DR. WALLACE: I'm pretty sure you won't print this letter even though I wish you would. I'm 19 and happily married to a mature and very sweet 18-year-old young woman. We had been going steady for over a year when we decided to get married. My father-in-law told us we could marry when she was 18 if we were sure we were in love.

We were both positive that we were meant for each other, and we had a lovely church wedding with all our family and friends there. We have been married three months now and we have no regrets whatsoever.

My wife and I enjoy reading your column, and we know you don't think it's a good idea to marry at such a young age, but I think our case is definitely the exception. I know you probably won't print this letter, but thanks for reading it. — Nameless, Purcell, Okla.

NAMELESS: I'm sure you've learned that if you want to see your letter in print, start with, "You probably won't print this." I'm happy that your marriage is working out for you and your bride, but yes, I do feel that most 18-year-old girls are not quite ready for all the responsibilities of marriage. However, there are always exceptions, and I'm sure your wife is one of them.

OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT BIRDS

DR. WALLACE: I don't usually write to columnists, but I felt compelled to reply to the father who said he "made his son move out of the house the day after he graduated." I was very pleased and thankful when I read your answer to this father.

My husband and I always set reasonable rules in our household and we told our children that they were welcome to live with us as long as they followed the rules and felt comfortable living with our family.

Our oldest son chose to move out on his own at age 19 because he didn't like some of our rules. But our youngest son stayed at home when he graduated from high school and went into construction. He worked his way up and soon was making good money and could easily have moved out on his own. Instead, he stayed at home and continued to help around the house, doing whatever needed to be done. He enjoyed our family life and also had an active social life with his many friends.

When he was 23, he was killed in an automobile driven by his best friend who was speeding. It was a shock to me and I still grieve and miss him every day. But I am so very grateful for those few extra years that we had the enjoyment of this wonderful young man in our daily lives.

I hope that so-called father in Indiana thinks twice about making his children move out of the house after they graduate from high school. I agree with you, Dr. Wallace, that our children are not birds. Wouldn't it be a better world if we could cherish our young people more?

By the way, another son did move out of the house at the age of 22 because he was ready. He had bought a home of his own. Our daughter, who is now 19, still lives at home and will be welcome here for as long as she likes.

Thank you for letting me vent. — Mother, Birmingham, Ala.

MOTHER: Thanks for sharing your very tragic and compassionate family story with our readers. I'm positive it will encourage the father from Indiana to rethink his decision to force his son to move out of the family home the day after he graduated from high school, and may encourage him to welcome him to return if it is the son's wish.

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@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.