DR. WALLACE: I'm 19 and have a 2-year-old daughter. My mother is a very youthful and attractive woman who is 35. She gave birth to me when she was 16. My mother and I are now close, but I was raised by my grandparents. My mom has been divorced twice and is dating a guy who will probably be husband number three.

Mom loves my daughter and is very kind to her, but she doesn't want people to know that she is a grandmother. In fact, she has taught my daughter to call her "Nan" (her name is Nancy) instead of Grandma.

Do you see anything wrong with this arrangement? I'm not pleased with it, but there is not much I can do about it. — Nameless, Boston, Mass.

NAMELESS: If your mother, out of distress at being a grandmother at age 35, avoided her granddaughter and refused to let the child into her heart, then that would be a tragedy for all concerned. At least that isn't the case. I don't think the situation is ideal, but maybe it's the best compromise Mom can work out for the moment with her own vanity.

It is a shame that she is missing out on one of life's biggest pleasures — being a proud grandparent who brags about her grandchild, then pulls out pictures to show the world just how cute she is. I hope Mom eventually makes peace with this delightful role and learns to enjoy it.

I WANT TO LEAVE THE CITY OF CHICAGO

DR. WALLACE: I'm a high school honor student and will be graduating this spring. I have been accepted at the University of Chicago for the fall semester. The University of Chicago is an excellent school and I was thrilled when I was accepted, but now I think that I want to leave the city of Chicago and attend college somewhere else (but not too far away). My parents are willing to allow me to attend another school (dad is a University of Chicago alum) and suggested Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. Do you think these are exceptional colleges? I plan to visit them both real soon. — Nameless, Chicago, Ill.

NAMELESS: Both Carleton and Grinnell are, indeed, exceptional colleges. You would receive a quality education at either institution. I'd like to add a third college for consideration.

Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, is a notch above exceptional. Stop by and visit the campus when you are on your way to Grinnell. Knox is one of the nation's top liberal arts colleges. Knox has a distinguished faculty dedicated to inspire students to achieve to the maximum.

Who knows, after you visit Knox, you might not have to continue to Grinnell.

I'M SNUG AS A BUG IN A RUG

DR. WALLACE: I live with my grandparents. I love them both dearly, but sometimes they can be very stubborn. I have my own bedroom and like to shut the heat vent and sleep with my window slightly open. I'm snug as a bug in a rug under my down comforter.

My grandparents both think that I'm crazy and that I will eventually catch a bad cold. Please enlighten them. — Tina, Rock Island, Ill.

TINA'S GRANDPARENTS: Sleeping in a cool room will not cause Tina to catch a cold. The cold virus is spread through sneezing, kissing, and having hands come into contact with items (door handles, telephones, food carts, other people's hands, etc.) that carry the virus.

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@thegreatestgift.com. 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: Hernán Piñera