THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, MAY 4, 2017
FEATURES
Did I do the right thing?
Dear Annie: I am a sin- have done the same thing.
gle mom with two boys, ages If anything had happened to
4 and 7. We recently took a your son while he was unat-
trip out to Chicago to visit tended in the men’s room,
my parents. Our flight was you never would have for-
delayed by over an hour. My given yourself. We must look
7-year-old asked whether out for and support our fel-
low mothers, not
he could go into
DEAR
make them doubt
the men’s bathroom
themselves or feel
alone. I said no and
ANNIE
uncomfortable about
decided that the three
their decisions. You
of us should stay
did the right thing.
together while at a
Dear Annie: I
busy airport. I took
have read your col-
him into the ladies’
umn for a long time
room with me. As
but have never writ-
I directed him to
Lane
ten to you before. I
go into a stall and I Annie
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
had to respond both
held my 4-year-old’s
to “Crybaby” and to
hand, a woman said,
“You know, he really is too the advice you gave her. Until
old to be in a ladies’ room.” recently, I was just like “Cry-
I explained that I didn’t want baby.” I thought that crying
him to be alone in a large for a positive or negative rea-
public place; all it takes son was just how I responded
is one creep. Afterward, and it was just who I was.
though, I began doubting My parents said I was a very
myself. Was she right? Did I sensitive and compassion-
do the right thing? When is a ate child, and I thought it
child old enough to go to the “normal” to cry about many
bathroom alone in a public circumstances.
I lived with these emo-
place? — Mom
Dear Mom: You made tions until I was thoroughly
the best decision for your checked out with bloodwork.
family. And frankly, I would The cause was hormonal, and
once the hormones were bal-
anced, the emotions were
also balanced. I could actu-
ally see people crying and
listen to what they were say-
ing without crying myself. It
was freedom I never thought
I could have.
“Crybaby” should make
sure her vitamins, supple-
ments and hormones are
balanced. Lack of sleep
and stress deplete many
important nutrients in our
system. Also, behavior mod-
ification will not help “Cry-
baby” if it is hormonal or
nutrient deprivation. A thor-
ough blood analysis will
show whatever deficiency
she may have.
It is nice to know that
there is a “Crybaby” out there
who would understand what I
faced for about 40 years. —
Drier My Eyes
Dear Drier: For any-
one experiencing possible
nutrient deficiencies or hor-
monal imbalance, bloodwork
is a wise step, and I appre-
ciate your raising the point.
I’m sure “Crybaby” will be
happy to hear she’s not alone,
too.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You can’t blame
your brain for being skeptical of your gut feel-
ings. Your gut draws wisdom from a mysterious
place that your brain has never been to, doesn’t
know the location of, and doubts the existence
of in the first place.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). On many sub-
jects, society’s rules are your rules. It doesn’t
always work for you this way though. There are
a few societal trends you simply can’t abide by,
and you’ll prove yourself bigger than society as
you do it your way today.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). There’s a lot
around that needs to be organized, but if you
can organize your priorities first, you’ll avoid
wasting time on things that won’t matter five
days from now.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Good com-
munication isn’t something you can establish
and then forget about. It needs to be main-
tained. Check in with your loved ones to open
and strengthen those lines.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). It’s important to
do the things that make you “you” on a regular
basis. If you have to tone those things down or
do less of them for the sake of a relationship, it
could point to trouble going forward.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There’s much
you will do with your mind — dream, go back
and forth in time, have conversations with
people you’ve never met. Your imagination is
your most useful tool to influence and create
your world.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). The person who’s
talking isn’t always communicating, and the per-
son who’s hearing isn’t always listening. Inten-
tions, on the other hand, can be felt viscerally.
Intentions will speak the loudest today.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Just as brevity is the
soul of wit (according to Shakespeare) and the
soul of lingerie (according to Dorothy Parker),
brevity is also the soul of pleasure. Too much of
any good thing is a terrible thing.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your inner self
is pulling for something your head still isn’t
sure about. This internal conflict of interests is
making it difficult to move forward, but maybe
forward isn’t the direction you originally thought
it was.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Whatever comes at
you today, you’ve seen it before, or something
like it at least. Therefore you won’t flinch. You
suspect this is for the best and highest good,
and you’ll handle it like the winner you are.
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
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). When love is
disappointing, you have your friends. And when
friends are the trouble, you have your love. But
today is different. Today you have both and life is
truly wonderful.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There are certain
conflicts that will never be resolved because
they are too deeply rooted in core differenc-
es. Peace can be restored nonetheless when
parties agree not to fight and instead focus
elsewhere.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (May 5). Your
dreams are coming true. Through the next 10
weeks, it will be as though there’s an invisible
hand helping you navigate and produce until
your business is thriving. Family will connect
you with what you need to succeed in all kinds
of relationships. A voice from the past will figure
into your future dealings. Cancer and Virgo
adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 10, 33, 28
and 18.