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DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman THEDUPLEX GlennMcCoy ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARAMY»Myboyfriend has three grown kids. I have a young son, and my boyfriend and I recently had a child togethe r. I knew he had custody of his children when they were young, so I assumed he was a great and caring father, but then I learned his chil- dren had rooms at his parents' house and his parents "watched" them most of the time. He spoke of coaching sports and of being a scout leader. These things made me think he was an involved parent. We have lived together for a few years and he has been less than the ideal father to my child. I thought this was be- cause he wasn't my son's biological father. When I became preg- nant with our child, he seemed happy but rarely talked about it. People dismissed this as normal for a man. He ignores the children. He will bathe or dress them, change diapers, etc., if I ask him to. But he is always looking at a computer screen or TV. He doesn't talk to the kids much. He gives the impression that he is only doing these things for me and it's an uninteresting chore for him. But he doesn't complain out loud and is never abusive. I feel like he is very selfish and uncaring. I fear he is not bonding with the kids and I worry about how this will affect them. My child already has learned not to expect much from him. I want him to change, but when I encourage him to play with the baby or talk to her he gets angry and tells me that he does talk to her. I grew up without a father in my life, so I question what a father should do. I plan to be with him for the rest of my life. How can I deal with this hurt and disappointment? Is this a valid concern? I want my kids to have a good father. —DisappointedMom DEAR DISAPPOINTED » Many people find taking care of young babies to be boring and enervating — even when it is their own baby. Your guy's behavior is somewhat typical of an uninvolved secondary parent. And yes — it is very disappointing. You might nudge him toward your older son by finding an activity the two can share. Your son might enjoy karate or soccer on Saturdays, and your guy can do this with him. The way to bond is to share experiences. You two should have a serious talk. Will you marry one another? Will he adopt your son? Are there ways he can engage so that he will enjoy parenthood more? Do you need to step back some- times without judgment? This book might help: "The Dad's Edge: 9 Simple Ways to Have: Unlimited Patience, Im- proved Relationships, and Positive Lasting Memo- ries," by Larry Hagner (2015, Larry Hagner). Mother of two wants her boyfriend to be a better dad You can contact Amy Dickinson via email: askamy@tribpub.com and follow her on Twitter @askingamy. Amy Dickinson Ask Amy Sudoku Instructions:Theobjectistoplacethe numbers1to9intheemptysquaresso thateachrow,eachcolumnandeach 3x3boxcontainsthenumberonlyonce. AnswertoPreviousPuzzle CelebrityCipher ByLuisCampos Instructions:CelebrityCiphercryptogramsarecreatedfromquotationsbyfamouspeople, pastandpresent.Eachletterinthecipherstandsforanother. NEACrossword Pisces(Feb.20-March 20) — Doing something nice for someone will boost your reputa- tion and open up opportunities for new friendships or work relationships to blossom. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Keep an open mind and your emotions in check. Put your effort into personal accomplish- ment, taking on a challenge and maintaining good health. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Put your plans in motion. Your dominance will capture attention and help you vie for a position that would give you additional clout. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — Don't leave anything undone. You'll be criticized if you fall short of the promises you've made. Ask for help if you need it. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Express your feelings and plans. Romance is on an up- swing. Doing small but thought- ful things for a special some- one will bring you closer to each other. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — If you mix business with plea- sure, a short excursion will pay off. Bringing about change that will influence your personal and professional lives is encouraged. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Look for something enjoyable to do in order to alleviate stress and feel better prepared to face any difficulties you are experi- encing with others. Make love, not war. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Don't bend under pressure. Only bring about the change you feel is going to be to your advantage. Emotional manipula- tion should be shut down before it starts. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Use your creative imagina- tion to turn an enjoyable hobby into a moneymaker. Share your ideas with someone who wants to take part or support your efforts. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Be careful how you ex- plain situations to others. You'll be accused of exaggerating or spreading rumors. Take care of your responsibilities before someone complains. Avoid indulgence. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Face emotional issues head-on in order to resolve any difference you have with a personal or professional partner. Love looks promising, and plans for two should be made. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Keep close tabs on your spending and don't leave valu- ables out in the open. Focus on getting into shape and practic- ing a healthier lifestyle. Horoscope By Eugenia Last WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16 WEDNESDAY,MARCH16,2016 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |YOURDAILYBREAK | 3 B