DR. WALLACE: I'm 19, have a full-time job and share an apartment with my best girl friend. For the past several months, I've been going out with a guy who is 22. He is divorced and the father of a 2-year-old daughter who lives with her mother. This guy has become something special to me. I really have a wonderful time when I'm with him and he has always been a perfect gentleman. I like him a lot and he really makes me happy.

My problem is that my parents are upset because I'm dating a "divorced father," and they are doing their best to make me stop seeing him. I'm going to continue seeing him regardless, but a good word from you might help. They always read your column. — Sidney, Naperville, Ill.

SIDNEY: You are old enough to decide who you want to date. You should consider yourself fortunate to be going with a guy who is special, makes you happy and is a perfect gentleman. Your parents should be happy, too.

KEEP YOUR BROTHER OUT OF IT

DR. WALLACE: I loaned my then-boyfriend $50 about three months ago. He promised he'd pay me back in a week. We broke up two weeks ago because he wanted to date other girls. I asked him the night we broke up for my money and he said, "Sue me."

I talked to someone who knows about small claims court and was told that going this route would take more time and money than the $50 is worth. My brother said he'd beat the money out of this guy if I gave him the word. What should I do? Fifty dollars is a lot of money to me. I babysit for a neighbor and that's five nights' work. — Beth, Mobile, Ala.

BETH: Keep your brother out of it. He could wind up being charged with assault and battery and suddenly the matter would be in criminal court, not small claims. That's definitely not worth it!

Write your ex a short note asking for repayment of the money you loaned him. Make him aware how hard you work for $50. To make this as easy as possible for him, enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. If he has a conscience, he'll repay his debt. If he doesn't, consider yourself lucky this jerk is out of your life. Some of life's learning experiences are costly ones.

VERY SAD SOBERING STATISTIC

DR. WALLACE: Some teens run away from home and, of course, they are called runaways. I've also heard the term "throwaways" connected with young teens leaving home. Can you tell me what a "teen throwaway" is? It sounds terrible! — Ann, Erie, Pa.

ANN: It is terrible. A so-called "throwaway" is a teen under age 18 who leaves intolerable home conditions and is not reported missing by his parents or guardians, or who is literally thrown out of the house to fend for him/herself.

About one teen in three who leaves home could be considered a throwaway. That's a very sad and sobering statistic.

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.