DR. WALLACE: I'm 19 and live at home with my sisters, ages 17 and 15. My 17-year-old sister and I are upset that our parents allow our 15-year-old sister to date, because we weren't allowed to when we were her age. When we confronted them about this, they admitted we were not allowed to date at her age. We also told them about other things our younger sister is allowed to do that we couldn't do when we were her age. We don't think this is fair. Do you? — Sisters, Moline, Ill.

SISTERS: Surely the two of you have better things to do than to be jealous of your little sister! Give it a rest and focus on your own lives. Or, better yet, take Sis under your wing and give her advice about boys, now that she's dating. She will probably appreciate your friendly concern.

Here's what you and your middle sister do not yet understand: Parenting is a learning process. Younger siblings are often given more latitude than the older ones because Mom and Dad have learned to relax in their roles by then. It's not unfair, it's just life.

Be happy for your younger sister, but most of all, be her friend. It's so much more pleasant and healthy than nursing your jealousy of her.

Is there a slight possibility that your younger sister is more mature than either older sister was at the impressionable age of 15?

A STRAIGHT-A RECORD IMPRESSES EVERYONE

DR. WALLACE: Our daughter is currently enrolled in the pre-International Baccalaureate program at her high school. She was accepted into this program by having high academic grades and teacher recommendations. The key focus of the program is to broaden students' international awareness, to develop the individual talents of young people and to teach them to relate the experience of the classroom to the realities of the outside world.

My husband and I encouraged her to enroll in this program because it could help her get into the college or university of her choice, and because she is capable of handling the workload. She willingly applied. But she has now changed her mind for several reasons, mainly because her friends are not in it. She also worries about the time requirements and the math course she would have to take during summer school.

Besides that, a new high school is being built in our area and is set to open in August. My daughter would not attend the new school with her friends because her program will continue at the old high school that she now attends.

In discussing the matter, my daughter raised an important question I'm hoping you can answer. What is the difference between graduating from high school as an honors student with straight A's and graduating from the advanced program with a B average? — Florida Mother.

FLORIDA MOTHER: The pre-International Baccalaureate program seems to be a very valuable opportunity, but in this case, I would encourage you to allow your daughter to remain with her friends in the normal program and to be part of opening a new school.

To flourish in the advanced program, your daughter must want to be in it and spend the extra time necessary to gain all the benefits of it. An honors student with an A average should be able to select a college of her choice. The pre-International Baccalaureate program might impress some colleges, but straight A's impress everyone!

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.