DR. WALLACE: My mother and father often disagree when it comes to my request to do various things such as hang out with my friends, go to the movies on a school night and so forth. Almost all my friends have a really strict father and a more lenient mother, but my parents are exactly the opposite of this!

My father is very trusting. He's always telling me to focus on the big picture and not worry about the little things. He does his best to shape my character with his suggestions. And when I do have permission to do things I'd like to do, often right before I leave he'll look directly at me and say, "Behave yourself." It's so powerful that the hair sometimes stands up on the back of my neck. Yet when I'm out, his words always resonate in the back of my mind, and I do behave myself pretty darn well.

My mother, on the other hand, always thinks I'm up to no good, that I'm going to hang out with my girlfriends and get in trouble. Yes, one of my girlfriends did get in trouble one time when she was out by herself and got caught shoplifting. But that was over a year ago and had nothing to do with any other four girls in my group of friends.

For some reason, my mother always thinks I'll be influenced by other people and not remember who I am, and that I'll blindly follow someone else's bad ideas. How is it possible that I could have two parents who look at things so differently? — My Parents Are Opposites, via email

MY PARENTS ARE OPPOSITES: Some sets of parents are more in harmony and more alike than others! Never forget that your parents randomly found each other on this earth and decided to get married and have a wonderful child like you. You are related to both of them, but they are not directly bloodline-related to each other. Therefore, their mindsets and predisposition plus life experiences prior to getting married can be vastly different.

The good news is that you appear to me to be a well-adjusted, responsible young person. The fact that you take your father's words to heart indicates sincerity and respect, which are the cornerstones of good character. My advice is to celebrate the differences between your parents, and do your utmost to demonstrate to each of them, in your own way, that you will continue to demonstrate the maturity and responsibility that continues to be your normal behavior.

I JUST WANT TO HANG OUT WITH MY FRIENDS TO SEE A GAME

DR. WALLACE: I'm a high school athlete, and I love to watch sports with my buddies. I play on the boys varsity football and basketball teams at my school.

I live with my sister and our single mother, and by design, she doesn't like having a television in our home. This is absolutely no problem for me 98% of the time, but I do truly enjoy watching some big college football and basketball games on television with my friends from time to time.

My mom always thinks that this is a complete waste of time and that I should be using that time to study or work! She feels sitting down to watch a college football game is a "selfish indulgence." I'm a good student and decent athlete, and I just like to hang out with my friends on my teams to watch the game here or there. Do you feel I should be allowed to do this? — Mom's Not Big on Television, via email

MOM'S NOT BIG ON TELEVISION: I agree with you on this issue. By your own admission, 98% of the time you're not interested or worried about television at all. But in my eyes, you are using the opportunity to watch a college football game on television as an opportunity to hang out with your friends, very much like going out to dinner, hanging out at the mall or going fishing at a lake.

It appears to me to be a form of relaxation and bonding for you, your friends and teammates. Perhaps you could mention this to your mother and explain that it's not so much about the television as it is the time spent together with your friends, sharing the common passion for the sport you all participate in. Many people enjoy attending a college football game in person, but that takes time and money to arrange, whereas visiting a friend in your neighborhood to watch a few hours of football seems like a worthy alternative to me.

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: Meghan Holmes at Unsplash