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This column was posted on 12/18/2002. Check back next week to see another "Family Faire!" question and answer. It could be yours!

"Hey, Ansonia!" It's a pain not being able to get on the Internet: in fact, that's one of my parents' favorite punishments for me: being grounded from the computer! It's almost like not being able to talk on the phone!

Perhaps you have tried this already, but if not, you must talk to your dad. A lot of family/friend/boyfriend problems are all caused because people fail to communicate with one another. This leads to bad feelings toward one another, and then when parties do communicate...they explode! So you need to talk to your dad before things get worse.

When talking to your dad, explain that you wish you had more time on the computer because you want to talk to friends and family. Plus, the Internet has so many different places to explore! Explain that you are happy he has a job and know he is working very hard for you all (don't forget, dads are important too!), but you'd like a compromise such as: you have the computer for an hour or two after school everyday or at night or after dinner. Whatever is a good time for him. You might have to take less, but if you handle what you are given with maturity, it can only lead to more! Best of luck!

(Editor's note: Also, you might go to your local library and use the computers there to at least check and send a few e-mails!)

Johanna, 15, Illinois