DR. WALLACE: I'm 17 and live with my mother and stepfather. I was only 8 when my parents were divorced, and when my mom married my stepfather I was 10. I like my stepfather and he is very good to me and makes my mom very happy.

I still remember my birth father and have only happy memories of when we all lived together. He faithfully pays child support for me, but he lives in another state. I've only seen him a dozen or so times because my mother does not like him and encourages me to dislike him also.

I will graduate from high school in June and I want to send a graduation announcement to my father, and my mom agrees. I have never met his wife, but I'm wondering if I should also invite his wife even though I've never met her and I don't think of her as a stepmother. I'm thinking it might be awkward for my mother if I invite her. What do you think? - Nameless, Monmouth, Ill.

NAMELESS: Invite your father's wife. Address your graduation invitation to Mr. and Mrs. ____. If your father comes to see you graduate, it would be nice if his wife were with him to keep him company. Since both your mom and dad are remarried and settled into new families, any awkwardness should be minimal. And both parents will be motivated to be civil on this very special day for you.

By the way, I had outside help coming up with this answer — my wife.

Stay True to Yourself

DR. WALLACE: I've had a bad reputation, if you know what I mean. However, about six months ago I completely changed my reckless way of living. I stopped smoking, drinking and doing drugs. I also stopped dating guys who only used me to satisfy their sexual urges.

I'm feeling really good about myself now and I know I will never revert to my old self. I now consider myself a good person, but my best friend keeps telling me there is no way that I can lose the "bad girl" image in just six months and that the kids at school still think I'm a loser. Do you think I'm still a loser? — Nameless, Fort Wayne, Ind.

NAMELESS: You are exactly what you think you are — a good person. The only loser is your best friend. I'm sure you will feel a lot better when you can call her your ex-friend. The turnaround you've made in your life demonstrates vividly that it's our inner conviction that matters, not external labels.

Just stay true to yourself — your new self — and the bad reputation you once had will soon be a distant memory.

They Say Things to Me That Are Sexual

DR. WALLACE: There are two boys who are in most of my classes at school. They are not really bad guys, but they say things to me that are sexual. I just try to avoid them as much as possible, but it's difficult to stay away from them because of their class schedules.

I don't like to be a crybaby and I usually solve most of my own problems, but I just can't seem to solve this one. Please don't tell me to speak to my counselor because she isn't interested in counseling any kids who aren't in the honors program and are not heading for Yale or Harvard. I do not want to have my "Mommy and Daddy" solve my problems either. What can I do? — Nameless, Omaha, Nebr.

NAMELESS: This verbal harassment will continue unless someone with clout tells these jerks to back off. Make an appointment to speak with your principal. He or she will know how to let them know that immature behavior of this sort has no place in school and must stop immediately.

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: Roman Boed