THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2018
FEATURES
Mom’s house of horrors
Dear Annie: I am a stay-at- tioning them to parents.
home mom with three children
I have voiced concern about
under the age of 6. They currently the amount of processed food
go to their grandmother’s (my given for most meals and snacks,
mother’s) day care one day a week as well as the amount of time the
to give me a chance to run errands television stays on during the day.
and do extra housework. Lately, I have spoken with other par-
ents who have similar
I have noticed signs of
DEAR
concerns.
negligence. Some are
I could go on and
minor, such as dirty faces
ANNIE
on with my list of com-
and rear ends not prop-
erly wiped. Some are
plaints. The bottom
more serious, such as a
line, however, is that I
2-year-old child’s being
don’t want my children
left unattended outside
to spend time at their
with a small kiddie pool.
grandmother’s house
Children frequently play
without me anymore, but
Lane
unsupervised in a base- Annie
I don’t want to ruin the
Creators
Syndicate Inc.
ment with litter boxes
relationship I have with
and alcoholic bever-
my mother. I’m not sure
ages within reach. Bathrooms are how straightforward to be with
often unsanitary, and the play area her, as she is not likely to change
smells of cat urine.
her practices after 30 years. (She
Additionally, I have witnessed most likely behaved the same
my mother calling children names way when I was a child, and now
and talking cruelly about them in I’m in therapy.) I’m also not sure
front of other children. My chil- whether her day care should be
dren also report this happening reported to any authorities. Any
when I am not around. She has suggestions would be most wel-
even spanked one of my chil- come. — Concerned Parent
dren out of frustration, which she
Dear Concerned Parent: Act
didn’t tell me but confirmed later first as a concerned parent and
when questioned. It is not unusual second as a concerned daughter,
for accidents to happen at the day because it’s the children at this
care without her knowing or men- day care who need you most right
now. Place an anonymous tip with
the relevant local agency (find out
what agency that is in your state
at http://www.daycareabuse.com/
how-to-report) and let the author-
ities confront your mother about
her negligence. Encourage other
parents to file complaints, too.
And if you ever witness a child
being physically abused or oth-
erwise put in immediate danger,
dial 911.
Dear Annie: I’m writing
because I’ve seen several people
write to you to complain of friends
or relatives who repeat stories.
My elder brother shared this help-
ful hint with me when I was car-
ing for my 88-year-old father and
90-year-old uncle. Each time you
are listening to a repeated story,
you must come up with a different
question to ask about that particu-
lar story. Because you have heard
it before, you don’t need to lis-
ten as intently — and it keeps you
from becoming aggravated, as
your mind is distracted with try-
ing to come up with a new ques-
tion. — Grateful Sister
Dear Grateful Sister: I love
this tip because it’s a way to
improve our listening skills and
become more compassionate.
Thanks for sharing.
5A
TOMORROW’S HOROSCOPE
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). You tend to put
pressure on yourself. Some of it is appropriate
and is absolutely what you need to succeed;
some of it is totally unnecessary. Today you’ll
figure out the difference.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). There are three
kinds of luck: the kind you are born into, the kind
you stumble into and the kind you make by put-
ting yourself in situations with great potential. Of
course, you can only really control the last kind.
And you will today!
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Happiness doesn’t
always make you smile. Sometimes it makes you
holler, sometimes it makes you cry and some-
times it dumbfounds you into a state of perfect,
blissful neutrality.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). You figure out that
you simply don’t need as much as you thought
you would, so you can let go and watch your
energy level rise. Also, your connection with a
fire sign (Aries, Leo or Sagittarius) will raise your
energy.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Thinking back to your
behavior from your younger days will make you
cringe. Years from now, you’ll cringe about some-
thing you did just yesterday. But it’s all growth,
trying and learning. Stay light, laugh, forgive and
keep going.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Friends and stories
will be the great treasure of your day. You’ll be
surprised by what some people remember about
your times together and this will add to your own
recollections.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Time can seem like
a bully. But bullies can be stopped. Stand up to
time — show it who’s boss. Take control of your
schedule by filling it with what you want to do
instead of reacting to every petty demand that’s
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
made of you.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You know when
people say they’re ready, but then it turns out
that they are not ready at all? It irritates you so
much that you’ll take extra measures today just
to make sure you’re not “that person.”
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Sometimes
the conditions are perfect for slipping into a
sweet spot of productivity. Then there are days
like today, when you have to practically bribe
yourself to get your head in the game. Hey —
that’s not a bad idea!
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ve seen
time and again how apparently small and trivial
events can have disproportionately influential
consequences. Today will present another
instance of this, though it will take you months to
detect the moment.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’re really
not sure where the next lucky break is coming
from — the last one was so long ago that you’re
starting to forget it. This is a fine time to arrange
for yourself to be in as many potential hot spots
as you can foresee.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). There’s a point
in which trying too hard to change a negative
behavior becomes an even more negative
behavior. Obsessing over improvement is not im-
provement. Try self-compassion and acceptance.
TOMORROW’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 21). You have
changed your definition of success. Because of
this, the wins you create this solar return will fa-
vorably affect more people than ever before. Your
investment in learning will transform your work
picture. A faithful companion is along for the ad-
venture come June. November brings domestic
improvements. Libra and Taurus adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 9, 30, 2, 28 and 10.