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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 2, 2016)
FEATURES 6A Mom gives unwanted advice Dear Annie: A year ago, I became a new mom to a beautiful baby girl. My husband and I live in Chicago, but we are both originally from Idaho. For Christmas last year, we went back to Idaho to visit my parents. We enjoyed showing our baby girl all of the beautiful nature that surrounds my parents’ house. My mom was being very help- ful at first — encouraging us to go to dinner alone and helping out with the baby so that we could take a rest. But by the fifth day, she was telling me how to feed my daughter. She said the baby food from the jar is not nearly so good as the home- made kind in the blender. Then she told me I should not hold my baby till she falls asleep but rather just put her in her crib awake and let her fall asleep on her own. Those are just a few of the examples that were starting to drive me crazy. I know that she raised three chil- dren (including me), but I have my own opinions about how to be a mom. I really want to keep vis- iting my parents, but I don’t want to feel as if I’m being judged and condescended to with this air of “mother knows best.” After all, I’m a mother, too. — Young Mom Dear Young: You have to understand that it is probably a lit- Dear Annie By Annie Lane Creators Syndicate Inc. tle difficult for your mother to see you as a mom more than a daughter. It sounds as if she’s coming from a place of truly wanting to help. She’s bound to have some great advice, with all her years of experience, so don’t let defensiveness plug your ears and keep you from hearing what she has to say. But that doesn’t mean it’s always the right advice for you and your family. Stand your ground and make your own decisions. You’re starting your own family now, and you will have your own way of doing things that may be differ- ent from the way your mother did them. She’ll have to respect that. Dear Annie: My then-boy- friend’s (we married a month ago) mom died a year ago, and his dad died four months ago. Nei- ther he nor his brothers acknowl- edged any of the memorial gifts, some of which came from my fam- ily and close friends. At the time, I didn’t think it was acceptable for me to take over doing it, because we weren’t married and they were not my parents. My husband kept saying that he’d do the notes, but now a lot of time has passed and no attempts have been made. I feel guilty whenever we see these people that no thank-you notes have been sent. What do you suggest I do? Should I just try to forget it, as he has done, or should I write thank- yous on behalf of their family? If so, how I do I word things? — On My Mind Dear On My Mind: I think thank-yous are always better late than never. In the case of memo- rial gifts, it’s especially understand- able. Your husband and his family were grieving. I’m fairly certain no one would hold it against them if they never got around to sending thank-yous. But for peace of mind, you may do so if you wish. It would be fine for you to send them out on behalf of you and your husband. One more tip: Don’t start each one with an apology. A few brief sentences expressing your gratitude will suffice. Keep it simple. THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016 Tomorrow’s horoscope By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). Your burning desire for knowledge will lead you to the edge with a decision to make. There are some veils that shouldn’t be lifted, some secrets that are better boxed up. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). As for those who seem to be having more fun than you, and are rude enough to post it in the most glamorous light, no doubt just to annoy you — well, your presentation is equally annoyingly glamorous to them. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). No one is con- fident at all times. If such a person exists, rest assured he is not well-liked. Push on through your fear, doubt and skepticism, and you’ll in- spire those around you to be brave. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your moods will wax and wane with the ever-changing moon that is your guiding luminary. Lunar bonus: You will innately know how to channel your emotions to their most powerful advan- tage. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Whatever you’re in for, for better or worse, you’re in it with other people. Furthermore, they need your leader- ship and your protection. If you don’t watch out for their quality of life, it will go down for all of you. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It’s not pessi- mistic to plan your escape strategy before you enter the date, party or relationship. Knowing there’s an out will relax you, and you’ll have a better time. Along these lines: You can take anyone in small doses. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You admire some- one who is deeply creative because, whether you realize it or not, you can relate. You would not have the capacity to be so impressed were there not the germ of these same talents in- FRANK AND ERNEST BLONDIE THATABABY SALLY FORTH PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN B.C. LOLA DILBERT SIX CHIX BIZARRO MUTTS NON SEQUITUR BABY BLUES WIZARD OF ID ZITS ROSE IS ROSE side of you. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Can two peo- ple who don’t like the same things, have very few similar talents and have little else in com- mon get along? Yes, and beautifully so today! In fact, getting to know one another will be a delight and an adventure. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). To an out- sider you appear to be a person staring into space. This is because they don’t realize that you’re visualizing the big picture, and they don’t hear the magnificent whir of the wheels turning in your mind. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ll open your heart to a playful, carefree, childlike spir- it — at least for part of the day. When the re- cess bell rings, you snap back to responsibility mode faster and more completely than most. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Not every flag is a red flag. Don’t let the labels and judg- ments you make about others prevent you from seeing the opportunities in front of you. Instead, go forward with an open mind. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ll please an important person in your life with a small gesture of kindness. The warm response that follows is part of a pattern that’s become so addicting to you that you’ll want to please this person for years to come. SATURDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 3). Re- member when there were seemingly insur- mountable barriers that kept you from pur- suing what you really wanted? Well, you’ve grown. You’ll circle back and take the journey you dreamed of way back then. Now those ob- stacles beg to be crushed. This time you’ll be brave, ready, and ultimately successful. Scor- pio and Aries adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 43, 3, 38 and 16.