DR. WALLACE: I recently got into some serious trouble, and my father disciplined me harshly at home, but regarding my public legal problems, he has my back. He's hired a lawyer to defend me and to hopefully minimize the trouble I could be getting into.

Can I really trust this lawyer? I've been told to tell him everything that happened honestly, so that we can devise the best way to explain my behavior and show that I am very sorry for what I did and will not repeat the offense I was accused of. But because the attorney will know exactly what I did, I'm worried he'll tell other people about it and then rumors could spread when I get back to school this fall. Would it be best to only tell him a portion of what really happened? — I Made a Big Mistake, via email

I MADE A BIG MISTAKE: First of all, I am not an attorney and cannot give you any type of legal advice.

But in the department of common sense, I can tell you that attorneys are bound by an oath to protect the client's information. Your attorney would have much to lose by leaking out any private details.

You should stop worrying about the rumor mill at your school and focus on strategically and honorably dealing with the situation you've put yourself into. Your father is greatly helping you by providing you with legal representation.

Do your best to resolve your situation, be contrite and accept the punishment that you may receive. Also, vow to learn a very tough lesson and improve your behavior, character and decision-making process.

Many young people make mistakes, even bad mistakes. It's what they do afterward that often determines the trajectory of their adult life. Do your utmost to be one of the people who recovers and goes on to lead a crime-free life. If you can start truly striving to do this, your future self will thank you for making a great decision on the heels of a very bad one.

MY OLDER SISTER TAKES ADVANTAGE OF ME

DR. WALLACE: My much older sister lives out of state, but she comes back to our town every summer with her young daughter, who is now 5, to reunite with several high school friends for the week.

This is all well and good, and I love my niece very much. But the problem is my sister spends the entire week running around with her friends from sunup until late into the night, and I'm stuck taking care of this little girl by myself. My mom does help when she gets home from work, but I have full responsibility all day.

I feel this isn't fair, but I don't want to say anything sassy to my older sister, since I do love her and care about her and her daughter a great deal. It's just that I feel just unappreciated for having to do this the last couple years.

Her mini reunion is coming up again in two weeks, and although it will be fun to see them again, I'm not looking forward to how I'm going to be feeling about this. What can I do to keep my cool for another week of this again this year? — Feeling Taken Advantage Of, via email

FEELING TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF: Be honest with her! It may seem bold, but I recommend that you give her a call well before her trip. Start by telling her how much you enjoy seeing her and spending time with your niece every year even though it's a large time commitment.

Ask her to kindly take a few minutes and handwrite a card expressing her appreciation for your help. Request that she mails it to you in advance, and hopefully this will get your message across tactfully, and she'll follow through accordingly.

If she does, when she arrives, you can make sure that you have the card displayed prominently in your home to show her how valuable it is to you. Thank her for writing the card, give her a big hug and tell her that you hope she has a wonderful time. This should heighten her awareness of what a big commitment and sacrifice you willingly take on to help her out.

If for any reason — and I dislike even bringing this up — she balks at sending you a card or gets angry with you, simply back down and say, "OK, no big deal, that's fine." Babysit your niece this summer, but if there is absolutely no appreciation extended to you, at the end of the week, you can announce politely to her that you will be unavailable to help her during the summer of 2025. I am rooting for a peaceful outcome that brings you closer together.

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. Email 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: Tingey Injury Law Firm at Unsplash