DR. WALLACE: My husband and I are thinking about adopting an infant baby since we are incapable of having children because of an injury to my husband when he was young. My husband's sister is 24, unmarried, and will have her baby in a month or so. She plans to give the baby up for adoption because she will be moving to Mexico to live with her boyfriend in Mexico City.

My sister-in-law wants us to adopt her son (she already knows it's a boy). We would like to adopt the baby but I've heard that adopted children have more problems socially and emotionally growing up. Do you have any information on this? We would like to adopt but we don't want a child who will cause extra problems. —Avita, San Antonio, Tex.

AVITA: According to a study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, teens adopted early in life are as well adjusted as most other teens and, in some ways, do better. The four-year study of children who were less than 15 months old when adopted revealed that more than 75 percent of adopted teens "are in a very positive zone of mental health," according to psychologist Peter Benson.

Only 27 percent of the 881 adopted teens surveyed thought that being adopted "is a big part of how I think of myself." The adopted teens were also slightly less likely to engage in high-risk behavior such as substance abuse and early sex.

If you and your husband become loving compassionate parents, your lives will be blessed and enriched with the addition of a baby boy. By all means, adopt!

FORGET THE 'SLIP OF THE TONGUE'

DR. WALLACE: Ryan and I met at a party and have gone out several times. He's a great guy and we have tons of fun when we're together. Ryan had gone steady with Amanda for over a year before her family moved out of state.

My problem is that since we have been dating he has inadvertently called me Amanda (or Mandy for short) several times. He always catches himself, but this makes me feel like I'm second choice. So far, I haven't said anything about his "slip of the tongue," but I probably will the next time he does it.

I discussed this with my parents and they both made suggestions, but I'm unsure which one would be the best. My mother said I should just forget it because he used to be in the habit of saying it, and he does always apologize. She says that I should ignore it instead of feeling like I'm second choice. My dad's idea was to call him George (my last boyfriend's name) the next time he calls me Amanda.

I kind of like my dad's advice the best, but I'd like to hear whose advice you think I should take. —Carla, Jackson, Miss.

CARLA: I agree with Mom. What's important is that Ryan is a great guy and you have fun when you're together. I'm positive that his "slips of the tongue" will end shortly!

YOUR BOYFRIEND NEEDS TO APOLOGIZE

DR. WALLACE: My boyfriend and I planned to go out last Saturday night, but by 4 p.m. he hadn't called so when one of my friends called and invited me to go bowling with "the girls" and said she'd pick me up at 6:45, I said to count me in.

At 6 p.m. Justin called and said to get ready in a hurry because we were going to a party. When I said I made plans with my friends he got all bent out of shape and said we had a date and I was breaking it. I told him I waited till a quarter to five to decide to go out with friends because I wasn't sure he was going to call. He wanted me to cancel with my friends, but I refused. I told him that he could go bowling with us, but he said, "No way," and hung up. I know he will sulk for about a week, then call wanting me to apologize for "doing him wrong." My sister thinks I did, but my mom doesn't think so. Do you think I did him wrong? —Cindy, Las Vegas, Nev.

CINDY: You did him right! He should have called earlier. You invited him to join the group, but he turned it down. If anybody needs to apologize, it's your boyfriend.

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 [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.