6A
FEATURES
She’s shoplifting with kids
Dear Annie: My son and his ior with my daughter-in-law. I
wife have been married for 11 did not want to confront her in
years, and my daughter-in-law, the store and cause a scene. Any
age 31, has struggled with alco- suggestions on how to handle
holism, depression and anxiety this with her and how to continue
for the past six years. She’s also the conversation with my grand-
attempted suicide a few times in daughters? — Concerned for
the past three years. She
Granddaughters
DEAR
is under the care of a psy-
Dear Concerned for
chiatrist. But who knows
Granddaughters: It’s
ANNIE
whether she is telling
not just Mom’s shoplift-
him the truth? She also
ing that these girls are
is a shoplifter. My two
dealing with. Even if they
young granddaughters
might seem too young to
know that their mother
understand what’s going
does this. I’ve spoken
on at home (alcohol-
with my granddaughters
ism, anxiety and clinical
Lane
about this, as has my son, Annie
depression), I’d wager
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
and they both know it is
they’re picking up on
wrong and have asked
more than you realize.
their mother to stop.
Broaden the conversation to
She shoplifted again yester- be not just about the shoplifting
day while we were shopping incidents but also about their lives
with my 9-year-old granddaugh- and feelings in general. Include
ter. While my granddaughter and your son in these conversations.
I were alone for a few minutes in You might privately suggest to
the store, we discussed what to him that he set up an appoint-
do if Mommy were to be caught ment with a child psychologist.
going out the door with the stolen If they’re internalizing the stress
items. The plan was to just keep of their home lives right now, it
walking to the car. I did not want could impact their development
my granddaughter to be subject to and have lifelong effects.
Dear Annie: I have a friend
that. But yet again, my daughter-
who has been married for many
in-law got away with it.
I’ve not broached this behav- years and is in a loving relation-
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2017
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ship with his wife. For some rea-
son, over a decade ago, his wife
ended their physical relation-
ship. There was no reason for this
abrupt change.
After a few years, he casu-
ally mentioned to his wife that he
had noticed that there had been no
physical contact for a while. She
began to cry and promised to “do
better.” It was a very short con-
versation, with no recriminations,
no questions as to why this had
occurred, just acceptance.
Years went on, and there was
still nothing. For some, infidel-
ity, counseling or even divorce
would have been the next step.
None of those was acceptable to
my friend. Instead, he unilaterally
decided that his wife was no lon-
ger his wife. He would now spend
the rest of his life living with his
former wife, now his newly dis-
covered “long-lost sister.” He still
loved her just as much as before,
still enjoyed living together as
friends. It was a “no mess, no
fuss, no bother” relationship-sal-
vaging solution. — Hope This
Helps
Dear Hope This Helps: Part-
ners can enjoy a strong sense of
companionship without physical
love.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Soon you’ll go
from stealing the show to having your own
show. But you’re not quite ready for either one
just yet. Quiet observation and careful listening
are the skills you most need to employ for now.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). People have
unspoken demands of one another, and the
agreement to those demands is often also
something that is never discussed. But when
it’s time to change the deal, as it is now, the
way to do it is with words.
lean.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). When you’re the
one in charge, it’s easier to say yes. That’s why
effective leaders have to be people who aren’t
afraid of being unpopular and declining the
proposals of their constituents.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). A slow,
gradual approach will be very favorable for this
leg of the journey. You’ll be stronger and more
certain by the time you get there, and you’ll be
received with confidence and trust.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You need to
express yourself. The added pressure you put
on yourself about whether that expression is
good enough is really unnecessary and could
actually be quite harmful if you let it stop you.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). To regret
wasting your time is an even further waste of
your time. So instead, you’ll take action. You’ll
plug a leak, break a chain or erase the board
and start all over.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). If you can’t figure
out the business side of a problem, it’s per-
haps because the other sides of it are a little
murky as well. But the good news is, as you
sort through, organize and get clear, all sides
improve at once.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). It will be difficult
to get anything personal done if you involve too
many people. When it comes to working alone,
motivation is the hardest part, but after you get
motivated you can work much faster than you
would with a group.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). The stumbles and
heartache and sacrifices — they weren’t for
nothing. You’ll solve the problem, win the proj-
ect, save the day. At the very least you’ll have a
better idea than you would have come up with
last month.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). A large gesture
creates a big impression. That it’s the right
impression is more important than its size,
though. Think about what you’re trying to ac-
complish, and make a plan instead of rushing
forward with the first idea.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’d like to
believe that people always get what they give,
although it just doesn’t seem to happen in
some cases. Even if it’s only true some of the
time, it’s still worth putting into practice. Your life
is richer for it.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 17).
Because you know that the minutes go by
regardless of what you’ve put inside them, you
are ever vigilant to fill your time with what has
meaning and value to you. You have never
been so in touch with what moves you, and
new inspiration and motivation comes each
and every month of your next solar return.
Aquarius and Virgo adore you. Your lucky
numbers are: 3, 11, 40, 2 and 9.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). The ego gets small-
er the same way the body does. Don’t feed it
as much. Don’t give it everything it wants. The
ego will serve you best when it’s strong but
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