DR. WALLACE: My best friend and I are both 13 years old, and we're pretty good kids. We don't get into any kind of trouble; we get good grades in school; and neither one of us have ever been grounded.

Are we perfect? Of course not, but I think you get my point. Even though we're young, we're pretty responsible.

We live in a warm southern state, and this summer, we want to sleep in our family's dome tent in the backyard. However, my father says it's too dangerous and won't let us. When I asked him why, he said someone could come up to us in the middle of the night, or a wild animal or pack of animals could come, since we do live in a bit of a rural area.

I feel these concerns are overblown, and that we're mature enough to handle it. Do you think we should be allowed to camp out for a few nights in our backyard or not? — We Want To Camp Out, via email

WE WANT TO CAMP OUT: I don't know the specific geography of your backyard and the associated risks your father is concerned about. However, I can at least suggest an alternative, even if it's not going to be as good as actually camping outdoors.

Perhaps, if you have a living room or family room that's large enough, your parents would allow you to put up the tent indoors. You'd still be able to hang out, tell stories, listen to music and enjoy a bit of a camping experience in the safety of your own home.

My alternative suggestion is for you and your friend to ask your parents to take the two of you on a local camping trip. Perhaps two or three tents could be erected in a very close proximity, giving you a bit of independence and giving your parents comfort in knowing that they are very near and can provide guidance and protection for you in the great outdoors.

SHOULD I BE PATIENT WITH HIM?

DR. WALLACE: I'm a 14-year-old girl, and I have a mad crush on a 14-year-old boy who goes to my school. We've been able to hang out in a group with some mutual friends this summer, and I already know there's something really special about him.

However, even though I'm 14, I'm a bit taller and more mature than he is, and I look and act like I'm 16 years old already.

He's 14 and not quite up to my height physically, but he often acts like a goofy 12-year-old. He does snap out of it often enough to give me hope, which leads me to my dilemma.

Since I know that he likes me and likes hanging out with me, should I overlook his current flaws and wait for him to mature, or would I be better off to find someone else to hang out with who is on the more mature side like I am? Please also know that he's very cute and I have a sixth sense that we have some type of tremendous bond at our core, even though we're not in the same place mentally yet. — Considering Staying Patient, via email

CONSIDERING STAYING PATIENT: Congratulations on your developing maturity and your ability to communicate very well. Your letter did a good job of bringing me into the picture.

My advice is to stick with him at this time. Often when we have a "sixth sense" type of feeling, it arrives into our conscious minds for a fundamental reason. And don't forget that a sixth sense about a person or situation can cut both ways, meaning good or bad, and can indicate a hopeful connection or a warning.

At your age, and especially his, there is plenty of time to continue growing up and maturing. Let your more developed maturity allow you to give him grace for not being as far along mentally as you are.

Over time, the two of you will either grow closer together or further apart, and if you exhibit a little patience, you'll likely see this trend develop with more certainty one way or the other in the not-too-distant future.

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.

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