'Tween 12 and 20 from Creators Syndicate

High Price to Be Paid For Inebriation for 06/30/2008

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: Last weekend I went to a high school graduation party and met a guy who really caught my eye. He was so cute, I didn't think I would have the courage to go up and start a conversation with him and I also didn't know if he was with someone else.

But I really wanted to talk with him, and I made the mistake of drinking quite a bit of alcohol so I could get the courage to approach him ...

Updated: Mon Jun 30, 2008

United States Tops Pregnancy Rates for 07/02/2008

Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: I am surprised by the number of girls at our high school who have become pregnant. It seems like every month or so another coed is in the family way. Last summer I spent two months in Holland with my cousin and we discussed teenage pregnancy. She said it wasn't a problem there, and she didn't know anyone who was pregnant and unmarried.

Are our young people more promiscuous t ...

Updated: Wed Jul 02, 2008

Approach Parents First When a Crisis Occurs for 07/21/2008

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: You told a 16-year-old girl who discovered she was pregnant to tell her parents because they love her and will do all they can to help her. I don't think that advice is accurate. I was 15 when I found out I was pregnant. The father of the child was also 15, but moved away about a month before I learned of my condition.

Being alone and afraid, I confided in my counselor and m ...

Updated: Mon Jul 21, 2008

There is No Excuse for Hitting Girlfriend for 07/28/2008

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: I took my girlfriend to a friend's birthday party. We got into a huge argument because she was dancing with some guy. I made her leave with me, and on the way home she said something that really made me mad — I lost my cool and punched her on the side of her head. She started crying and I immediately told her that I was sorry. I called her the next day and again apologized. I ...

Updated: Mon Jul 28, 2008

Don't Let Rejection Keep You from Attending College for 08/04/2008

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: Our son applied to attend Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif., and he is extremely disappointed that they did not accept him as a student. He is now saying that he doesn't desire to go to college and wants to be a taxi driver.

My husband and I are at "wit's end;" we don't know how to motivate him to attend another college or university. Josh reads your column ...

Updated: Mon Aug 04, 2008

Teen Learns that Love Can't Overcome Drugs for 08/11/2008

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: Many people consider me a loser, but maybe this loser can help her fellow female teens.

I'm 19, but when I was 16 I was deeply in love with a certain guy who was very active in drugs. He took everything and anything he could get his hands on. I "loved" this guy, and since I was straight I thought I could change him. My parents warned me that he couldn't be changed, ...

Updated: Mon Aug 11, 2008

Prisoner is Grateful for Family Support for 08/18/2008

Mon, 18 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: I am a prisoner behind bars and will be for two more years. I'm married to a wonderful wife and have two lovely daughters. I'm locked up because I made a very bad decision two years ago, and I'm now paying for my stupid behavior. When I'm free, I'm going to walk the "straight and narrow" for the rest of my life. I love my wife and daughters more than I can tell you; they ...

Updated: Mon Aug 18, 2008

Teen Drinking and Driving Still Remains an Issue for 08/25/2008

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 00:00:00 -0700

TEENS: While the percentage of teens that mix alcohol and driving has been slowly dropping, it is still a major problem. A study funded by The National Institute on Drug Abuse found about 30 percent (35 percent in 2001) of teens reported some exposure to impaired driving in the prior two weeks. Another 10 percent of surveyed teens admitted they drove after drinking five or more drinks.

A ...

Updated: Mon Aug 25, 2008

Teen Finds it Hard to See Mom Dating After Divorce for 09/01/2008

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: I'm 14 and live with my mother and younger brother. My parents were divorced two years ago, and even though my father lives 100 miles away, my brother and I are very close to him and love him. He is a good father.

My mother is also a good mother; she cares for us the best she knows how. She and our father are friendly, which makes it easier on everybody when we spend time wi ...

Updated: Mon Sep 01, 2008

Mother Should Allow Teen to Have Friends Over for 09/08/2008

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: My mother never allows me to have my friends over. I can go to all their houses, but they can never visit me at my house. She's afraid they might steal or break things. I've never seen anyone break or steal anything at another person's house. Sometimes there are four or five friends at a house, but nothing harmful is ever done.

I think my mother is wrong by not having a chan ...

