DR. WALLACE: I'm a girl who will turn 15 in two months, and I think that is old enough for me to begin to date. I'm being raised by a single mother, but she won't give me any definitive age yet on when I can actually go out on dates. I told her if 15 wasn't old enough that I should certainly be allowed to go on dates when I'm 15 and a half, as that would be next March, which would be perfect because it's springtime and would be a good time to go on hikes and outdoor outings, which I like.

But my problem remains with my mother! She won't give me any firm age, not even 16! Almost every girl in my local area gets to go out on dates at 16, many of them even younger than that.

Every time I bring up the subject with my mother, she just says, "Not yet," or "We'll see." This is beyond frustrating, and it's starting to drive me crazy. What can I do to pin my mother down to give me an exact age when I can begin to date? — I'm Ready to Date Now, via email

I'M READY TO DATE NOW: Most parents, your mother included, likely have two key factors in mind when they set an age for their children, especially their daughters, to go out on dates.

The first of these factors is maturity, because they need to feel that their teenager can handle the circumstances involved in and around being on a one-on-one date. The second key factor here is trust, and this is a huge one for certain. Parents need to be able to trust a young teenager enough to be able to allow that teen to go out on a date. In general, there is no hard or fast rule as to what age any particular teenager should be allowed to date. There are circumstances where younger teens are very trustworthy and mature, and may be allowed to date as young as 15 or so, whereas other parents may elect not to allow their children to date until an advanced age, even up to 17.

Your mother is hedging with you by not answering your questions directly, which indicates to me that she's still in the process of evaluating the situation and trying to figure out what she feels is best for you. My recommendation is to retrain your focus onto showing her both your maturity and trustworthiness over the next several months and see where that takes you. It's highly doubtful your mother is going to allow you to date at 15 when your birthday arrives shortly, but you may have a shot at 15 and a half or 16 if you are able to act as responsibly as you possibly can, demonstrate maturity and self-control, and be punctual and efficient with your curfew. You'll be putting yourself in a great position for your wish to be granted sooner rather than later.

MY BEST FRIEND IS NOW EDGY WITH ME AT TIMES

DR. WALLACE: My best girlfriend and I are both now juniors in high school and we've been very close for the past seven years. We often spend a lot of time together away from school, both studying and engaging in various activities we enjoy.

This new school year I finally decided to try out for a sport that I'm pretty decent at, and I was lucky enough to make the team. My best friend doesn't play any sports and doesn't really have a lot of athletic ability. I'm starting to notice that she's becoming jealous of the fact that I don't have as much time for her as I used to because of my required sports practices after school.

In addition to that, I can sense that she's jealous of the relationships I'm developing with some of my teammates. My best friend hasn't done anything excessive, but I do notice. She drops a comment here and there with a bit of edge or a touch of a guilt trip directed at me. Should I do anything about this, and if so, what would be the best way to deal with her at this point? We have always been, and we remain, the best of friends. — I Have a New Concern, via email

I HAVE A NEW CONCERN: Indeed it appears that your friend is acting out due to a possible combination of jealousy and lack of her ability to control your free time.

Rather than confronting her or complaining to her about her attitude and her occasional sharp comments, seek to spend as much study time with her as you can during the week. This will allow you to focus on your studies, which you need to do anyhow, and also spend some direct time with her. Plan ahead to do something fun with her each weekend so that both of you, especially her, have something to look forward to.

And during the times when you are alone with her, don't bring up anything about your sports teams or the other players unless she inquires directly. Maintain your focus on your friend when you're with her one-on-one, and be sure to ask her about everything going on in her life. This is the best way to help her through this period of adjustment. From there, it will be up to her to grow into maturity to understand you are not intentionally cutting her out; you're simply living your life and pursuing some goals of your own.

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.

Photo credit: Josh Hild at Unsplash