DR. WALLACE: Jose is 19, and I'm 18 and will graduate from high school this coming June. At that time, Jose and I plan to get married. I get good grades, but I don't want to go to college. I want to be a wife and a mother. Jose works for his uncle repairing automobiles. He is very good at it and earns enough money to support a family.

I had planned to attend a community college for accounting and then, if all went well, transfer to Texas El Paso University, but love got in the way. My parents are unhappy that I will not be attending college because they are both professionals. My dad teaches at Texas El Paso University, and my mother is a principal of an elementary school.

Dr. Wallace, this guy is my true love and he feels the same about me. We have our minds made up, and nothing short of death will change our decision. Do you see anything that could be wrong with Jose and I becoming husband and wife this coming June or July? — Maria, El Paso, Tex.

MARIA: I see nothing wrong with marrying Jose after you graduate as long as your marriage won't disintegrate due to financial hardship. But I would also urge you not to give up on college. Marriage doesn't bar you from taking college courses and pursuing a degree. If Jose is against this, I can understand your parents' concern. I hope this is not the case.

MOTHER IS 100 PERCENT CORRECT

DR. WALLACE: I read your column all the time, and I've noticed letters from teens who are harassed and teased because they are overweight. I can't help but remember the case of a 14-year-old girl who was overweight and was called names by her own family. In fact, her father frequently called her a blimp and her brother referred to her as a whale.

I have the opposite problem. I'm 13 and have a very slender build. I do not have an eating disorder. I have a healthy appetite. It so happens that I also have a very high metabolism rate. Because I'm slender, I'm often the butt of someone's joke. I've been called Olive Oyl (Popeye's girlfriend) as well as Slim, Bony, Skinny and Bean Pole.

My mother says I should ignore these rude comments, but I find that difficult to do. Probably the most irritating thing is to be called "skinny." Slender people dislike that tag the same way heavy people dislike "fatty." I hope you print my letter. The slim people of the world will be grateful. When people are harassing me or making fun of me, I promised my mother I'd do my best to ignore them. But what do I say to those who call me "skinny," but don't realize it upsets me? — Beth, Louisville, Ky.

BETH: Simply say that instead of being referred to as "skinny," you would prefer the term "slender." Most people will respect your request. Of course, it's difficult to be subjected to verbal harassment by ignorant people, but Mother is 100 percent correct. When you ignore these insensitive louts, they'll eventually turn their attention elsewhere.

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 rwallace@galesburg.net. 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.