What makes us respond to Ts like they're our parents?

I have been known to apologize for bumping into inanimate objects. But ever since the time my father asked me to confess to some wrongdoing with a promise that he wouldn't punish me if only I told the truth, then reneged on his promise, I freakin lied to them. I remember the time he reneged so clearly - I said, that's not how they do it on Father Knows Best! And he said, Life is different from a tv show.
So some years later, they are out for the evening, and I clean the bathroom. Only I use comet on the wooden toilet seat, which takes off the finish. They ask me if I did. I lie and say no. I was terrIfIrd. I hear them talking among themselves. They decide they can't punish me because I didn't admit to it. I never did. Come to think of it, why would cleanIng the bathroom even be a punishable offense?? It should have been no big deal.

I was bummed life was not like The Happy Hollister's either.