DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and make good grades in high school, and I'm never in trouble. My best friend has asked me if I would like to ride to school in the mornings with her and her brother who is 18. He is an honors student and mature for his age. He is a safe driver with a clean driving record. We live on the same block about 7 miles from school and our parents are all friends.

When I asked my dad if it would be all right, he did not like the idea and said I should continue to ride the bus to school. I don't think he is being fair. What do you think? — Lauren, Jacksonville, Fla.

LAUREN: Even though the majority of teens have the physical abilities to be superb drivers, they still have the highest percentage of accidents caused by "youthful exuberance." I'm sure your best friend's brother is a safe, careful driver, but he is relatively inexperienced behind the wheel and this is an area of concern for your father. I doubt seriously if he will change his mind.

GRANDMOTHER IS MAKING A MISTAKE

DR. WALLACE: Our daughter is 12 years old and has taken piano lessons for more than four years. Lately, she has been refusing to practice and cries after every lesson. She is begging to stop taking lessons.

My husband and his mother (who lives with us) feel that she should be made to practice or be punished if she doesn't and should not be allowed to quit her lessons.

I feel that music should be an enjoyable experience, that taking lessons should be fun, and that because she hates her lessons, she should be allowed to quit. Her father says that if she quits she will only learn to be a quitter.

I am the person who drives her to her lessons and tries to make her practice. Her father is never at home to see our daughter's reactions to all of this.

Do you think she should be allowed to stop the lessons or should she continue? If she's made to continue, will things improve to the point where she will enjoy playing the piano? — Mother, Las Vegas, Nev.

MOTHER: Several years ago we devoted an entire column to this issue. We asked teens for their views on this subject and more than 2,000 responded. The great majority (more than 80 percent) said that the lessons should be terminated if the young person did not enjoy the experience after giving a reasonable time (at least two years) to develop an enjoyment.

Personally, I agree with the majority and would end the lessons. Introducing a child to music is a good decision for parents to make, but not all children will embrace music as enjoyable.

We also received several letters from teens who quit, but decided to continue later on and came to really enjoy playing a musical instrument. This could happen with your daughter.

CAN PARENTS STEAL FROM EACH OTHER?

DR. WALLACE: Please answer my question with a simple yes or no with no lectures allowed. If a wife takes money out of her husband's wallet, or a husband takes money out of his wife's purse without the other knowing, is it theft? I know that you are a professional writer, but I want only a one-word answer, nothing more. — Nameless, Galesburg, Ill.

NAMELESS: NO

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.