Say Gerv? My girlfriend is a backseat driver always stepping on her imaginary brakes. How can I get her to keep her over the top reactions and comments to herself?  

–Mahdiul, Cambridge, MA 

Mahdiul, I agree backseat drivers are the worst. I used to date a girl who constantly would step hard on the floor like she had a brake pedal and reach for the roof whenever a car in front of me stepped on the brakes. When someone would change a lane without signaling, she would start screaming at me like it was my fault.  

So you know what I did? I banned her from my car. If she was driving we could ride together, if not, she had to drive herself. Was she mad about it? Yes she was. Did I have peace of mind when I drove? Absolutely. Nobody’s got time for that nonsense.  

So let your girlfriend know she can do all the driving while you relax and enjoy the ride. I wonder how long that will last? 

Say Gerv? After ten years of marriage my wife and I have stopped doing a lot of things together. How can I get us back to the way we were?  

-Dave, Peabody, MA 

Dave, I think we’ve all been there if we’ve been in a long term relationship. It starts out all hot and steamy. The thrill of the chase keeps us captivated. Then we finally get what we’ve been dreaming of and slowly we stop putting in the same energy and effort.  

Now if you and the wife have stopped doing things because you’re physically not capable that’s understandable. If you’ve stopped because you don’t feel like it or you’re too busy then that can be fixed. That saying you always make time for the things you care about is very true.  

You can make excuses, but the fact of the matter is they’re just that, excuses. It’s time to reintroduce yourself to your wife. Take her out and do all the things she wants you to do and loves.  

Don’t worry about what she’s going to do for you. Just focusing on pleasing her and making her happy. You should get enjoyment from seeing her happy. That will get her motor running and she’ll then want to please you and make you happy in return.  

The next thing you know it’ll be like high school all over again and I’m sure you remember how much fun that was.  

Say Gerv? My son doesn’t want to go to college, but my wife and I say he has too. How can we get him to see it’s important for his future?  

–Jason, Boston, MA 

Jason, If your son doesn’t want to go to college it’s not the end of the world. Maybe the answer is community college, the transferring in two years. Trade schools are great and can lead to great careers.  

I took a year off after high school to “find myself” and figure out what I wanted to do with my life. A year later I was still lost and wanted to take another year off. That’s when my mom forged my name on paperwork and enrolled me in a technical school where I graduated with a degree in Electronic Technology and went on to work for IBM. Yes, my mom was crazy like that.  

Jason you and the wife need to talk with your son and figure out what he wants to do and help him come up with a plan. No matter what, let him know that education is crucial and that going to school to learn something is a must. It’s time to grow up and start being an adult making adult decisions.  

We as parents always want what’s best for our children. We must remember that it’s their life and they have to live with the consequences of their decisions. Nobody ever said it was going to be easy. 

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 Gervase Peterson has made history as the first African-American male in the #1 all-time reality series Survivor. Hollywood is no stranger to Gervase as well after appearing and co-hosting with several national television programs.