FEATURES
6A
Juggling parenting, careers
Dear Annie: My wife and I have
been married for 10 years and have two
children, ages 5 and 3. My wife is pro-
fessionally ambitious and has built an
impressive career for herself at a major
accounting irm. I am a technology
entrepreneur and have been focused
on building my company for the past
four years. The new company has been
steadily growing and is now proitable.
Prior to our having children, there
were never any issues with our having
two demanding careers. Once we had
children, we hired a fantastic nanny,
who has been with us for all ive years,
and our children adore her. However,
both my wife and I notice that our chil-
dren look to our nanny as the stronger
maternal igure in their lives. This has
given my wife anxiety and has created
stress in our relationship, as she now
spends her free time with the children
and neglecting our relationship.
Now that my company is estab-
lished, I’ve been encouraging my wife
to leave her career and stay home to be
with the kids. But she does not want
to give up her career and lose her pro-
fessional identity. This is adding to the
stress in our relationship and, I fear,
creating a more challenging home
environment for everyone. What am I
to do? — Neglected Entrepreneur
Dear Neglected: You and your
wife are in a partnership, and it’s a
Dear Annie
By
Annie
Lane
Creators
Syndicate
Inc.
two-way street. Respect and empa-
thy need to move in both directions.
Your wife has a successful career and
professional identity, as do you. Why
would it be fair for your wife to sac-
riice her career for yours? You need
to speak with her about her goals and
desires and also discuss yours. Then
you can mutually craft a strategy that
will allow you both to feel happy
while optimizing family time. ..
Dear Annie: As we get into the
swing of the new school year, my
question involves teachers thanking
students for end-of-year gifts.
Ever since my children were lit-
tle, they’ve enjoyed buying a spe-
cial gift for their teacher at the end of
the school year. I know that teachers
stress the importance of good man-
ners to their classes and appreciate a
well-mannered child. The reason I’m
writing to you is that I would like to
know why most teachers do not take
the time to write thank-you notes to
children for special gifts.
Because of the many things that
take place on the last day of school, I
understand that most teachers do not
or cannot take the time to open every
gift they receive and that they there-
fore cannot thank the child on that day.
But they certainly can respond when
school is through for the year. It takes
only a minute or two to do. Imagine
the look of satisfaction when my child
read the note from the teacher express-
ing her appreciation.
Why don’t teachers show stu-
dents the same common courtesy they
expect from them? I’d like to hear
from teachers everywhere. — Per-
plexed in Ohio
Dear Perplexed: To be fair,
teachers already bring a lot of work
home with them. Though they
intend to send thank-yous, that item
may continually get moved down
on their to-do lists when there are
tests to grade and rubrics to write.
But you’re absolutely right. They
should take the time to express their
thanks to students. It’s a “teachable
moment” in gratitude and courtesy.
I’m printing your letter as a
reminder to us all of the importance of
the thank-you note. It’s a little card that
sends a big message.
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
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2016
Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You’ll give
your word, and then you’ll keep it. It’s
amazing how hard you can work and what
marvels you can come up with when you
put your mind to it.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ve
budgeted correctly, but it’s the unforeseen
expenses that get you. Build that into your
plan and your life will have an ease to it that
few ever get to experience.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You may find
yourself focusing to the point of absurdity.
You’re not overly serious; you’re just seri-
ous enough. After all, you didn’t get where
you are by being lackadaisical about your
own success.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You are
the commander of your time. No one else
should have an exclusive contract on the
minutes you spend. You are a free agent,
even if there are people who need you and
rely on you. Take back your schedule.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). As for the people
who intrigue you, assume there is a good
reason. Do you really need any more of
an excuse to get to know a person better?
Your curiosity is all the invitation you need.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Get the
small details right and you’ll be in. When
you know the combination to unlock the
door, the password to get into the system
and the name of the person you’re dealing
with, you’re golden!
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Establish
order. Whether it’s a messy little corner of
a room or a wild social dynamic, you’ll do
well to get it under control now. This reor-
ganization effort will revitalize your whole
scene.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Because
you speak well of your peers (even when
some of them do not speak well of each
other) you’ll earn the respect and trust of
all you interact with.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). If
you need to justify your feelings with log-
ic, there will always be a way and a rea-
son. Sometimes a feeling is just a feeling,
though. Today your mood comes first and
your justification for it is secondary.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). As for
those friends of yours who seem to have
far more free time than you have — it’s not
because their responsibilities are fewer. It’s
just because they deal with them differently.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your di-
plomacy will save someone from hurt. You
can’t be an emotional shield to all, but you
can make life a little better for some, and
that will mean a lot to the ones who are
close to you.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re
the gracious star who knows when to let
someone else have the chance to shine.
You might steal the spotlight, but you won’t
hog it. Tonight: Friends compete for your
attention.
WEDNESDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Sept. 21).
Your joy will rebound on you — a theme
of the year. Next month will bring a deal
to teach you to value your talents. In 2017
you’ll take care of others and be paid in an
unexpected and abundant manner. Spe-
cial circumstances will favor you, allowing
you to travel to a place you’ve long been
curious about. Pisces and Aquarius adore
you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 20, 32, 19
and 45.