DR. WALLACE: I was given a really nice gift by an out-of-state relative, but it's a gift my father is not interested in allowing me to keep. It's one of the most modern electric bikes available, but both of my parents will only allow me to ride a pedal bicycle and save money for a car, since I'm now 17.

I've already saved some money so that I can eventually buy a reliable used car, but my father thinks I should sell the electric bike, buy a deluxe pedal bicycle right now with that money and save the difference.

However, I already have a very reliable older pedal bicycle, so I would like to sell the electric bike for as close to full value as possible and put all that money toward a car. If I do that, I estimate that I'll be able to buy a used car somewhere around the holidays this year, maybe even by Thanksgiving.

My father feels that if this relative comes to visit, having a brand-new pedal bicycle would at least help us explain what we did with the electric bike. But I think it's totally valid to put the money toward reliable transportation in the form of a car. Why should I have to buy a brand-new pedal bicycle? How do you feel about this situation? — My Father and I Disagree, via email

MY FATHER AND I DISAGREE: You may be pleased to hear that I agree with you..

Your relative gave you a very nice gift that was intended to provide you transportation, and selling that item and putting the money toward a reliable used car sounds entirely congruent with the intention of the gift.

I don't feel that it would make that much difference to the relative if you sold an electric bike and bought a deluxe pedal bicycle with the money simply to show you upgraded your existing bicycle. The gift will be traded in either way.

Be sure to write a great thank-you letter to the relative who gave you this wonderful gift, and perhaps mention that it will greatly help you with your future transportation needs.

Do be prepared at some point to explain what you did with the electric bike. Should that relative visit you over the holidays or make direct inquiries, be honest and explain that your logic was intended to honor that gift and repurpose it to meet your transportation needs.

WE WILL ALL LOOK LIKE BLAND ROBOTS

DR. WALLACE: I'm a pretty good player on our girls high school basketball team, and I just found out that every player on the team is going to have to wear the same brand and color of tennis shoes this year.

In previous seasons, we of course had to wear the team uniforms, but we were always allowed to wear whatever socks or shoes we wanted during our games.

Now, our coaches are telling us that we not only have to wear the same exact shoes, but we also must wear white socks at a certain length that just barely comes up above the shoes. I feel this is ridiculous and that we are losing the last bit of originality that we had.

Do you agree? — Not Happy About This, via email

NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS: It's hard to give you a comprehensive reaction to the coaches' decision to change things, since I don't know what parameters or circumstances drove their decision.

However, I can tell you that you need to adhere to team rules even though you don't agree with them. There may be ways to show your individuality via sweatbands or a headband, for example. But as far as shoes, socks and uniforms that the team is stipulating, you must toe the line. There's a time and place to let your individuality show, but since you're facing a team rule, shoes are not the way to realize your desires at this point.

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 rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. 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: Soroush Karimi at Unsplash