DEAR ABBY: I am concerned about the number of teens who write to you about whether or not to have sex. I am a mother of four, and I'm only 22. My first child was born when I was 14. Only two of my biological children live with me, and I have taken my stepdaughter in as my own.

Teens everywhere should be educated about sex and the consequences of having sex at a young age. Many parents still do not have "the talk" with their children -- leaving it up to the educational system, which is inadequate in this area.

I would like to urge teen parents to volunteer at local schools to educate these teens about what "might" happen. I see more and more teens every day heading down the road I went down, and it scares me.

I was lucky that I now have the chance to further my education and provide a stable life for my children, which, I might add, did not happen until I was already the mother of two and 18 years old. I had to give one child up for adoption, and it was heart-wrenching. To teens out there, PLEASE do not be like me. You might not be as lucky as I was. -- WISER NOW IN THE U.S.A.

DEAR WISER NOW: Thank you for wanting to warn other teens not to venture down the same path that you did. You are right: You are lucky you have a chance to further your education and provide a stable life for your children, because most teenage mothers are not so fortunate. Sadly, only one-third of teen mothers receive a high school diploma, and only 1.5 percent have a college degree by the time they reach 30. (Nearly 80 percent of unmarried teen mothers end up on welfare.)

Although teenage pregnancy, birth and abortion rates in the United States have declined over the last decade, our country continues to have a higher rate of teenage pregnancy than most other developed countries. (It's nearly twice the rate as in Australia or Canada -- and more than four times higher than the rate in France.)

Although we all wish that teens would remain abstinent until marriage, the fact remains that many don't. And those young people need accurate information about how to prevent unplanned pregnancies and avoid sexually transmitted diseases. Parents who leave sex education up to the schools should be aware that since 1996, the federal government has poured $1 billion into abstinence-only sex education programs that do not include complete information on birth control methods or even sexually transmitted diseases.

I have always believed that what people don't know CAN hurt them, and that anyone old enough to ask deserves straight answers to their questions. And that is why I offer a booklet, "What Every Teen Should Know," to answer some of the questions that many teens are afraid to ask their parents regarding sex, STDs, drinking and drugs. Many parents and grandparents have given the booklet to their teenagers or used it to foster discussion.

It can be ordered by sending a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $6 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. Postage is included in the price.

DEAR ABBY: I am a 24-year-old woman who has been married for four months to an amazing man. We have a wonderful marriage and are looking forward to growing old together. However, I have a slight problem:

I have a baby blanket I have had since I was a baby and have slept with it since before I could walk. When I turned 16, I told myself I'd get rid of it. Sixteen turned to 18, 18 turned into getting rid of it when I graduated from college, which turned into getting rid of it when I married.

I am now married and have no intention of getting rid of it. I guess I've held onto it because it's familiar. (We moved far from home after our wedding.) My husband says he doesn't mind, and I'm sure he's not lying, but it's a little embarrassing. I can't fall asleep without it. I even watch TV with it in my lap or read with it behind my head.

Do you think it's ridiculous for me to have a baby blanket at 24 with a new, wonderful husband, or should I just keep it and not worry? -- K.T., IN KENTUCKY

DEAR K.T.: Your "problem" may be unusual, but it's not unheard of. Your "blanky" is familiar and soothing, and since your husband doesn't mind, I see no reason why you should be concerned about keeping it. Enjoy!

DEAR ABBY: I have finally been reunited with my 30-year-old son, who was in the Marines as a sergeant in Iraq. He decided he wanted to get in touch with his dad after 15 years. I welcomed him with open arms.

I love my son very much. Is it wrong for me to want to hug him?

He is married, and I have just met his wife. She's a great person and a wonderful daughter-in-law. She met me at the door with a hug. I told them both that I love them, always have and always will, and it wasn't my choice that we were separated. I don't ever want us to be separated again.

