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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 1, 2016)
FEATURES 6A School is hyper-involved Dear Annie: My 10-year-old’s school administrators are over-the- top nosey and won’t stay out of our business. I think they mean well, but at times they try to micromanage the care of our child. For example, his favorite pair of shoes are falling apart, and although he has new shoes, he prefers the old ones. The school sent home a pair of shoes, as if we couldn’t afford to buy any. It seemed insulting and passive-aggressive, and my son liked those shoes even less than the new ones we’d bought him. So that was a waste. Also, our son recently had a cut that became infected. The school nurse spotted the beginning of the infection, so we are grateful for that, though we were watching it closely, too. We took him in immediately and began treatment. The school sent home notes about where we could take him in case we could not afford a doctor. (We can and have never implied that we don’t have the means or insurance.) The adminis- trators even sent instructions on how to give him a bath using Epsom salt for the wound. They know that we are both professionals with advanced degrees, yet they treat us like nimrods. — Capable With a Cub Dear Capable: Unless the school addressed the note home to “Mr. and Dear Annie By Annie Lane Creators Syndicate Inc. Mrs. Nimrod,” you’re jumping to con- clusions. I guarantee that the adminis- trators were just trying to help. Your son really shouldn’t wear shoes that are disintegrating — no matter what he “prefers.” A 10-year- old might prefer to eat pizza rolls three meals a day and play Xbox all night; that doesn’t mean you let him. We make concessions where we can as parents, but some matters aren’t up for debate. Make your son wear the new shoes, no matter how much whining follows. (I know, I know. Easier said than done.) Some- times cubs need tough love. Dear Annie: My brother-in-law keeps borrowing money, and my husband just can’t say no to his big brother. This wouldn’t be a problem if we were Rockefellers. We’re not. We both work full time. We have kids of our own to put through school. We are barely scraping by and even have debt. We’re just not in a position to lend money. Larry, my brother-in-law, seems to have a new career every year. This year, he’s trying to get his real estate license. Last year, he started an online store, which never took off. In the past, he’s tried photography and painting. It’s hard to watch him fail, and I would feel sorry for him if I weren’t so ticked off that he’s lushed thousands of our dollars down the drain along with each of these new enterprises. And now I ind out that behind my back, my husband co-signed a loan, which his brother defaulted on, and we had to take out a second mort- gage on the house to pay it. How can I get my husband to stop giving him money? How can I stop resenting both my brother-in-law and his wife for this? — Broke and Bitter Dear Broke: You’re right. He’s wrong. But you probably married him because you fell in love with his generous disposition and his desire and willingness to help others in need — qualities at play here. Recognize that big heart of his while also telling him it’s unacceptable to make such decisions behind your back. Tell him that his continuing to do so would be a betrayal of your trust. THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2016 Tomorrow’s horoscope By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc. ARIES (March 21-April 19). As for this funny responsibility you’ve taken on, which you prom- ised in a more or less unlimited capacity: At the time that promise was made, it did seem that you’d likely enjoy this absolutely forever. Well, forever isn’t over yet. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Owing to your “do it yourself” spirit, it won’t cost you too much to learn what you want to know. Internet class- es, library books and YouTube videos, coupled with tenacity and practice, will get you there rather quickly. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). A fuller life doesn’t have to be a more complicated life. You’re on a mission to simplify. You are espe- cially interested in streamlining your relation- ships, priorities and domestic processes. You’ll succeed in this today. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Probably there’s no need to be sorry, especially in a professional setting. If you understand that you were wrong, it’s fine to mention it and make plans to correct it, but an apology won’t be necessary. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You make sense. Trust that. If they don’t understand, try again a different way. If they still don’t understand, go back and break your ideas down further so you can articulate them in their simplest form. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Because you made the first friendly gesture long ago, you will now find yourself in a most auspicious situ- ation with lovely people that you wouldn’t have otherwise gotten to know. Kudos! LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). In order to be hap- py, you really don’t need for the circumstances to change. It would be nice! But it is in no way necessary. Your happiness follows that mag- netic attitude of yours, always has, always will. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). No one will 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 know it in a hundred years. But the ones who know about it now will talk like crazy for a while, and there’s little to be done about this except to stay out of it, refusing to add fuel to the fire, which will soon burn out. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The fast- est way to get over upsetting events is to wal- low in the discomfort they have caused until it gets old and boring to you. This won’t happen overnight. Then again, you could be healed by this time next week. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). If the dog carries a bone to your yard, he’ll also carry it to someone else’s yard. Gossip is the same. Repeating the story, to anyone at all, will make you party to gossip mill. You’ll avoid trouble by staying out of this one. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It’s not about winning or losing today, it’s about being confi- dent enough to take action. The idea may not be good, the action may not be right, and yet life will be different and better because you made your move. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). As for that lot- tery, in many ways you’ve already won it. Your blessings are remarkable and unique. Your awareness of them is possibly the greatest blessing of all because it brings more good- ness into your life. TUESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Aug. 2). First you’ll get extra money to fund your interest. Your curious mind will seek the back story; your re- search will lead you to deep knowledge, pro- found understanding, rich relationships and an enhanced experience of daily life. The op- ponent you come up against in September will spur you to new heights. Virgo and Sagittarius adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 6, 13, 29, 33 and 48.
