Parents Need to be Enlightened

DR. WALLACE: I'm 14, and my older sister is 16. She is very bright and always gets excellent grades. My grades are always just average or slightly above. This means that I'm put on restriction often and denied going to after-school functions because I "need more study time," according to Mom and Dad. But even though I study a lot, I wind up with C's and an occasional B. During the winter break, my mother wouldn't let me attend my best friend's Christmas party because I'm getting a C in English, instead of a B.

Because of her good grades, my sister gets to go anywhere and do anything she wants. I do love my sister, but we have different interests. She is active in most school activities, and all I'm interested in is sports. I'm a very good pitcher in softball, and I start at guard for the basketball team. Please tell me what I can do to get my parents to treat me fairly. - Nameless, Austin, Texas

NAMELESS: Not all siblings have the same capacity to get excellent grades. Mother Nature decides who will be A students and who will be C students. But as a former high school principal, I have observed students who graduated with average grades and yet accomplished above-average feats in many different areas.

Speak with your school counselor or administrator and share your dilemma. This professional will understand. Ask that your parents meet this educator who will enlighten them to the fact that punishing you for doing your very best in school is not the best way to encourage you to enjoy school and to enjoy being an important family member.
 

I WANT HIM TO CHATTER WITH ME

DR. WALLACE: A friend of my brother's is very cute, but he is also very shy. When he comes over to our house, I try to encourage him to talk with me, but if I ask him a question, he always answers yes or no, and that's it. But when he's talking with my brother, he's a real chatterbox. What can I do to encourage him to chatter with me a little bit? - Nameless, Holland, Mich.

NAMELESS: Never ask a shy person a question that can be answered by a simple yes or no. You have already discovered this. Instead, ask a thought-provoking question that a shy person is likely to have an opinion about, such as music, movies, athletics or school activities. Avoid controversial topics such as religion and politics. Instead of asking, "Do you like heavy-metal music?", which can be answered by a simple yes or no, ask, "What do you think about heavy-metal music?"

Always smile when you start a conversation, and never correct the person, even if you are positive that he is wrong about the topic. You are not trying to make the debate team; you are trying to get this cute shy guy to show an interest in you.

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.

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