DR. WALLACE: My dad promised me that he would give me $20 for every A I got on my midterm report card. I received three A's and three B's yesterday when I opened my report that was mailed home. These are the best grades I have ever received.

When I asked my dad for the $60, he said he was only kidding about paying me to get good grades and that if he did pay me it would be a bribe and he doesn't like bribery.

When I told him that he had made a promise, he got defensive and said that parents have the right to break a promise to their children.

I thought when someone made a promise it meant that the person would keep that promise. Please reply to my letter because I know you will say that my dad did me wrong. — Amy, Columbus, Ohio.

AMY: Your dad did you wrong! A promise is not to be broken even when made by a parent unless it was impossible for the promise to be honored. Then an honest explanation should be made.

But all is not lost. Three A's and a B are wonderful grades and, in this case, you are the winner!

SORRY, I AGREE WITH YOUR BOYFRIEND

DR. WALLACE: My boyfriend and I are both 20 and have been dating for the past two years. He is the most loving guy in the world. I love him very much and know he loves me. Both of us are living at home with our parents and attending college. We will soon finish our second year, with two more years to go before we graduate.

Everything is wonderful except for one thing. I want to get married soon and he wants to wait until after we graduate. This causes us to have huge arguments. He feels that I'm putting undue pressure on him and he will not compromise. I know the reason why he feels this way. His parents have drilled it into his head that it would be unwise for us to get married before we graduate. I can't buy that!

I love my boyfriend and want to make it official. Please advise me what to do! — Nameless, Austin, Tex.

NAMELESS: I agree with your boyfriend. Marriage demands full-time commitment, which cannot easily be given when you're both full-time students. The pressure to maintain good grades, have sufficient income, and get used to one another as husband and wife would put an undue strain on the marriage.

YOU DESERVED THE PUNISHMENT

DR. WALLACE: I'm 14 and have a 12-year-old brother who is emotionally handicapped. Because of this, I'm always put on restriction for doing something wrong, but if my brother does the same thing, my parents overlook it.

Let me give you an example. Yesterday my brother and I ate three cookies each that my mom baked for our grandmother. We were told not to eat more than one each. We tried to eat only one, but they were so delicious that we couldn't stop ourselves.

When my mom found out, I got grounded for a week and had my telephone privileges removed for two weeks. Nothing whatsoever happened to my brother. He didn't even get yelled at. When I complained to my mother, she told me to stop complaining or she would double my penalty. I feel ripped off! —Nameless, Dunlap, Ind.

NAMELESS: Sorry, but I'm not sympathetic. You disobeyed your mother and were punished. You deserved it. You should have set a good example for your brother. Instead, your actions encouraged him to do the same.

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.