DR. WALLACE: I'm a 16-year-old girl with a 4-year-old brother. We just moved to a new area over the December holidays, and my parents are in the process of getting our new home fixed up.

My father hired a handyman to do various projects. This guy looks to be about 35 years old and is beyond creepy. When I come home from school around 3:15 p.m., I often catch him leering at me and even making inappropriate comments. I'm at home by myself until my mom picks up my brother at day care. She usually doesn't arrive home until about 4:45 p.m.

Meaning, I'm alone with this weird guy for an hour and a half. It makes me beyond uncomfortable. I mentioned this to my father, and he told me that the projects will be done in about three weeks and that I won't have to worry about it after that. My mom asked my dad where he found this guy, and my father said he was standing outside of a hardware store. Apparently, he had a sign saying "Handyman for hire."

My dad thinks it's not a big deal, but I disagree. My mom knows I'm uncomfortable, but she defers to my father on almost everything. Do you think I'm making too much out of this situation, or do I have a right to be concerned? — Beyond Uncomfortable With the Handyman

BEYOND UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE HANDYMAN: I agree with your position completely. In my opinion, both of your parents are vastly underestimating the potential danger you could be facing.

Immediately reach out to other adults in your family, such as grandparents, aunts and uncles or trusted family friends to explain the situation completely and prompt immediate action.

One potential temporary solution could be for you to be allowed to go to a friend's house after school, where your mother could pick you up on her way home. This would eliminate you being alone with this handyman.

It is of paramount importance that all parents very carefully vet workers, suppliers and maintenance people who are near or inside the family home and interact with family members.

I'M NOT BREAKING ANY LAWS

DR. WALLACE: My girlfriend and I are both 20 years old and have been dating for over a year. I'm the type of guy who likes to call the shots and make my own decisions. I really don't like being told what to do, other than when I absolutely have to follow instructions, like at work.

My girlfriend and I have discussed marriage, but she's told me on more than one occasion that if we're going to get engaged within the next year or two, she will require that I stop my daily use of marijuana. She wants me to quit cold turkey.

I've told her that since I don't drink alcohol and I'm not planning on starting, even after I become a legal age, this is my one avenue for relaxation after stressful days at work and dealing with life in general.

Fortunately for me, we live in a state where marijuana usage is legal. Therefore, I feel I have the high moral ground, not my girlfriend who is asking me not to do something that is completely legal.

How can I convince her that our future marriage does not have to depend on giving up marijuana use, which I feel benefits my life every day? — It's My Decision, Not Hers, via email

IT'S MY DECISION, NOT HERS: As you stated, you may have the law on your side, but if you wish to marry your current girlfriend, you're likely going to need to make the adjustment she's asking for. I don't feel I could give you anything tangible that you could use to get her to change her mind on this particular topic.

Using marijuana daily may put you in the position of either current or potential future dependency of this substance. It could be that your girlfriend is concerned about secondhand smoke exposure to her future children or a myriad of other things. I suggest you speak with her openly and in depth about this topic right away. If both of you are truly dug in on opposite sides here, it may be a dealbreaker that is better faced sooner rather than later.

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.

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