DR. WALLACE: I'm working on weekends as a food server at a very nice restaurant and saving money to pay my college tuition. My mom and her best friends (four of them) all come here for dinner every other Saturday evening. These ladies all know me and always ask for my table. I am a very good server and am pleasant to my mother's friends, even though they are quite demanding and all want individual checks and their coffee cups filled constantly. When they finish eating they sit around talking for at least another half an hour.

I could put up with all the bother, but would you believe me when I tell you that not one of them leaves a tip — including my mother! Not even a penny! I hate it when they come into the restaurant and tie up my table for more than an hour. I spoke to my mom about this and she said they don't tip because they all know me. Do you agree that this is the dumbest reason I have ever heard of for not tipping a food server?

Well, last night I had several tables and these ladies were way more demanding than usual and when they were leaving the table (again after great service and without tipping) I told them that they might like to try another restaurant because I was no longer going to be their server because they were all cheapskates.

Now my mother is furious with me. She said the ladies were shocked and very upset. Was I wrong in telling them off? — Amy, Brooklyn, N.Y. P.S.: All of these women are divorced.

AMY: I agree with your assessment of their "no tip" excuse. It's just about the dumbest I've ever heard.

But you were wrong telling these women to find another restaurant to frequent. Your employer is in business to serve food to customers, thus making money to keep the restaurant in business. Let's hope your mother and her friends return so they can reward you with tips for your excellent service.

THE TEEN YEARS CAN BE DIFFICULT

DR. WALLACE: I'm a 16-year-old guy who has been in lots of trouble in the last year, but now I'm starting to calm down. Every time I get into trouble, my mother will never let me forget it. She is always bringing it up and telling me that I don't love her, but I really do.

I think it's normal for a kid my age to get into trouble. If kids didn't get into mischief they wouldn't be kids and I'm just a normal kid. Do you agree? And do you think my mom should be bringing up things from the past? — Josh, Portland, Ore.

JOSH: Some teens get into trouble, but many do not. I wouldn't say it's normal for 16-year-olds to be in constant hot water even though the teen years can be very difficult.

I don't think you would mind that your mom brings up your past if she was proud of your actions. Even if you have told her before, tell mom again that you are sorry for your past unacceptable behavior and that it won't happen again. Then tell mom that you love her and ask her to please judge from today forward and put your past "troubles" to rest. If you will do this, I feel confident that mom will forgive and forget.

MY BOYFRIEND'S FAMILY WON'T TALK TO ME

I've been dating a super guy for four years and we are talking about marriage. I am very much in love with him.

My problem is that every time I visit his house, his family refuses to talk to me. In fact, they act as if I'm not even there. All they do is answer my questions — nothing more. If I see them in public they act as if they don't know me.

What can I do to get them to accept me? — Barbara, St. Paul, Minn.

BARBARA: Why haven't you asked your boyfriend what the problem is? Don't visit his house again until you feel comfortable with his family.

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: Phillip Pessar