DR. WALLACE: I'm 16 and do a bit of babysitting for a family friend across town. They have a lovely 7-year-old daughter who I enjoy hanging out with, and the two of us have had a lot of fun reading, singing and coloring pictures over the several months I've been her babysitter.

Recently, a new development occurred as the parents of that little girl started going out to music concerts and dinners with another couple who are friends of theirs. This second couple has 7-year-old twins, one girl and one boy. The first time this happened, I expected to get paid something by each set of parents since I was watching three kids. Additionally, the twins are very hyperactive and they can only eat special foods their parents bring with them due to their allergies.

But at the end of the night, I was paid only the same as always. This last weekend, I just watched the one usual little girl again, but her parents told me that in two weeks I would also have the twins. I was too shy to say anything about my pay, however. I feel what I earn for one little girl is fair, but with three of them running in different directions, it's a lot of work and responsibility. I feel the other parents should also pay me the same as the first parents do, at the very least. Do you agree? — Doing Triple the Work, via email

DOING TRIPLE THE WORK: I absolutely agree, the second set of parents have already had a "free trial," so now it's time for them to pony up and pay you what the other parents are fairly paying you. This would give you double the amount you receive for one child from one family, and this seems more than fair for the second family.

If you had met a family with triplets, you likely would have asked for (or been offered) at least double what you are presently receiving. And if you're still too shy to ask for a bit more pay for the added work and responsibility, have your mother or father make a polite request on your behalf. Since you are already well established and are doing a very good job, I trust the second set of parents will understand your value and make suitable financial arrangements that work for everyone.

HIS LOOK APPARENTLY MUTED MY PARENTS

DR. WALLACE: My parents and I recently attended an event at our high school on a Saturday afternoon that was both a fundraiser and a free luncheon. About a month ago, I met a really nice and sweet boy who talked to me for 20 minutes one day, but since then he's only smiled and waved at me whenever he's seen me in the hallways at our school.

Unfortunately for me, we don't have any classes in common this year. That's too bad as I've been wanting to get to at least know him a little better. To my surprise, he came up to me at this event and said hello again and even asked If he could eat lunch with us. He explained that both of his parents were working and couldn't attend.

I had a great long conversation with him that afternoon, but my parents each just grunted a "hello" greeting to him when introduced and neither spoke to him again. On the ride home I asked them why and they said they didn't like his style, since his hair is streaked and he has his own unique, funky sense of fashion. But underneath those things, he's even nicer than I'd hoped. How can I get my parents to at least acknowledge him the next time? And what if he asks me out on a date sometime? — Surprised by Their Silence, via email

SURPRISED BY THEIR SILENCE: Your parents were either rude or at best, oblivious to the fact that you like him at least as a friend at this point.

In the future, plan ahead with him by telling him a bit about your parents and their careers and interests, for example. This will prepare him to reintroduce himself and ask a topical question to each of your parents that will likely at least extract more than a one-word reply. It could be that your parents just felt he was a random classmate saying hello and therefore didn't feel comfortable since they only looked at his physical presentation. Once they speak to him long enough to understand how nice and sweet his personality is, they are likely to warm up at least moderately to conversing with him. That's a good start no matter if you end up dating him or not, as he deserves to be evaluated for his character and personality and not solely by his present look. Looks often change over time, but personalities have a way of staying mostly in place for most individuals once they become established as young adults.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Photo credit: Nathan Dumlao at Unsplash