Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/297813
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 » My 30-year-old daughter, who lives in another state, has informed me she and her husband are ready to start a family and have stopped using birth control. However, they both drink socially, sometimes fairly heavily. My daughter has mentioned that her doc- tor says light drinking during preg- nancy is OK. I expressed my concern, once, and sent her some information about the effects of alcohol on a fetus at various stages, to which she didn't respond. And I continue to see postings on Facebook of my daughter enjoying wine, beer, martinis ... This would be my first grandchild and I don't want to start out being overbearing and opinion- ated. But I remember how careful I was when I was pregnant and am con- cerned she may cause per- manent harm to her baby, even before she knows she's pregnant. What, if anything, is my responsi- bility here? — A Concerned Mother DEAR MOTHER » Voicing your concern was a natu- ral response to a mom-to- be-to-be who posts cocktail selfies on Facebook. Send- ing the article, though, was the shot across the bow by someone who'd rather indulge her own fears than respect a boundary. It warned your daughter that, in your eyes, she's either ignorant about fetal health or too irresponsible to act on what she knows. Crossing that line once is certainly forgivable, but now you've got to rein yourself in or risk being That Grandma. I'm not unsympathetic. The position you're in is one of the toughest ones going: You're gener- ally correct, specifically unsure, largely powerless, and the stakes are high. Where you're correct: Drinking "fairly heavily" while trying to get preg- nant is just a head-shaker. Where you're unsure: You don't actually know how much your daughter is drinking. You also don't know whether she'll get pregnant next week, next year, or ever. Where you're power- less: You can't swat the drinks out of her hand. You can only fret about sending articles, send articles, fret about saying something, say something, or just fret — lousy choices all. Trying to assert control is not the answer. Your responsibilities are limited to assessing what you actually know (versus fear, suspect, see on Facebook ...); weighing the potential benefit of action versus the risk either of inaction or of offending; and understand- ing that your reach into the life of another adult is at her pleasure. Since you've said (and sent) your piece, please consider your to-do list exhausted. Now your focus needs to shift to being the person she can trust not to get into her business. Trust the daughter you raised, the one who used birth control right up to the point when she and her husband decided together they were ready for chil- dren, and who is talking to a doctor about what is and isn't OK for pregnancy. Mom suspects her daughter is mixing drinks with pregnancy 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 Aries (March 21-April 19) — Interesting new connections will contribute to your personal prospects. Meeting someone at a community event will turn out to be beneficial. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Health problems will prevail if you aren't getting enough rest. Financial concerns or demand- ing family members will add to your frustration. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Focus on your goals, but be careful not to spread yourself too thin. Timing and a steady pace will make a difference. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Stay out of office debates and keep your opinions to yourself. You will get a lot more done if you are able to ignore all the disgruntled and bitter people. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Your energy level is low. Consider joining in some com- petitive games or sports to help boost your stamina. Show the people you love that they are a top priority in your life. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Don't allow anyone to take advantage of you. Speak up and set your own rules. If you are assertive and you stand your ground, you will get the desired results. Do your own thing. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Make an effort to cooper- ate with family members. Older relatives may be able to offer insight into your problems. Discuss family history with an elder to discover valuable information. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Be strict about the family budget. Frivolous expenses will deplete your savings if you don't keep track of them. Accurate financial records are essential. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — You will be able to con- tinue engaging in pleasant ac- tivities once you have resolved a minor family problem. Keep your emotions in check, or you may end up making matters worse. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Don't divulge secrets. Make sure your work relationships stay free of emotional turmoil. Be truthful and clear. A casual remark could be misinterpreted. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — It's great to mingle, but before forming new friend- ships, make sure there isn't a conflict of interest. A hastily made promise could result in an embarrassing situation. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — Strong alliances with your co-workers will enable you to make great strides. Pool your ideas for maximum effect. You will provide useful sugges- tions for improving efficiency at work. Horoscope By Bernice Bede Osol FRIDAY, APRIL 18 Friday, april 18, 2014 rEdBlUFFdailyNEWS.COM | YOUR DAILY BREAK | 5 B