DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and my girlfriend of three months is 15. We used to be allowed to date on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday after church. Now her mom wants to change everything because she thinks we see too much of each other. She now will only allow us to date on one weekend evening and after church on Sunday, but for no more than three hours. We both are very unhappy and think that she is treating us unfairly.

We are both mature teens and we're not sexually active, and neither of us smoke, drink or do drugs. The only thing we usually do is go to a movie, listen to music, talk, laugh and have a lot of fun being together.

Her mother doesn't even give us any reason for her new rules except to say that we spend too much time together. It's almost like we're now being punished for things we never did. We would like to have your comments about our problem, please. — Nameless, Lake Charles, La.

NAMELESS: These new rules seem completely reasonable. Many 15-year-olds are not allowed to date at all. You should consider yourself fortunate that you can still see your girlfriend twice every weekend.

I'M REALLY ANGRY WITH MY PARENTS

DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and a very responsible teen. My best friend is throwing a surprise birthday party for her boyfriend, who will be 18. Of course, I'm invited, and of course, I'm dying to attend the party. Everything was O.K. until my mom found out that my best friend's mother was talked into not being there. My friend convinced her mom that the party would be more fun without a chaperone.

Now my parents are both against allowing me to go to the party. When they told me I wouldn't be allowed to go, it really made me mad. The party will just be a group of teens having a lot of fun without drugs, alcohol or sex. I know that you always advise parents to trust their children until the trust is broken. Well, I have never violated the trust my parents have placed in me. Shouldn't that be sufficient for allowing me to attend the party? — Kelly, Pittsfield, Mass.

KELLY: I'm sure your parents do trust you. It's some of the other partygoers that they might have concerns about. Without supervision, get-togethers can rapidly get out of control. A party chaperone is like the police officer walking the beat. His purpose is to be seen. This presence stops most problems before they begin.

I know you will be disappointed, but I agree with your parents this time.

SQUIRRELS ARE NOT MEANT TO BE PETS

DR. WALLACE: My uncle caught a squirrel by putting food in a cage. He gave me the squirrel and cage for my birthday, but I don't want a squirrel for a pet. I don't even know what they eat. What should I do? — Nameless, Crown Point, Ind.

NAMELESS: Take the cage outside and open the door. The squirrel will be gone in a flash. Squirrels belong in the wild. They aren't meant to be caged pets.

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.