DEAR HARRIETTE: I am in a fight with my dad about my summer plans. It is not a fight that has interfered with our relationship, but there is a little bit of tension, and I know that he is angry with me. He wanted me to get a job at my old summer camp and spend one last summer away, enjoying campfires and canoeing before it's too late. I chose to stick with a local job in town, because I am going to college next year and I thought one last summer with my school friends would be fun before we moved on. Still, though, I see his point, and I realize that I am going to have a lot of time with little to do. It is too late to get a job at the sleepaway camp, but I am seeking a way to simultaneously mitigate the tension and experience an amazing summer. Do you have any suggestions? -- Stressing About Summer, Westchester, N.Y.

DEAR STRESSING ABOUT SUMMER: It is uncanny how often parents have good reason for their recommendations, isn't it? I do not say that to rub it in. I remind you of this because as you go off to school, do remember to listen to your parents and take their recommendations to heart. This does not mean you have to do everything they say. You are becoming an adult and are learning to make your own decisions and live with the consequences, as you are seeing in this situation.

Do not despair. You can craft a great summer for yourself. Do research on free activities in your town and in Manhattan. Because you are so close to the city, you can do lots of exploration on your own or with friends. On your days off, go on fun adventures. Make the big city your campsite! A few suggestions include: rivertorivernyc.com, cityparksfoundation.org/summerstage/ and shakespeareinthepark.org.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I had a big falling-out with a good friend, and we have hardly spoken since. That was about two years ago. I saw her recently and realize how much I miss her. How can we come back together, given that a lot of time has passed? -- Missing My Friend, Jersey City, N.J.

DEAR MISSING MY FRIEND: It is possible to mend old wounds. Reach out to your friend and tell her that you miss her. Be that direct. Apologize for so much time passing without your reaching out. Rather than rehashing what happened two years ago, suggest that the two of you get together. If you can be specific about a date, time and location for when you can meet, that would be perfect -- it makes it easy for her to respond.

When you do get together, be present. There may be no need to talk about any of the hurt feelings of the past. Talk to each other. Catch up on your lives. Be a good listener. See if you two can choose to revive your bond.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I wanted to say something in regard to the letter from "Unhappy Parent."

My son migrated to the U.S. from the Caribbean when he was 7 years old. He was picked on and bullied and had problems adjusting because he spoke differently. I had to make regular trips to school because he was "too active" (the teacher's words, not mine). The teacher suggested that I give him some sort of medication to "calm" him. Sadly, I took her advice. His grades improved, but he was like a zombie! He slept all the time and became withdrawn.

I took him off the medications and enrolled him in sports. He was too tired to act up in class and at home, and it taught him how to be a team player, how to perform under pressure and how to follow rules. Today I am the proud mommy of one of the youngest professional athletes in the U.S.! I hope "Unhappy Parent" gives my suggestion a try before she puts her active 6-year-old on meds! -- Move Your Body, Chicago

DEAR MOVE YOUR BODY: While I am not a doctor, I do know as a parent that when you put your child in activities that allow for him to use his physical energy, he often behaves better when it's time to be still. Active recess and gym class at school are essential, yet many schools do not offer gym class anymore. As far as parents go, you were smart to enroll your son in sports. I highly recommend this for boys and girls. In addition to directing physical energy into appropriate activities, supervised sports teach children how to get along, agree to disagree and other key social skills.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I'm in an interracial relationship. I date a black woman with kids. We've been together for almost two years, and my family doesn't agree with the relationship. They think we should break up. We really love each other, and her family seems to like me and is accepting of the relationship. My family doesn't feel the same way, and wishes things were different. Sometimes I feel like I don't know what to do. Any suggestions? -- Heartbroken, Washington, D.C.

DEAR HEARTBROKEN: It is embarrassing to learn that people in our country continue to have discriminatory thoughts and feelings about people of other races. I can only imagine how challenging this is for you. Because it is your family that is against your relationship, I can see how tough it must be for you to build your relationship and have peace.

You need to figure out what you want. If you believe that you, your girlfriend and her children have a future together, claim that and let your family know. Be direct when you ask them to support you. If they offer push-back, challenge them. Have them name what their concerns are. If they are race-related, let them know that you are ashamed that they would think that way. If they are founded on other legitimate reasons, hear them out and consider their position.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I was invited to a friend's sister's confirmation as his "date." He and I are more than friends, but not in a relationship. We've been going on dates, and when he invited me, I was reluctant at first because we have not been on many dates since we left the friend zone. My impression was that it would be only his immediate family, but some aunts and uncles flew in to witness his sister's ceremony. It went well. His family was welcoming and kind, but I feel strange about attending such a spiritual event. Though he was told to invite a friend or two, I do not think I was what his mother had in mind. Should I not have gone? Was he in the wrong to have invited me? We did have a nice time, and his family treated me very nicely. I just don't know. -- Unsure Footing, Washington, D.C.

DEAR UNSURE FOOTING: What is key here is that you enjoyed the event, and the family welcomed you. That is the good news. It is also positive that your date felt comfortable inviting you to attend a family event like this. It says a lot for how much he trusts and respects you.

It should also make you wonder if he is interested in making your relationship more concrete. For that matter, you should give it thought yourself. What do you like about this man? What makes you feel comfortable? What makes you feel ill at ease? This event had a bit of both. You should talk about that. You should also talk to each other about the future -- not so much whether you are trying to commit to each other, but if you share interests, values, perspectives.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I have fallen into an unhealthy cycle. I have developed really bad sleeping habits that are negatively impacting my daily routines. I often cannot sleep at night. I toss and turn and end up with few hours of actual rest. As a result, I am lethargic throughout the day and unproductive. When I get home from school, I am wiped out and I take a nap. Then I must complete my work, which often carries me late into the evening again, and when I have finished -- around 1 or 2, I am unable to sleep. The cycle is constantly repeating itself, and my academic performance is being impacted. Though I am keeping up with my work from home, I am learning less in school because I am so exhausted, and I am having trouble retaining information for exams. Is there a way that I can remedy this situation? I appreciate your help. -- Sleepless in Scarsdale, Scarsdale, N.Y.

DEAR SLEEPLESS IN SCARSDALE: You need to break your cycle, which is not easy to do. One way to start is to develop new, healthier patterns. Do yoga or some other form of relaxing exercise that can calm your mind and body before it is time to go to sleep. Take a hot bath before going to bed. Turn off the TV or other stimulating influences.

Talk to your doctor to see if there is a temporary medication you can take to help you get through this semester. Take time off this summer to decompress and reset your internal clock.