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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 DEAR CAROLYN » For Blindsided (the unhappy new mother from Mon- day): I know exactly how you feel. When I was pregnant I really looked forward to snuggling our babies (we had twins); once those babies were available for snuggling, yeah, that was a lot of fun and I en- joyed it, but it was just. so. much. work. And when you're down in the weeds like that, it's really hard to see that you won't be on the feeding/changing/laundry/ naptime/tummy time/ feeding/changing treadmill for the rest of your life. Our kids are 3 now and it is so different and so much better it's unreal. I always thought I would love wee little infants and would be at a loss with active preschoolers; it ac- tually turned out to be the opposite, which was a huge surprise and a delight. Hang in there. — Anonymous DEAR ANONYMOUS » Use- ful, thank you. There can also be variations from child-to-child: You can love snuggling babies, for example, but have a baby who squirms away from snuggles. Then you not only have to do the child- care grunt work, but also recalibrate your expecta- tions and seek a different kind of reward. This is why the nudges and corrections from well-meaning bystanders — friends, family, strang- ers — can be unbearable. Being the parent your kid needs can have a surpris- ingly steep learning curve, and the experiences of oth- ers too often don't apply. DEAR CAROLYN » My sig- nificant other is chronical- ly late; it's a running joke among his family, who are also very lax about time. It irritates me to no end. I have tried talking to him about it from every angle, and his answer is to avoid committing to specific plans with me because he doesn't want to make me angry by being late. We've been together two and a half years, so this has been a source of mounting frustration for quite a long time. Any thoughts or sug- gestions? It's the main (only) thing we fight about, and I want to focus on fix- ing it as soon as possible. — On Time DEAR ON TIME » You're up to your neck in proof that he won't change a thing and doesn't want to. That means the onus is on you to change in some way — by breaking up, or adjusting the way you deal with him, or accepting him as-is. By as-is, I mean getting to the point where you no longer wish he were different or respond to his tardiness with anger. How you get there can be about creative planning, leaving without him when he's late, going Zen, whatever else — as long as it isn't standing there steaming till he shows up. So — do you want him as-is or not at all? Those are your two choices. I'm sorry. Angry at someone for being exactly who he has always been is no way to go through life. Reader offers encouragement to overwhelmed new mother 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. 20-March 20) — You have the chance to correct a past mistake should you be willing to do so. A de- fensive or critical attitude will only make matters worse. Make amends and move on. Aries (March 21-April 19) — You will gain momentum if you stick to your plans and stay alert to new possibilities. Don't feel compelled to share your ideas with others. The final product will speak for itself. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Do your best to help an older friend or relative in need of assistance. Your calmness, kindness and thoughtful nature will have a lasting effect. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Let your charm lead the way. An opponent may try to catch you off guard. Maintain a pleasant attitude, speak thoughtfully and don't be coerced. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Your domestic or love life will likely face upset. Focus on projects that will boost your confidence. Consider your op- tions before you deal with an emotional dilemma. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Although you are used to taking action, let someone else set the pace today. He or she may have a different and more effective approach to a mutually nettle- some situation. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — You are capable of multitasking today. Although your current schedule may have you on the run, it will prepare you for the challenges ahead. Show every- one how capable you are. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Spend some alone time pursuing activities that make you think. Personal relationships may need an adjustment. It's a good time to follow up on a creative project or plan a trip. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — A current situation is likely to confuse you. Do some fact-find- ing before you take action. Don't feel the urge to gossip or share the information you discover. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — You may enjoy being in the spotlight, but while it may be flattering to have all eyes on you, it could damage a relation- ship with someone special. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — An unusual request is appar- ent. You will benefit if you keep your emotions in check. Strive to be professional, honest and tactful in all your dealings. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Don't give in to someone's demands. It may be difficult, but you will have to maintain your own course of action, refusing to be swayed by what others do or think. Horoscope By Bernice Bede Osol TUESDAY, MARCH 18 Tuesday, March 18, 2014 redBLuFFdaILyNeWs.cOM | YOUR DAILY BREAK | 3 B