so do your best to promote harmony in your relationship with your parents. If you do, you will be the biggest beneficiary of even moderate positive changes.

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.

Photo credit: Adi Goldstein at Unsplash