KATHY MITCHELL AND MARCY SUGAR \ Annie's Mailbox Skinny guy would like to gain weight

Dear Annie: I love your column. The reason I am writing is to ask for weight advice -- not to lose weight, but to gain weight.
I am a 21-year-old male, and I've been skinny for as long as I can remember. I can eat anything I want and never gain a pound. While others see this as a blessing, it is a curse for me. I have been told my metabolism is just fast, and eventually it will all catch up to me. I hope so. I've tried weight-building nutritional drinks and the like, but have had no success.
Is there anything you can recommend to help me bulk up a little? Texas T
Dear Texas: In order to gain weight, a person must take in more calories than he expends. First, ask your doctor to check your thyroid. There could be a physiological reason for the problem. Assuming your health is fine, ask the doctor for a referral to a dietitian who can help you eat a more calorie-rich diet. Keep in mind, you are still young and your metabolism is likely to slow down over time. It will not be in your best interest to develop bad habits now. If you start eating potato chips and cookies while lounging on the sofa, you'll live to regret it.
Dear Annie: My husband and I recently bought a business, and I'm totally swamped helping him run it. Because I'm at the office so often, the housework is sacrificed. I feel so weighed down with all the responsibility. I also feel stretched and squeezed between the two places.
I am trying to be a good housewife and mother, but when I get home from the office, I'm too tired to do anything. Even if it gets halfway done, it's a mess again the next day. We're not the most organized people in the world, and we have so much stuff, I don't know where to put it all. Money is too tight to hire someone to help. I know they say, "A woman's work is never done," but this is ridiculous. Do you have any insights for me? Stuck in the Middle
Dear Stuck: Woman's work?!! The feminist fur is flying a bit over here, but we'll try to help. Your husband should be assisting with the housework. If you have children, enlist their efforts as well. There's no reason you must have two jobs while everyone else has one.
Make a list of what absolutely needs to be done (don't go overboard) and who does what. Post the list where everyone can see it. Some things need only be done once a week. Save the more time-consuming stuff for the weekends. Many of our readers have recommended the Web site www.flylady.net for hints on becoming better organized. Check it out, and good luck.
Dear Annie: It is 7:30 p.m., and my husband is still at school waiting for the parents of two children to pick them up after an evening choir concert that was over at 7:00. I also am a teacher. Once, when I called a child's home after a special program, I could hear the TV blaring in the background, and both parents were there. They hadn't even bothered to attend their child's event, let alone pick her up.
Parents, please understand the message you are sending your children by watching TV instead of showing how proud you are of your child's efforts. Children need to know you think they are special. I am your child's teacher for a year. You are your child's teacher for life. Disappointed in the South
Dear Disappointed: It is unconscionable for parents to use teachers as baby sitters because they can't work up any enthusiasm for their child's activities or bother to pick them up promptly. If this describes you, folks, shape up.
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