DR. WALLACE: I'm planning to have a Christmas theme party at my house, and seven couples will be invited. We will have lots of food and much laughter. It will definitely be a fun party. But I do have one concern. My house will be loaded with Christmas things, including several Christmas trees and a manger scene.

Two couples are not Christians. They are Jewish. Should I have some things my Jewish guests could relate to since they celebrate Hanukkah? I want to be politically correct. — Kathleen, Miami Beach, Fla.

KATHLEEN: You could include something that relates to Hanukkah if you felt comfortable doing so, but there's no need to be "politically correct." Indeed, a forced gesture would probably seem patronizing. Since the party is at your house, the guests will respect your Christmas theme. Anyone who is uncomfortable with it would decline the invitation.

DON'T BE FORCED TO MAKE A CHOICE

DR. WALLACE: I've got a very unusual problem and I need all the advice I can get. I'm really not a very popular guy; I've only been dating for three months, and I've only dated two girls. Both of them attend my church. I've gone out with girl no. 1 about five times and I've dated girl no. 2 seven times. I really like both girls a lot and want to continue dating both of them. The problem is that they both want me to drop the other one, and they each told me that if I didn't drop the other, they would stop dating me. What should I do? I'm not sure that I could date anyone else if these two girls refused to go out with me. I can't choose one over the other. — Nameless, Salt Lake City, Utah

NAMELESS: Don't be forced to make a choice. If they refuse to date you because you don't want to go steady, so be it. It will be their loss.

Don't underestimate your ability to date girls other than no. 1 and no. 2. Since they both find you charming, attractive and desirable, so will other girls. Just give them a chance to say yes when you ask them for a date.

STAY IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL

DR. WALLACE: I'm a parent of a 13-year-old girl who is attending public school. One of my dear close friends is shocked because my daughter is in public school. She insists that private schools are much superior to public schools. What is your opinion? — Mother, San Diego, Calif.

MOTHER: All schools that are staffed with dedicated instructors and permit the students to study and learn in a safe, comfortable environment can be considered superior, be they private or public.

If your daughter enjoys her school, and you feel she is in a good learning situation, let her stay in the public school system.

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.