Your Ex Is a Loser

DR. WALLACE: I am a 17-year-old girl who is in need of advice. I had been dating my boyfriend for four months when he broke up with me. He accused me of cheating on him and said some really mean things to me. The next day he apologized and said he wanted to get back with me. I told him that it was too late, especially after all of the awful things he had said to me.

He continued to text and call me constantly with more mean things to say. He even posted a picture on Facebook and called me a bad, bad name. He sent text messages to my mom and made up some horrible lies about me having sex with a bunch of guys and giving him a sexually transmitted disease. My mom, needless to say, was very, very upset.

Two weeks have gone by and he has apologized. He said he is on medication to help with his anger and mood swings and is seeing a therapist. The problem is that I want to get back with him, but my parents are dead set against it. Even though he apologized to my mom, she is not willing to forgive him. She doesn't believe anything he says because of all the lies he told her. He hasn't told his parents that he made up the lies about me cheating on him, so his parents hate me. My mom thinks I need therapy because I want to get back with him. She thinks I must lack self-esteem to be willing to go back with him. I really care about him but don't like the friction my seeing him causes at home. What can I do? - Nameless, Kewanee, Ill.

NAMELESS: Your ex-boyfriend is guilty of a cyber crime and should be prosecuted. Medication or no medication, this guy "stepped over the line" and should never be trusted again. Only your mother knows if you need therapy, but I agree with Mom that it would be a huge mistake to date this loser again.

A COOL TREAT WILL ALWAYS BE APPRECIATED

DR. WALLACE: I'm 15 and have my first boyfriend. Jimmy is going to have his 16th birthday in a month and I want to buy him a birthday gift that doesn't cost more than $25. Since I'm not really sure what guys like for gifts, I'm asking you for a few suggestions. - Serena, Des Moines, Iowa

SERENA: For $25 or less, you could give a "mod" T-shirt or one with his favorite sports team logo, a gift certificate for a fast-food restaurant, CD store, or bookstore. You could also give him a box of his favorite chocolates (he might share one when he opens it). If all else fails, invite him to his favorite ice cream parlor for a real cool treat and you pay!

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.