DR. WALLACE: This past summer I earned $1,000 baby-sitting and have continued to baby-sit after school started. So far it has not affected my grades. Of the $1,000 earned during the summer, I put $500 in the bank. The rest was spent on school clothes and everyday spending money.

I thought my parents would be proud of me, but that's not the case. They want me to save more of my paycheck for my college expenses. It's true that I want to attend college but that's over two years away. I work hard for my money and I want to be able to enjoy at least half of what I earn. Do you agree? — Monica, Oklahoma City, Okla.

MONICA: Yes, I think if you save half of all your baby-sitting earnings for college expenses your parents should be very satisfied. But your parents know more about what's best for you. Find out what percentage of earnings they feel you should be saving. It's easier to accomplish a savings "goal" when a percentage is established. Terms such as more, larger, or not enough leave room for disagreement.

DO YOU THINK HE WILL COME BACK TO ME?

DR. WALLACE: Jeff and I dated for over a year, but we broke up when his family moved to California four months ago. We promised to be true until we could be together again, but after three months he wrote that he wanted to break up because we were so far apart. I didn't like the idea, but there wasn't anything I could do to keep us together.

I think about Jeff every day and dream of the day he will return to me. I got up the nerve to call him last week and asked him if he was coming back to Peoria after he graduates in June. He said no because he and a buddy are going to Alaska before they start college at UCLA.

I'm in the 11th grade and have not gone on a date since Jeff left town because I've been waiting for him to come home. To make things more complicated, he told me he has been dating the same girl for some time and they are "serious" about each other.

Do you think there is any chance Jeff will change his mind and come back to me or did I waste my time dreaming a dream that might never come true? — Nameless, Peoria, Ill.

NAMELESS: No, you didn't waste time, you just weren't particularly interested in dating other guys, and you spent your time in other ways. There's nothing wrong with that. However, your dream of Jeff's return was an illusion.

Now that you're ready to start dating again, face the reality that Jeff is history. Don't be too hard on yourself. You called him to see if there was any chance of getting back together with him and he said "No" as nicely as he could. This was a disappointment, but you will recover!

You've got the rest of high school — and the rest of your life — to look forward to. Forget about your ex and start going out with other guys. There is life after Jeff and I have no doubts that you're ready to take it on. Write to me in a month and let me know how you are doing. I'm positive that you will have good news to share with me!

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.