DEAR ABBY: My daughter is in fifth grade at a very small, rural school. She's outgoing and makes friends easily. My problem is, when she comes home from school, she tells my husband and me about the conversations the other fifth-grade girls are having. Most of them involve boys. However, recently the conversations are about sex and things these girls say they want boys to do to them, which include rape.

My husband and I are appalled. My daughter knows that it's not appropriate to discuss these topics, but she is forced by these girls to listen. What should we do? Should we discuss this with the other parents involved? Please help. -- CONCERNED PARENT IN OKLAHOMA

DEAR CONCERNED: While discussing sexual matters may not seem appropriate to you, that's what some children in grammar school do. The problem, however, is that a lot of misinformation can be transmitted among them. Be glad your daughter trusts you enough that she's willing to tell you what is being said.

If this were my daughter and I had not yet had "the talk" with her, I would waste no time in initiating it. Her classmates may say some of the things they do for shock value and have no concept about the violence and physical and emotional damage that a rapist can inflict.

Not only should you bring this to the attention of the parents of these classmates, also talk to the school principal. (Could these girls have been exposed to rape, pornographic movies, etc.?) The best way to combat screwed-up thinking like this is through frank, open discussion and education.

DEAR ABBY: I have 18-year-old twin sons who are seniors in high school and more mature than most at their age. My husband and I raised them with responsibility and manners, and people comment on how well they behave.

My problem is neither one seems interested in socializing. They don't date and never have friends over. They tell me people their age are "morons."

The boys are very close. They still share a room, and want to attend college together and major in the same field. I'm worried that they are too close and need to separate from each other and get out more. I worry that they aren't experiencing the life of typical teenagers. Should I be worried about this or wait and see what college brings them? -- MOTHER OF TWINS

DEAR MOTHER: Your boys may be responsible and mannerly, but they appear to be socially immature. The time to have separated them and encouraged them to develop their individual personalities was when they entered their teens.

While it is normal for twins to share a special closeness, the fact that they don't socialize, don't date and consider their contemporaries all to be morons IS something to be worried about. If you are going to contribute to their college educations, it might be helpful to insist they go to different schools. But before you do, consult a licensed counselor for guidance because it may be traumatic for them.

DEAR ABBY: I am a community college sophomore (age 20) in an international honor society, double-majoring in biotechnology and biological sciences. My dream is to become a cardiologist.

I have worked hard and excelled at my studies, as well as in my friendships and sports. However, my brothers have not. My older brother, "Aaron," barely graduated from community college and my younger brother, "Greg," dropped out after his first semester.

I know it's not healthy for me to think this way, but I am afraid I am going to be the one who has to support them. Aaron plays video games all day, while Greg does nothing. I'm afraid I'll be stuck playing "Mommy" for my adult brothers for the rest of my days.

How do I get across to them that they're not children anymore and they need to take their education seriously? -- NOBODY'S MOMMY IN MARYLAND

DEAR NOBODY'S MOMMY: Where are your brothers living now? With your parents? If that's the case -- and I suspect it is -- that message should come from them. That your parents would allow Aaron to sit around all day playing video games rather than become independent means they are his enablers.

There is truth to the saying, "The Lord helps those who help themselves." Warn the boys that unless they start preparing for their future, they could wind up living in the street, because when your parents go, you have no intention of supporting them financially. That responsibility is not and should not be yours.

DEAR ABBY: I just got married to a beautiful woman. She's tall and elegant. The problem is, she's addicted to taking pictures of herself. She takes at least 100 of them a day.

When we're driving, she's busy taking selfies. When we go out, she asks me to take pictures of her. If I tell her I don't want to take more pictures, she pleads with me to take "just one more," which really means five.

When we are out to dinner and I get up to go to the restroom, she asks total strangers to take her picture. When we were on vacation and we went to the pool, she wore full makeup for two reasons, she said: (1) She's not putting her head under water, and (2) she wants some pictures taken of her.

I have told her many times how much this annoys me, but she says I am preventing her from what she enjoys. What can I do to help her? -- TOO MANY PHOTO OPS

DEAR TOO MANY PHOTO OPS: You have married a beautiful (tall, elegant) piece of arm candy. Because you did not mention even one other positive quality about her, I assume this is what you wanted. Her vanity/insecurity about her looks is the "accessory" that goes with your trophy.

It will take effort on your part to help her recognize that what she has to offer beneath the surface is at least as important as her looks. (It may also take the services of a psychologist, if she's willing.)

DEAR ABBY: My fiancee and I have known each other since high school. I was the "good kid" with honors and the right parents. She was considered trouble and didn't have the best home life. Rumor had it that she moonlighted as a stripper our senior year, but I always blew it off as false.

Fast-forward 12 years: I ran into her recently, and we decided to have dinner. I fell in love with her on that date. A few months went by and I mentioned the rumors. She wasn't upset and matter-of-factly explained that she did start stripping in high school and continued through college. It bothered me, but the benefits of being with her far outweighed the negatives.

Now that we are engaged, she told me she had to "come clean." She said there were times in college when she had sex with some of her regular clients. I am floored. She basically admitted she had prostituted herself. I don't know what to do. I don't want to blame her for her past indiscretions, but this is a big deal. I don't know how to let it go. Advice, please! -- GUY WHO NEEDS ADVICE

DEAR GUY: You now see your fiancee clearly -- warts and all. The problem with "falling in love" (what I define as infatuation) is that you don't yet know who the person IS. Regardless of how your fiancee financed her education, she deserves respect for being honest with you. She has done as much as she can to improve her life. You must now ask yourself if you can see past her past, and if she is someone you would be happy spending the rest of your life with. Remember, I live in Los Angeles, and in this town, her revelation wouldn't necessarily be a deal-breaker.

DEAR ABBY: I met a guy named "Ryan" about 10 weeks ago. We hit it off right away. I admit I had a little crush on him.

About a week after we met, he came out to a group of our mutual friends (me included) as gay. I'm very supportive of him, and it didn't change anything between us at all. Over the last several weeks, we have grown to be best friends and continue to grow closer and closer.

Once I found out Ryan was gay, the rational and practical part of me took over and squashed the crush I had on him in the beginning. But now that feeling is coming back even stronger.

I know our relationship can never be anything more than platonic. I guess I'm just asking how I can get over him while still maintaining our close friendship, because ultimately, that means the world to me, and I don't want to lose it. -- FRIEND ONLY, IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

DEAR FRIEND ONLY: It's not easy to think rationally when emotions are involved. Ryan may have everything you want in a man, but he will not be a romantic partner for you. If spending time around him becomes too painful, you may have to put some distance between the two of you until you regain your emotional balance.