Updated: Mon Sep 08, 2008

Dysfunctional Family Doesn't Determine a Teen's Character for 09/15/2008

Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: Steve and I met at a church social; we have been seeing each other for about four months. Steve is a wonderful guy. He gets good grades, has a part-time job and is not involved in drugs or alcohol. We are both 17 and have a lot in common. We enjoy participating in sports, listening to music, dancing, eating pizza, collecting baseball cards and attending the same church.

My p ...

Updated: Mon Sep 15, 2008

Mom Hopes to Teach Children to be Good Citizens for 09/22/2008

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: I have been reading your column since I was 13. I am now 23 and the mother of two daughters, ages 3 and 1. I always respected your support of the teens that wrote to you. Now I hope you will respond to a parent.

I wish to raise my children to be good citizens who are able to resist temptation to avoid unacceptable behavior, including drug and alcohol use. Please tell me what ...

Updated: Mon Sep 22, 2008

A Short Health Tip for 09/29/2008

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: What's the most sensible way to lose extra pounds and to keep them from returning? Keep your answer as short, but potent, as possible. I don't need to spend a lot of time reading something that should take 15 seconds. — Nameless, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

NAMELESS: Being active and eating smart are the best ways to lose weight and keep it off. This should be read and comprehen ...

Updated: Mon Sep 29, 2008

Teen Won't be Able to Attend Boyfriend's High School for 10/06/2008

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: I'm a 15-year-old girl and live near my high school where I'm in the ninth grade. All of my friends go to the school and I like it so far. But my boyfriend attends a different high school, which is only two minutes away from my dad's work. My boyfriend wants me to transfer there so we can spend more time together.

What do you think? Should I stay where I am or transfer? &mda ...

Updated: Mon Oct 06, 2008

Teen Should Visit Grandfather Despite Family Tension for 10/13/2008

Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: I'm 12 and live with my mother and my 11-year-old sister. My parents have been divorced for more than five years. My dad remarried; my sister and I haven't seen him in four years. It's really not his fault because once he got married, my mother told him he was no longer welcome in our house. Even though he hasn't seen us in a long time, he makes his child support payments on time a ...

Updated: Mon Oct 13, 2008

You are more Likely to Experience Positive Feelings When Smiling for 10/20/2008

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: You always encourage teens to smile. Big deal! A dollar and a smile will buy one soft drink out of the vending machine we have at school. If everyone in the world showed his or her true emotions, there would be many more frowns than smiles. Chew on that for a while. — Derek, Seattle. PS: Is there scientific proof to prove that smiling is beneficial?

DEREK: It appears t ...

Updated: Mon Oct 20, 2008

Teen Upset with Boyfriend's Endless Sex Questions for 10/27/2008

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700

DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and have been pressured for sex from my boyfriend. So far I have been able to keep him at bay, but lately he has been asking me if I am a virgin. I tell him that it's none of his business, but he insists that it is his right to know. He has already told me that he is not a virgin.

Last night he deduced that I am not a virgin or I would have been proud to tell him that ...

Updated: Mon Oct 27, 2008

It is Better for Baby Sitter's Parents to Drive Her Home for 11/03/2008

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

DR. WALLACE: I baby-sit for a 3-year-old boy every Friday evening. I really enjoy the job and the money is an extra bonus. My mother drives me to my job, and one of my parents or my older brother drives me home.

Lately, the parents have been staying out later than midnight; last night they were home at 1:30 a.m. The husband offered to drive me home but when I called home, my mom said tha ...

Updated: Mon Nov 03, 2008

Teen Should Still Invite Less Popular Friend for 11/10/2008

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

DR. WALLACE: Six of us girls sort of hang around and do activities together. Sharon (not her real name) is the least popular and is sometimes ignored or left out of group functions. I'm planning a Thanksgiving party at my house (girls only), and I've sent invitations to 15 girls, including the five other girls in our group.

Two of these girls have expressed displeasure because Sharon has ...

Updated: Mon Nov 10, 2008

Freshman College Students Don't Have to Know Career Path for 11/17/2008

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

DR. WALLACE: I will be a freshman at Northern Illinois University next September. My problem is that I'm not sure what kind of work I want to do after I earn my degree. Is this unusual? I would hate to wind up with a degree in education and then decide I don't want to be a teacher.

Will you please shed a little light on this for me? And can you tell me how your college degree helped you ...

Updated: Mon Nov 17, 2008