Pauline Phillips and Jeanne Phillips make up the mother-daughter partnership that co-creates the most popular advice column in the world—known for its uncommon common sense and youthful perspective.

On Thursday, May 10, Jeanne Phillips ("Dear Abby") was online for Girl Power! Check out the transcript of the chat.

Girl Power! Moderator: Welcome to the Girl Power! Web site live chat session with Jeanne Phillips ("Dear Abby"). She will answer questions about growing up from girls. She'll also answer questions from moms who are trying to raise healthy daughters.

Girl Power! Moderator: We will begin now.

Question from chat: Dear Abby, what is your job like?

Dear Abby: I love my job; I have the best job in the world. I get to be a good friend to a lot of people.

Girl Power! Moderator: Our next question is from a mother.

Question from chat: Hi Dear Abby-I think that one of my daughter's friends has taken up smoking. How can I find out if this is true or not, and what do I tell her parents?

Dear Abby: Do unto her parents, as you would have them do unto you. Many lifelong smokers began in their teens. It is better to nip it in the bud.

Girl Power! Moderator: Thanks for that answer, Abby. Next question...

Question from chat: I have to wear a uniform to school, but you can see my bra through my shirt. I don't want people to make fun of me for wearing a bra. What should I do about that?

Dear Abby: If your bra shows through, you might try wearing a T-shirt or a sports bra. But remember, development is normal, don't slouch. Practice good posture, it will hold you in good stead throughout your entire life.

Girl Power! Moderator: That's great advice, Abby. Girl Power! means having confidence in yourself.

Girl Power! Moderator: Speaking of self-confidence, our next question is from a girl concerned about her weight.

Question from chat: What if I am fat? Do you have any advice on how to get skinny again?

Dear Abby: I recently did a column about this. You didn't put weight on overnight. Do not expect to lose it overnight. I would say that to get thin and stay thin, you have to eat a healthy, balanced diet. You also have to get into a regular exercise program. The best way to do this is to talk to a nurse or a doctor about what a healthy diet is.

Girl Power! Moderator: Thanks for that. Here is the next question.

Question from chat: What does Girl Power! mean to you?

Dear Abby: Being able to realize your potential to the fullest.

Question from chat: Hi Dear Abby. I'm Hispanic and I get picked on at school by other girls. They make rude comments about Hispanics. What should I do?

Dear Abby: You're talking about discrimination. I hate discrimination in any form. The girls who are making those comments are ignorant, cruel, and may be repeating what they've heard at home. Tell your teacher, tell the principal. You have a right to an education free of discrimination.

Girl Power! Moderator: What a great answer. Hopefully all girls will take this to heart.

Question from chat: Hi Dear Abby, I think it is great that you love your job. I hope I am lucky enough to find a job I really love. Another thing, my family is moving to a new city over the summer. Next year I will be at a new school. I am sad about leaving my friends and I'm afraid I won't like it. What should I do?

Dear Abby: First, your feelings are normal. Leaving the familiar is intimidating to anyone, regardless of age. You can maintain relationships with your current friends by e-mailing them and staying in touch. Ask your parents if it's possible to visit or entertain some of them in your new home. I'm sure your parents also have friends they are sad to be leaving. Just because someone moves doesn't mean it has to be the end of the friendship. Remember that.

It's important to get involved in activities in your new community. Faith community activities can provide opportunities to meet people and become accepted. Sports and special interest activities can also help you meet like-minded people and meet friends. Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Don't expect to make all of your friends at your new school.

The more people you know in different circles, the better off you'll be. Take it a step at a time. Making new friends takes time.

Girl Power! Moderator: Next question...

Question from chat: Abby, thanks for being here. I don't know what to say when my friends ask me if I want to drink beer with them. We aren't old enough to drink and I feel uncomfortable when they ask. How can I be confident enough to say NO?

Dear Abby: Just say thanks, I'd rather have a Coke. And if they push you, tell them you don't like the taste. If they continue to push you, they're not friends.

Girl Power! Moderator: Everyone should remember that one!

Question from chat: I like using computers a lot but my other friends that are girls don't and they call me a geek ... I just don't fit in... what do I do?

Dear Abby: Accept it as a compliment. You are the wave of the future. In the years to come, I believe more and more people will be doing more and more things on computers so I see you as ahead of your time, a leader. Don't let the other girls intimidate you.

Girl Power! Moderator: Check out the Girl Power! science and technology section for more information about this! Next question...

Question from chat: Hi Abby, I really want a tan this summer, but I heard laying out in the sun is not good. Can I still lay out in the sun?

Dear Abby: According to the American Academy of Dermatology, sunbathing is not the harmless pastime it used to be regarded as because the ozone layer has thinned. Sunbathing can lead to premature aging of the skin and even skin cancer. If you're smart, you'll do what I did-wear sunscreen when you're outside, all of the time. Limit your time in the sun when the sun is at it's strongest between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Girl Power! Moderator: Great advice. If you still want a tan, check out some of the sunless tanning lotions on the market. You can get the same look of a tan without the sun damage.

Question from chat: Dear Abby, everyone says this boy likes me but I don't know because he won't go out with me. I want to know why he won't go out with me if he likes me?

Dear Abby: It's because he's shy and isn't socially mature yet. Or, he may not be able to afford to.

Girl Power! Moderator: Next question...

Question from chat: Dear Abby, I can't talk to my parents. They're so old fashioned and they won't let me go out with my friends. What should I do?

