DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and so is my boyfriend, who happens to have very rich parents. He already has a new car and the use of his own credit card. Since he likes me very much, he buys me a lot of gifts.

My dad told me last night that unless it was a special occasion like a birthday or Christmas, I couldn't accept any more gifts. I don't like this idea. If he enjoys getting me gifts (he says it's better to give than to receive) and I enjoy getting them, why should this end? I'm not going out with him just to get gifts. I'd go out with him even if he was poor and never gave me a gift.

What do you think about this? — Nameless, Michigan City, Ind.

NAMELESS: Regardless of his parents' wealth, your boyfriend should not be showering you with gifts. Receiving gifts can become a habit and eventually you could be more interested in the gifts than the person giving them. It's called materialism. Enough is enough.

BE THANKFUL MOM ONLY HAS ONE FLAW

DR. WALLACE: I'm 13 1/2 and live alone with my mother. I've never known my father. Mom is super and I love her very much. She is a perfect mother, but she gives me one small irritation. Whenever she goes out in the evening for a social engagement, she insists on getting me a babysitter.

I don't need a 17-year-old "sitter" to tell me when I need to go to bed. Second, the money wasted on this could be put to better use. And finally, many of my friends are baby-sitters themselves, for younger children. I feel that I would be an excellent baby-sitter. I'm mature, conscientious and plan to take a baby-sitting course given by the Red Cross so I can do this when my mom gives me the OK.

Do you think I need the services of a baby-sitter? — Nameless, Michigan City, Ind.

NAMELESS: Mom just feels more comfortable knowing you have someone with you in case of an emergency. The problem is that this person is called a "baby-sitter," which is understandably embarrassing. If the person were called a companion, guest, or just about anything else, you'd have far less reason to feel embarrassed.

Do you really need this person in your house when Mom goes out? Probably not, but don't make a big deal about it. Since that's Mom's only flaw, you have much to be thankful for.

And by all means, take the baby-sitting course from the Red Cross. It will surely help convince Mom that you're trustworthy and capable of being on your own. And it will guarantee that you become an excellent baby-sitter.

POTATO CHIPS MOST POPULAR SNACK

DR. WALLACE: Our summer-school cooking class is involved in a huge research. We are trying to find out the most popular snack food in the United States. So far, our top three snacks for our class are: 1. Pizza, 2. French Fries, 3. Popcorn.

I'm writing to find out what your favorite snack is. Would you be so kind as to tell us? - Junior High Students from Indiana.

STUDENTS: My favorite snack is ice cream, but since my wife has encouraged me to eat a "healthy, balanced diet," I can only remember how good it was,

According to USA Today, potato chips, at 6.1 pounds per person per year, are the most popular food.

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.