He told me, "Dad, I love you, too," but he's not too keen about the hugs all of a sudden. (It was OK the first couple of visits.) I just want him to know I really love him. Do you think my son is too old to be hugged? -- DEMONSTRATIVE DAD IN PENNSYLVANIA

DEAR DEMONSTRATIVE DAD: No, I do not. Hugging is a common expression of affection in many families. However, you must remember that you have been separated from your son for half his life. And for hugging to be OK, it needs to be mutual. So before you do it again, talk to your son about it and be sure the gesture is welcomed. And if it makes him uncomfortable, respect his feelings.

DEAR ABBY: My father recently died. My co-workers took up a collection to give to me. It has always been my understanding that gifts such as this should be used for the funeral expenses. Therefore, I passed the money on to my mother.

When I mentioned it to a couple of my co-workers and friends, they said I should have kept the money for myself -- that was the intent. Was I wrong to pass it on to my mother? She is the one paying for the funeral and needs the money for a headstone, etc. -- LINDA IN EDINBURG, ILL.

DEAR LINDA: Your friends are well-intentioned but mistaken. My understanding is the same as yours -- and you did the right thing in giving the money to your mother to help with the expenses surrounding your father's funeral.

For an excellent guide to becoming a better conversationalist and a more attractive person, order "How to Be Popular." Send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $6 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby Popularity Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)

DEAR ABBY: I just finished reading the letter regarding the husband who, while coming out of anesthesia, "confessed" to cheating on his wife.

You were dead on when you said, "People babble all sorts of nonsense when coming out of anesthesia." Some of it may be true, but most of the time it is not! I know from experience.

When I had knee surgery, I later learned that while I was in recovery I told the nurse I hoped Meredith wouldn't see me, as I looked horrible. When asked who Meredith was, I said she was my wife. Abby, I was 14 years old at the time!

I hope that the wife in that letter realizes that maybe her husband's confession was just the result of being in a completely different world. And hopefully, the husband's alleged mistress is only as real as my supposed "wife" was. -- GREGORY B., CINCINNATI

DEAR GREGORY B.: Thank you for sharing your experience. Believe it or not, I got a rash of mail from people telling me I should not have printed that letter because it would deter people from having necessary medical procedures that require an anesthetic! What the hospital worker had actually done was share an old wives' tale. Read on:

DEAR ABBY: If it were true that "people coming out of anesthesia are completely incapable of lying," the police would be giving this as a test instead of polygraphs, neither of which are admissible in court as reliable indicators to convict someone. Other evidence is needed. -- JUANITA IN MELBOURNE, FLA.

DEAR ABBY: My husband had a colonoscopy, and when I met him in the recovery room he was still "under the influence." When I asked him how it went in there, he responded, "Well, we had Earth, Wind and Fire in there, and we were dancing all over the place." I replied, "I find that hard to believe, honey," and he said, "I won the dance contest!"

I would advise that wife not to believe what others say while coming out of anesthesia. -- CINDY IN ANN ARBOR, MICH.

DEAR ABBY: Since I have been giving anesthesia for more than 30 years, I feel somewhat qualified to comment on the nurse's statement that "It's impossible to lie under anesthesia." There are many classes of drugs given during anesthesia, and most of them only make you talkative and amnestic. I don't know of a single one that is guaranteed to produce the truth. I hope the woman who might be getting a divorce due to her husband's response reads this. -- PAT IN MARSHALLTOWN, IOWA

DEAR ABBY: It is my experience that much of the public refer to anyone wearing scrubs as a nurse. In fact, many other employees in health care wear scrubs, including lab techs, nursing aides and assistants, orderlies, housekeepers and unit secretaries. Assuming you are interacting with a nurse when, in fact, you aren't in a health care setting can lead to consequences ranging from annoying to downright dangerous.

There was no excuse for any employee in health care to have made such appalling comments. Especially in this age of overburdened health care workers and crowded hospitals, it is imperative that the public know with whom they are speaking, questioning, or taking instructions from in a medical setting! -- AN R.N. IN EUGENE, ORE.

For everything you need to know about wedding planning, order "How to Have a Lovely Wedding." Send a business-size, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $6 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Wedding Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)