Dear Abby: I don't know how old you are, where you want to go with your friends, or at what hour of the day or night. Your parents are not the enemy; they love you and want to protect you. You need to let them know you can behave responsibly and respect a curfew and are open and honest with them. Perhaps then they'll loosen up and give you a little more freedom. Good luck.

Question from chat: Hello Abby, I am pleased to hear that you are at Girl Power! Here's my question, if people don't think that you are pretty, what should you do?

Dear Abby: Who are these people?? Not everyone can be a raving beauty. The kind of person you are is more important and longer lasting then "beauty." Are you kind? Are you compassionate? Are you intelligent? Are you honest? Are you considerate of the people around you? If the answer is yes, then to me you're a beautiful person and to heck with what those people are saying!

Girl Power! Moderator: Beauty comes from the inside! Great answer Dear Abby! Our next question is from a concerned mother.

Question from chat: Hi Abby, I have 2 girls and am concerned about when they start dating... when would be a good time, age, to 'allow' them to go on their first date?

Dear Abby: I don't think the answer is carved in granite. There is no magic age to begin dating. Much depends on how mature the girls are. Are they honest? Do they volunteer information or are they secretive? Do they respect a curfew? When asked to do something do they do it-or make excuses for failing to? Are they responsible for their actions?

Now, let's talk about the boy. Do you know him? How old is he?

Exactly, what do the girls mean by date? Will there be supervision? Who provides the transportation?

If a boy comes over to study, watch TV or raid the fridge, that's not a date. And it's not a date when a bunch of kids go out or come to someone's house and pair off. Many, many kids go out together in groups-many parents prefer it that way, safety in numbers.

PS. I have received letters from women whose parents forbade them date until 18 or 21. Their letters are sad because dating helps people learn about social interaction and how relationships work. Their social and emotional growth was stunted because they weren't able to acquire those skills at the proper age.

Girl Power! Moderator: What a tough question! Good answer though!

Question from chat: Dear Abby, when you're a girl and you have a friend that's a boy and you and the boy are NOT dating but people tease you, what do you do?

Dear Abby: There's nothing you can do to stop people from teasing. Look them in the eye, say "He's my friend and if a romance is brewing, you'll be the first person I tell. But so far, there's nothing going on."

Girl Power! Moderator: Here is our next question.

Question from chat: One of my friends is trying to get me to skip school with her. So far I haven't gone with her, but I was wondering if I should let her parents or the teacher know? I don't want her to get mad and never speak to me again!

Dear Abby: I think you and I both know that your girlfriend has problems. I wonder why she wants to skip school. Is she not doing well in school? Is she unpopular? Is she up to some mischief that could be harmful-probably. Don't go with her; do tell your mom what's going on. Perhaps your mom can talk to her mom and something can be done to help this poor girl. But remember, she's not your responsibility. You don't have to fix what's wrong with her and at your age you may not have the tools to do so.

Girl Power! Moderator: On a lighter note, here is a timely question about Mother's Day.

Question from chat: What should I do for my mom on Mother's Day?

Dear Abby: Write a letter and tell her how special she is to you. She'll keep it as long as she lives. If you're artistic, create a card for her with a personal message. One mother wrote me recently and told me that for Mother's Day, her daughter presented her with a small gold box-filled with small scraps of paper on which things had been written like
"Thank you for being there when I needed someone to talk to."
"Thank you for giving me a puppy."
"Thank you for hugging me when I had nightmares."
"Thank you for taking me to all my soccer practices."
"Thank you for making all of my birthday cakes so special."

It wasn't a fancy or expensive gift but it meant the world to that mother.

Girl Power! Moderator: What great gift ideas!

Girl Power! Moderator: Now Dear Abby would like to ask a few questions of you girls.

Dear Abby: Like so many adults, I read a lot about the availability of illegal drugs on school campuses. Are they easily available at your school? How old are you?

Girl Power! Moderator: While we wait, one more question...

Question from chat: Sometimes my homework is hard and I can't finish it all but I don't want to tell my parents or my teacher because they'll think I am stupid. Or maybe they won't let me play.. What should I do?

Dear Abby: Very often, kids need help with their homework. We all need help. Nobody knows everything. If it's too much homework, the teacher needs to be told that it's more than you can handle. If you're having a problem completing your homework, it's smart to ask a parent for help, not dumb.

Girl Power! Moderator: Dear Abby has another question...

Dear Abby: No one can escape the stories about kids being bullied and picked on in school. Has it happened to you or anyone you know? How old are you?

Question from chat: Dear Abby. Yes drugs are everywhere it seems. I am in 8th grade and I know people in the 6th grade who have tried pot.

Girl Power! Moderator: Here is another response...

Question from chat: Dear Abby, I can answer your question from what I know about my school. People say that there is one girl who might use drugs. She's kind of different, but I don't think that that means she uses drugs. As far as I know there are not drugs at my school

Question from chat: I just want to say that these are great answers and thanks for talking to us ... that is really nice of you.

Question from chat: MODMSG Flygrrl: Dear Abby rules!

Dear Abby: I guess my time is almost up. Thank you for greeting me so warmly and for your kind comments. It's been so nice talking to you. I'd love to do it again. You are wonderful, love Abby.

Girl Power! Moderator: Thank you for participating in the Girl Power! Web site live chat session, and special thanks go to Jeanne Phillips ("Dear Abby") for donating her time to "chat" with Girl Power! We look forward to providing you with other unique and exciting opportunities on the Girl Power! Web site so sign-up to receive updates by e-mail, and come back often.