THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015
FEATURES
5A
He wants deadbeat mom to step up Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
Dear Annie: I am a 55-year-old
man, divorced for the past 15 years.
My daughter is 24 years old and mar-
ried to a good guy, and they have two
lovely boys. Although I have strug-
gled with depression over the years,
I try to live a good, honest Christian
life. I raised my two children as a
single parent, and my ex has become
a deadbeat mother. My ex has mar-
ried several times since our divorce.
Each of her subsequent husbands has
been an alcoholic or a drug user.
My problem is that my daughter
and her mother seldom speak or see
each other. My ex will see my son
on occasion, but not much. She’s
the kind of person who cannot ad-
mit fault. When my ex was married
to one of her drunken drug users,
she let him kick my daughter out of
their home because she broke curfew
once.
I can see how much this estrange-
ment hurts my daughter, and I want
so much for her to reconcile with her
mother. My daughter reaches out to
my ex through mail, birthday party
invitations and occasional voice-
mails. Her mother never responds.
I recently texted both of them
stating that I am sorry for my part in
the divorce, hoping it would open up
communication. I encouraged them
to meet at a neutral location without
her limit the hurt by accepting Mom
as she is.
Dear Annie: This letter is in re-
sponse to “Bob,” who has the “mis-
Creators
fortune” of knowing “Joe,” who has
Syndicate Inc.
Asperger syndrome and is invit-
ed everywhere within his circle of
Kathy Mitchell
friends. I say “misfortune” because
and
if Bob cannot see past Joe’s lack of
Marcy Sugar
social skills to the person he is un-
derneath, then Bob is the less fortu-
¿QGLQJ IDXOW LQ HDFK RWKHU DQG MXVW nate person. Joe probably never had
spend time together.
DQ\RQHLQKLVOLIHWHDFKKLPWKH¿QHU
I feel that a large amount of re- points of communication and friend-
sponsibility has been placed on my ship. For someone with Asperger’s,
shoulders due to my ex’s refusal to these traits do not come naturally
be a decent parent. My question is or through regular interaction with
whether or not I should say any more RWKHUV7KHVHWUDLWVMXVWOLNHUHDGLQJ
regarding this. I worry so much for math and science, have to be taught.
my daughter. — Dad
I am the mom of a 22-year-old
Dear Dad: Your suggestion to “Aspie.” My husband and I spent
meet in a neutral location is a good hours teaching our son social skills,
one, and we hope they will take you and our hard work has paid off tre-
up on it. But please understand that mendously. Our son is still socially
you cannot force your ex-wife to be DZNZDUGDQGPLVVHVVRPHRIWKH¿Q-
a better, more caring mother. And HU VRFLDO FXHV EXW KH LV ÀRXULVKLQJ
there is no way to prevent her be- at university and has a diverse circle
havior from hurting your daughter. of friends.
What you can do, however, is make
If Joe were blind and constantly
sure your daughter knows how tripping over Bob’s furniture, I’m
much she is loved and valued by her sure Bob would not exclude him be-
father and others, and that her moth- cause of it. Bob could be a real friend
er’s lack of affection is not about and help Joe maneuver through so-
her — it’s about Mom’s issues, and cial situations in a positive way. — A
only Mom can remedy that. Help Mom Who Cares
Annie’s
Mailbox
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
STONE SOUP
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
ARIES (March 21-April 19). When you
realize that it would be good to control your
thoughts, it’s a realization that signals a very
high level of human evolution. So don’t be
too hard on yourself if you aren’t able to fol-
low through with it to your satisfaction.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Now that
Venus is in your sign, you may find yourself
asking more often, “What’s in it for me?” And
though it’s a natural question that you’d be
a fool not to ask, just be sure to follow it up
with, “What’s in it for them?”
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). The moon in
your sign has you feeing lucky, taking social
risks and playing it loose. That’s what makes
you so fun to be around. People don’t know
what to expect.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). There’s an
emotional volume to hit — a sweet spot that
will resonate with your audience. It’s why
you don’t feel the need to have strong opin-
ions about everything.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Avoid trying to
make a specific outcome happen, because
everyone involved in today’s scenario wants
something different. Instead, be open to the
natural compromise that is likely to occur
with such varied input.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). There are
benefits to being an unofficial member of
a group. Once they have accepted you as
their own, they also trust you not to leave.
So think twice before you endeavor to join.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). People gener-
ally become security-oriented because of
experiences of insecurity they do not wish
to repeat. With these types, trust can only be
built with consistency over time.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Obsession is
rarely a positive state of mind, because the
amount of focus that even a healthy obses-
sion requires usually creates an imbalance.
But at least obsession helps you figure out
what you lack so you can actively pursue it.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re
usually in the mood to discover the far cor-
ners of the world; however, now you’re more
in the mood to discover the far corners of
your couch. You need the rest!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The
friendships that keep you entertained are
worth more than gold. Your favorite people
will make no effort to please you. It just hap-
pens naturally when they please themselves.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). While fa-
miliarity doesn’t always breed contempt, it
may breed blindness to the glory of all that
you are. It will take an outsider to shake
things up by noticing your wonderful qual-
ities.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re a
very important person and should be cared
for as such. So stop putting off the appoint-
ments that keep you feeling attractive,
healthy and tended to.
TUESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (March 24). You
know what you’re working toward, and you’ll
be tenacious. You will become increasingly
financially secure, and this stability trans-
lates into greater confidence in your per-
sonal life. April and May are for taking social
risks, making new friends and learning the
nuances of a fascinating culture. June ce-
ments a deal. Hopefully, you won’t mind the
worship and adoration coming your way in
August. Leo and Sagittarius people adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 30, 5, 14, 33
and 12.