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DILBERT Scott Adams PEARLS BEFORE SWINE Stephan Pastis PICKLES Brian Crane BABY BLUES Jerry Scott & Rick Kirkman GET FUZZY Darby Conley ZITS Jerry Scott & Jim Borgman SHERMAN'S LAGOON Jim Toomey ARGYLE SWEATER Scott Hilburn BIZARRO Dan Piraro While I'm away, read- ers give the advice. ON PROTECTING KIDS (TOO MUCH?) FROM THE DETAILS OF A DIVORCE » In my husband's case, not involving children in the divorce process turned out to be detrimental to the relation- ship with his children. He chose to take the very high road and not tell his two teenage children the real reason for the di- vorce: his wife's long-term affair with a colleague. The divorce was quietly mediated. It was recently dis- covered that over the years his ex-wife led their children into believing that he was at fault. She wanted them to not think badly of her and to accept their stepfather, the man with whom she had had the affair, in place of their dad. They were finally apprised of the truth, but it has not changed their behavior toward their dad. To complicate matters fur- ther, it also was disclosed that when we married, I became part of her lies, and the "children" were led to believe that I was the cause of the divorce, although I did not become part of his life until well after the fact. I have silently watched for 14 years, as they emo- tionally abused him and disrespected me; bringing others into their "little game." The final straws involved a series of cruel- ties where their dad was not called nor invited to be part of his first grandson's birth and homecoming because his ex came in from out of state and did not want him around. He has supported his children emotionally and financially throughout the years; always been there for them. He is a good, kind man and a wonderful father and husband. They have not brought his grandchildren to our home, although they have keys to the house and have always been welcomed. They have not been there for him during his five-year battle with cancer. They have never thanked me for supporting and taking care of them or for being there for their dad in very tough times. Last year, I discreetly dared to criticize his ex- wife regarding a particu- larly cruel incident that she consciously precipi- tated. This resulted in her insistence that I not be allowed to take part in her children's or grandchil- dren's lives, although their father is allowed to baby-sit when needed. This has caused terrible hurt to their dad and he now realizes that protect- ing them by not telling them the truth in the beginning has had painful, long-lasting consequences. I agree that children should be protected during the emotional devastation that divorce can wreak, but it would be wise to understand the personalities involved and not be naive in the process. — C. Father estranged after ex lies about reasons behind divorce Carolyn Hax Ask Carolyn Email Carolyn Hax at tellme@washpost.com, follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ carolyn.hax or chat with her online at noon Eastern time each Friday at www.washingtonpost.com. Sudoku Instructions: The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the number only once. Answer to Previous Puzzle Celebrity Cipher By Luis Campos Instructions: Celebrity Cipher cryptograms are created from quotations by famous people, past and present. Each letter in the cipher stands for another. NEA Crossword Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Someone you love needs your attention. Adjust your priorities to put your domestic responsi- bilities first. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Dismiss any projects that do not conform to your career plans. Keep an open line of communi- cation with those in a position to help you advance. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Devise a precise plan for your future. Outline all of the require- ments necessary to see your vi- sion take shape. Plan ahead for obstacles you may encounter. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Petty conflicts will develop if you are tired. Spend a little time alone. Relax and take a stress- free break, away from your day- to-day responsibilities. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You will be treated with suspicion if you exaggerate. It's not necessary to brag. Honesty is the most important quality when it comes to attracting new friends and allies. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — You will make a favorable im- pression if you stand up for your beliefs. Your straightforward approach will lead to an offer from someone influential. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — It's time to focus on your personal relationships. Make special plans or include the ones you love in a family project in order to close any gap that has come between you and the ones you love. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Unexpected developments will take you in a new direc- tion. Don't wait for change to take place. Now is the time to make your dreams come true. Improvements can be made. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — Consider the facts and your available budget when dealing with investments. Be wary of contracts that allow others access to your private records. Sagittarius (Nov. 22- Dec. 21) — Stop avoiding the inevitable. Deal with personal matters immediately so that you can get on with your life and do the things you want, without unnecessary stress. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Make a pledge to take better care of your health. Explore a new regimen geared toward better nutrition and frequent exercise. Put a schedule in place and stick to it. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Surround yourself with good friends and family. Offer your assistance to youngsters, and take part in creative or imagina- tive games. Lighthearted activ- ity will lift your spirits. Horoscope By Bernice Bede Osol SATURDAY, MARCH 8 Saturday, March 8, 2014 rEdBLuFFdaILyNEWS.cOM | YOUR DAILY BREAK | 5 B