DR. WALLACE: I'm 13 and I really want to drink coffee to help me focus more on my studies, but my mom and dad tell me I'm too young to drink coffee. Is this true? Is there some sort of age that teenagers can drink coffee?

My mom does let me drink tea, but the tea she buys is so weak that it does not help me much at all. I have a cousin who lives about 20 miles away and her mom gives her coffee even though she's only 15 years old. Does this mean I'll be able to finally get some coffee when I turn 15? I'd like to try some sooner, but we live in a small town and many people would see me buy coffee at our local Starbucks, for example, so I know not to try it since I'll surely get caught in the act. — Ready to Enjoy Java, via email

READY TO ENJOY JAVA: There is no magic age or legal age to consume coffee. And since you're a minor, your parents can indeed make this decision for you.

I recommend that you go shopping with your mother the next time she goes to the grocery store. When you pass by the tea aisle, tell your mother you'd like to try some English dark tea. This would likely be the closest you can get to coffee at this point.

And although your cousin was allowed to consume coffee at the age of 15, it does not mean your parents will follow suit. When the time is right, ask them if there is an age that they would be all right with it. My guess is the age of 16, but again, it's your parent's call. At the age of 18, you can definitely enjoy all the coffee you want, so at least you have that to look forward to.

MY DRESS SHOES TORTURE ME!

DR. WALLACE: I want to wear tennis shoes at our family holiday party since my hard dress shoes hurt my feet after wearing them for an hour. My mom agrees with me, but my father says he wants me to "dress up."

If I have to wear those hard shoes for four or five hours, my feet will fall off! Help, I know for sure I can't wear those shoes all night. — My Feet Hurt Just Thinking About Those Shoes, via email

MY FEET HURT JUST THINKING ABOUT THOSE SHOES: Talk to your mother first about a compromise I can think of that may help you.

Have her explain to your father about how rough those shoes are on your feet. Then have Mom tell Dad that you'll wear them for the first half hour as you greet all your relatives as they arrive looking as formal as your father prefers.

But then have Mom suggest that you be allowed to then put on your very best, cleanest and aesthetic tennis shoes for the rest of the evening. After you've made a good, formal first impression, nobody is going to care about your shoes later on in the evening with all the fun, conversations and camaraderie that will ensue that evening.

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.

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