Dear Dr. Laura,

When I was 12, my dad, with whom I'm very close with, came to me, sat me down and said to me, "You are about to be a teenager soon. When you're a teenager, you will think you are the smartest person in the world. And when you think that, just keep in mind you will be at the dumbest period of your life."

My parents separated when I was 16 and my dad moved out. But thanks to my dad's lesson, I didn't do anything dumb (like get into drugs, alcohol, or sex). I graduated in the top 10 of my high school class, got a engineering degree, and was able to support myself right out of college. My dad has since gone back to his home country to take care of his aging parents.

When I have kids, I will give them the same lesson my dad gave me. Thank you, Dr. Laura for being a guiding light.

Sincerely,

Cindy