DEAR ABBY: My mom recently married a man with four daughters whose upbringing was very different than mine. Most of the time the "culture clash" doesn't bother me, except when we get into trouble.
When I stay out after my curfew, I am grounded for two weeks. When they do it, they get a minor scolding. While I understand that we were raised with different standards, I resent it when my punishment is worse than theirs. How can I make this equal? -- ANGRY IN THE WEST
DEAR ANGRY: Yours is a problem that occurs in many families when they become blended -- and you are right; the situation is unfair. That's why I hope you will show this item to your parents. Family counseling can help them arrive at a fair solution and head off resentments before they explode.