I just wanna have fun... but dad doesn't seem to think so

Though I am 17, I don't feel my age. My father is SO controlling! He has issues with everything I do...

I just wanna have fun... but dad doesn't seem to think so

Dear Diana,
Though I am 17, I don't feel my age. My father is SO controlling! He has issues with everything I do. I've got my holidays and am doing an internship while none of my other friends are. He makes a whole routine for me

Illustration/ Sameer Pawar

when I don't have holidays and now he has made a routine for my holidays too. I'm so sick and tired of doing what he wants. I've had talks with him but they don't seem to make a difference to him. I have a boyfriend whom I've been seeing for two years now. I adore him, and my dad seems to have a problem with that too. My boyfriend lives in another city, so it's not like I meet him everyday. I meet him once a month and my dad does everything he can to stop even that. He keeps making false promises and I'm really frustrated. I understand I need to concentrate on studying, but I want to have a life besides books! I do pretty well academically and in sports as well. But I barely have friends or go out. I used to, but after dad started controlling everything I do, they've sort of shunned me because I barely meet them anymore. And he takes my phone away by 11 pm. I'm feeling really low.

Name withheld

Dear Friend,
Most fathers are overprotective of their daughers. It's an inborn trait. You're grudges and grumblings are going to go unheard. He may want the best for you but is imposing his authority on you because he believes he's doing the right thing. You cannot convince him otherwise. About making false promises though, you can take him up on that. Also, you're old enough to have a responsible boyfriend and don't really see what all the fuss is about. If you're doing well in studies, I hope he lets you have a life. Trouble is, as long as you're under his roof, you're bound by his rules.

My guy has been aloof for a while now...

Dear Diana,
My boyfriend has been quite aloof these past few days. I'm 22 and he's 24 but he won't talk about marriage. I'm a bit worried because I used to date his cousin earlier and am afraid he may have poisoned by boyfriend's ears.

Pooja

Dear Pooja,
If you don't iron out matters by talking it out, you stand to lose out on a relationship that could have been. I hope your boyfriend's reading this, lends you a ear and offers some sort of commitment. If he's really in love with you, it won't matter what anyone says about you.

My love is 'affecting' his studies

Dear Diana,
I'm 14. My boyfriend is 15. We were in a relationship for four months. We broke up but I still love him a lot. He says he can't concentrate on studies but it doesn't affect my studies at all. He just wants to be friends. But I can never be 'just friends' with him. Now, we've never crossed our limits. I want him back. He doesn't even talk to me in school. My friends tell me to ignore him but I can't. Please don't tell me to forget him because it isn't possible. We had a pure relationship but he says that he gets sexual feelings about me and that it's affecting his studies. I don't buy it.
u00a0
Shruti

Dear Shruti,
I don't think your boyfriend quite understands the meaning or the significance of love. You're obviously besotted by him and anything I say is going to go on deaf ears, so I'll say this. Don't give in to his emotional blackmail and end up doing something you'll regret. You may be sexually active (or not) but it really is too early to go there. Don't forget him but take a break from him. He's just using the "affecting my studies" line as a ruse. Don't fall for it. While I feel you're too young to really understand what being in a 'relationship' entails, it really is your call to make. But I'll repeat myself... don't do anything you'll regret.