Drop your ego before it ruins your relationship
Dr. Wallace: I was involved in two automobile accidents in the past 10 months and both were my fault. Because of this, my fiancee refuses to ride with me when I’m driving. Now whenever we go anywhere in a car, she drives her car and picks me up and it’s starting to bug me.
Last night after dinner in a nice restaurant, the valet assumed I was the driver, and opened the passenger door for my fiancee. It annoyed me when I had to tell him she was the driver. And on top of that, she tipped him!
What can I do to convince my girl that the man should be the driver and his date the passenger? — Bob, Lima, Ohio.
Bob: Your male ego is showing. I think you’ve got an intelligent fiancee. Don’t let your pride ruin your relationship. You will be in the driver’s seat once again whenever she is certain your driving habits have drastically improved. I hope your fiancee gives you another chance!
Dr. Wallace: I’m a 7th-grade girl and I like a boy who is also in the seventh grade. He acts like he likes me, but whenever his friends are around he acts like he doesn’t know me.
Let me give you an example. Yesterday we were talking nicely after lunch until his boyfriends came out of the lunchroom. Then he told me to “take off” and that he would talk to me later.
I have asked him several times if I embarrass him and he said no and that he really
ROBERT WALLACE
likes me, but I’m not so sure. What do you think? — Ann, Orlando, Fla. Ann: I think this boy likes you, but he has a lot of peer pressure to be with “the boys.”
Until the pressure ends, he will probably forsake you for his friends, but it does not mean that he does not care for you.
Dr. Wallace: I’m 15 and will be allowed to date next month when I turn 16. I’m really looking forward to my first date, but I must admit that my standards are extremely high. I want to date guys who are at least my intellectual equal who will laugh at my jokes even when they aren’t funny, be caring, loving and kind, and who will respect me as a young woman. I’m not a raving beauty but I’ve been told more than once that I’m very attractive. When I start selecting, what’s the first thing that I should look for in a guy? —Nameless, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Nameless: Given the rigid standards, you should look for a guy who is your intellectual equal. You can teach a person to laugh at your jokes, to be caring, loving and kind, but you can’t teach someone to be intellectual. That trait is handed down by Mother Nature.