DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and dating a guy who is 22. My mother hates him and is doing her very best to have us break up. She doesn't like him for a number of reasons. First, he is 5 years older than I am. Next, he smokes and drinks beer (he is old enough legally) and finally, he wears odd clothes and has long hair. Actually, he is a very sweet guy. I keep telling my mom that she shouldn't "judge the book by its cover."

Last night my mom said that if I didn't stop seeing him she was going to have him arrested for statutory rape. I told her we have never have had sex and that I'm still a virgin. She said that she could still have him arrested for statutory rape because I'm a minor and he is an adult. Is this possible? — Nameless, Kansas City, Mo.

NAMELESS: Statutory rape occurs when an adult has sexual relations with a consenting minor, so this fellow cannot be convicted of this crime. But I do think that he should pursue a girlfriend who is an adult and you should concentrate your efforts on dating a teenage boy — immediately!

I'M TREATED LIKE A CHILD

DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and so is my boyfriend. We've been dating for over two years. I live alone with my mother and she is very strict. My boyfriend and I can only date once every two weeks and I have an 11:30 p.m. curfew. She does allow us to spend time at our house studying and watching TV or videos, and this doesn't count as a date.

My problem is that I think two dates a month for a 16-year-old who is a very trustworthy young woman is a little unfair. My mom has been a single mom since I was born. She never married my father, so I guess you could say she was an unwed mother. Because of this, she is doing everything to make sure I don't follow in her footsteps.

Every week, I ask her if we can date once a week, but her answer is always no. Yesterday, I asked her the same question and she said if I keep on pestering her she'll cut my dates to once a month. Do you think I'm being treated like a child? I sure do. — Nameless, South Bend, Ind.

NAMELESS: I get many letters from girls who are 16 and are not allowed to date at all. Your mother has let you have a boyfriend since you were 14, so don't force the issue now. In time, your mother will allow you to date more often.

BE PROUD OF YOUR MANY GOOD QUALITIES

DR. WALLACE: I'm 14, and at school I'm considered a nerd or a geek. That's because I'm an A student, do not drink, do drugs or swear. I also am not involved in athletics because I'm not very big or strong and I'm not very coordinated. My problem is that I don't have any friends. I'm also religious.

How does a guy like me find any friends? — Nameless, Providence, R. I.

NAMELESS: If you don't have any friends in your life right now, you have to take the initiative to find them. Join clubs at school with activities that pique your interest. Also, join a youth group at your place of worship — and if there isn't one, start one!

A friend is someone who enjoys the same things you do and likes being with you. I'm sure you can find such people if you work at it. Be proud of your excellent grades, religious values and all your other good qualities. You don't have to be anyone but yourself. Remember, it's more important to maintain your character and high moral standards than to lower them just to gain acceptance by your peers.

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.

Photo credit: Barney Moss