FEATURES
6A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2016
Tomorrow’s horoscope
Sister-in-law wreaks havoc
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
Dear Annie: I come from a
large family. We haven’t had any
truly rough times, but our sister-
in-law is proving to be a problem
for me.
“Jennifer” has never liked me.
At her wedding, my other siblings
were attendants, but not me. She
often invites my siblings for din-
ner, but never me. I could live
with that, but I am bothered by the
way she treats my mother.
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For years, my mother has baby-
sat for free. She attends all their
events to show her support. She
invites the kids to fun activities.
Mom recently took on a full-time
job and can no longer babysit. Jen-
nifer always seemed a little jeal-
ous of how close Mom is to the
kids, and now she’s found a way to
exclude her. Jennifer has stopped
communicating with either of my
parents. She declines invitations
to family events at my parents’
house, and won’t invite them any-
where. She won’t tell them when
the kids’ events are. Last week,
Mom saw Jennifer at the grocery,
and she wouldn’t look at her or say
hello.
Jennifer’s attitude is having an
effect on my brother. He’s starting
to behave the same way. This is
this for your mother’s sake, and
see if anything works to get this
sister-in-law to behave with more
compassion. (And shame on your
Creators
brother for permitting his wife to
Syndicate Inc.
treat Mom this way.)
Dear Annie: I read the let-
Kathy
ter from “Mother-In-Law,” who
Mitchell and
regrets the way she treated her
Marcy Sugar
husband’s mother now that she is
the recipient of her son’s wife’s
awful for my mother and an injus- disdain. I was happy to see you
tice to the kids. Mom is too nice to point out that many women have
say anything, and if I speak up, it wonderful relationships with their
mothers-in-law.
will only make things worse.
I could not have asked for a
My older sister has told me
that I will soon be excluded from EHWWHUZRPDQWR¿OOWKLVUROHLQP\
any family event involving Jenni- life. My mother-in-law did an out-
fer if I don’t “change my ways.” I standing job raising her son and
don’t understand what I have done accepted me into her family with
ZURQJRUKRZWR¿[LW&RXOG\RX grace and love. Sadly, she devel-
please give me some suggestions? oped Alzheimer’s and we had
to watch a beautiful, active and
— Frustrated
Dear Frustrated: We don’t engaging woman fall victim to
know what you have “done the ravages of this insidious dis-
wrong,” other than to respond to ease. It was heartbreaking to see
Jennifer in the same negative way this decline, but she was always
she responds to you. But we can tell happy to see us when we visited.
you that improving the relationship She knew we belonged to her in
will require major effort from you, some way.
I learned a lot from her, and can
since Jennifer is unlikely to bother.
Please talk to your older sister and only pray that I have the same type
ask her to explain what might help of relationship with my son’s wife
you get along better with Jennifer. when that day comes. — Grateful
Don’t criticize her. Be sincere. Do Daughter-in-Law
Annie’s
Mailbox
ARIES (March 21-April 19). The one who
makes you feel that you must perform in order
to earn love is not really giving love at all; that
person is rewarding you for fulfilling a personal
need, which has a lot more to do with utility than
love.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You would pre-
fer to be adored by the one you adore. Who
wouldn’t? This would make life candy-sweet
indeed. However, it should also be noted that
such a dynamic is not in any way necessary to
your happiness.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It’s not like you
to overlook the crucial role that pleasure plays
in life, and yet lately you’ve denied some of the
things that please you. Now it’s time to assess:
Was the reason for that denial really good
enough?
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Your secret is
safe with you — and that’s about it today. Even
your best friend can’t be totally trusted with sen-
sitive information. If you write it in your diary,
use a code. Everyone is interested in you these
days!
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The answer to one
problem is the seed of another problem. For
this reason, refrain from solving everything right
away. It’s a good time to think it over, let it ride or
just plain stall for a better time.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Someone has
given time, effort and money in hopes that you
would advance along certain lines. You’ve bet-
tered your position, but you still have a ways to
go. Keep going; you’ll make your team proud.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Before you put
your money on the best, strongest and most
qualified, consider that anyone can have a good
day. Sometimes the worst horse takes the gold
cup. Such an event will simultaneously restore
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
and rock your faith.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You probably
won’t stay accountable to your own set of rules.
It’s not weakness. There’s just too much going
on for you now. If you need to keep the rule, get
more people involved in it: They’ll hold you ac-
countable.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’ll be
there for the person who is hurting. It’s likely you
could pick up some residual emotional pain if
you’re not careful, so be sure to protect yourself.
Practice excellent self-care before, during and
after.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). What you’re
striving for will be a lot of trouble. Some would
define it as “just one thing after another.” Well,
that’s precisely what you like about the situation.
It’s riddled with the challenges that make you
better.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You feel driven
to put your ideas in front of a crowd even though
the idea of doing this gives you emotional trem-
ors. This is just the kind of contradiction that is
making someone fall in love with you.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). When roused
by feelings of irritation, consider that such a re-
action is usually as disturbing an energy as the
original thing that caused it. An unwanted situa-
tion will be dissolved with a calm approach.
FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (April 1). Creative
juices flow now! You will diversify your social
interests. The two groups might not blend to-
gether well, but each in their separate way will
enrich you. A fresh assignment in May will bring
fast success. In June your life becomes easier
with the improved behavior and performance of
those who account to you. Love signs are Gem-
ini and Libra. Your lucky numbers are: 41, 27, 5,
15 and 42.