THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 2017
FEATURES
Overbearing and intrusive
Dear Annie: Our 39-year-old son our relationship with our daughter-
is married with three children. Ever in-law. My husband and I support a
since he got married, he has been loving family relationship, and when
dealing with overbearing and intru- asked for advice on family matters,
we give it. But we do not interfere to
sive in-laws.
My son and daughter-in-law were her parents’ degree, because neither
house hunting a few years ago, and of us was raised that way.
The issue now is that
there was a home going up
DEAR
our son’s job is relocating
for auction they wanted to
him to a different state. His
check out. They mentioned
ANNIE
employer will allow him time
it in her parents’ company.
to visit his new job location
Before the auction took
and look for housing. My
place, her father, “Steve,”
son secured a Realtor in the
had purchased the home for
area to start the house-hunt-
them to live in. They might
ing process. My daughter-in-
not have purchased the house
law started looking online at
after seeing it, as it was ter-
Lane
homes in this city. She found
mite-infested, had no work- Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
a home that she liked online
ing fireplaces and had a roof
and told my son she wanted
that needed replacing. They
used the money they made selling it because it had all the right ameni-
their previous home for upgrades for ties. He insisted that they wait till they
this home. Steve would not allow could look at the houses in person and
them to secure a loan for the home to find one that really met all their needs.
Our son notified us today that
pay him back, so the house remains
Steve purchased the home our daugh-
in his name.
Our son has a job with which he ter-in-law found online, sight unseen,
can support his family, a great head for them to live in. This behavior is
on his shoulders to make great fam- not allowing our son to be a husband,
ily decisions and good credit, so he partner in decision-making and father
can get loans at the bank on his own to his children. Steve grants all of his
without any help. His wife goes along daughter’s wishes. We want to sup-
with whatever her parents say or want port our son because we know he is
her to do. It is causing strife in the hurting. What advice would you rec-
marriage, plus it’s putting strain on ommend we give him in this troubling
time? — Concerned Parents
Dear Concerned: Wow. I had to
pick my jaw up off the floor a cou-
ple of times while reading your letter.
I can’t imagine what Steve’s financial
situation must be like, to give away
houses like candy. But I digress.
You’re right that this Daddy-to-
the-rescue dynamic is not conducive
to a healthy marriage. But from the
sound of it, your son hasn’t expressed
any of these frustrations to his wife.
That lack of communication is even
more toxic than intrusive in-laws.
Marriage counseling would offer him
a safe space to express his feelings to
his wife. And given that she’s grown
up thinking her dad’s behavior is nor-
mal, it might take an objective third
party to help her see that it’s not.
Dear Annie: A recent letter writer,
“MM,” said she has lost confidence
in doctors because they don’t seem to
be knowledgeable in any field other
than their own. My husband, an oph-
thalmologist, has recommended that
patients see a dermatologist immedi-
ately for skin abnormalities and has
even sent patients directly from his
office to the hospital after checking
their carotid artery. I’m sure that lots
of specialty physicians take the time
to keep up with the world of medi-
cine and that her experience is not the
norm. — Sarasota, Fla.
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
3C
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Maybe you
forgot something simple. Did you? Such
good news. All you have to do is figure
out what you missed, supply it, and then
put one foot in front of the other. This will
be easy!
happening.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). This is an
incredibly special situation. Happiness
is seeing it in the way that happy people
do. Can you see it that way? Walk
around it. You probably can. It’s a matter
of perspective.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21).
Eventually, all those who stand on the
pedestals will have to come down.
That’s just the way it is. They will, at
some point, need to do the inelegant,
creaturely things.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Your need
to please is strong these days. Who
else will be pleased when you get to
the goal? Tie other people into your
plans. This is how great things will get
accomplished.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Laugh-
ing leads to laughing. This is the secret
and the remedy. Don’t wait until you’re
feeling bad to look for the funny. This is
not hard. Comic treasures are every-
where when you’re looking for them.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Don’t give
your trust or your money to an unproven
entity. What people say doesn’t matter at
all unless it’s backed up by what they do.
Time will tell.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’ve
earned your network, one relationship
at a time. The people you know trust
and respect you. You have connections
that another person wants, but some
relationships are nontransferable.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Make quick de-
cisions. Navigate the day. This is the kind
of scene that you probably invented, and
thereby should un-invent in the moment
it doesn’t suit you.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). If there isn’t
a deadline, the job won’t be accom-
plished. Also, how about involving a
person and setting a date? Time and
place stamps matter. By a lot.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). How will
the thing work? Not like you want it to.
This is where compassion comes in.
Someone will be your hero in a strange
moment. You don’t want this, and yet it’s
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll get
someone to open up by making it feel
safe for him or her to do so. Stay pleas-
antly neutral and make it known that you
won’t judge. Soon the truth will come out.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Accom-
plishments need to be acknowledged
immediately. You’ll receive timely compli-
ments, and they will have great power.
The same words said in an untimely
fashion wouldn’t have counted.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (APRIL 8).
Your belief is profound. You will make it
happen. Your life will explode, fanta-
sy-style, in 2018. Up until then, you need
to be extremely vigilant, keeping up with
your commitments and being strongly
self-possessed. Your lucky numbers are:
9, 45, 39, 29 and 44.