DR. WALLACE: My 16th birthday is coming up soon and I'm already dreading it. The reason is that my father insists on having our entire family go out to dinner on my birthday to a particular chain restaurant he enjoys, and he always makes a big production out of telling the staff that it's my birthday.

This will be the third year in a row my birthday has been celebrated in the very same restaurant, and the last two years, embarrassed me beyond belief. Not only did they sing happy birthday to me in the entire restaurant, but in both of the past two years, I noticed friends from my school looking at me and actually laughing.

I tried to drop some hints to my father and my mother, but nobody seems to be listening to me. I really don't want to go out to this type of dinner again, have to sit there while everybody who works at the restaurant sings to me and then gives me a small dessert with a little candle in it. How can I escape the embarrassment? — Please Not Again, via email

PLEASE NOT AGAIN: Before your birthday arrives, tell your parents you would really enjoy a home-cooked meal with your favorite foods at home this year.

You could also tell them that with the money they would normally spend at a restaurant celebrating your birthday, you would like to take a portion and donate it to a charity of your choice. Do some research and give some plot as to what charities you find interesting and valuable in your community. By mentioning this to your parents, you will almost certainly draw a positive reaction.

It could be that your parents thought taking you out to a restaurant was a special occasion for you, but if you stay calm, smile and simply tell them you would love to select your favorite dishes that you enjoy at home for a truly memorable birthday, I'm 99% sure your request will not only be honored, but rewarded.

I'M BEYOND BORED WITH HER SITCOMS

DR. WALLACE: I live with my single mother, and I'm not only her only daughter, but her only child. The good news is that we get along really well and she's an excellent mother, but the tough news is that she constantly wants me to sit with her for an hour every evening to watch her two favorite sitcoms back to back on television. Each show is 30 minutes, and I'm completely bored 5 minutes into the first show.

My mom doesn't socialize as much as she used to and I kind of feel sorry for her, so I do my best to sit through these tremendously boring shows. I know she likes them a lot, but I really wish there was a convenient way I could avoid having to sit and watch them so often without hurting her feelings. — Television Sitcoms Are Boring, via email

TELEVISION SITCOMS ARE BORING: Your mother could obviously record these shows and watch them at any time of day or night. Perhaps you could tell her that you would like to only watch a few of them occasionally with her, but what you would really like to do is to use the time you normally spend watching television together to do other activities.

Tell her you would enjoy window shopping with her to take a look at potential holiday gifts, for example, tell her you'd like to play a few of your favorite games or take a brisk walk or hike somewhere together with her. The idea here is to be sure your mother understands that you very much want to spend time with her, but that you would like to spread it out over a variety of activities. Tell her you'll be happy to watch a few episodes here and there of her favorite sitcom with her, but that you'd sure like to do other things in the mix as well with the free time you have available.

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.

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