Horoscopes

Aries (March 21-April 19): The struggle continues between your rational ability to see the future and understand the value of goals and hard work and that fun-monkey in you seeking gratification of a more instantaneous variety. Taurus (April 20-May 20): The trick is to acknowledge the other’s traits and foibles without indulging them. It takes a light touch and a flexible but firm social boundary. The reward is a sense of connection without the codependence. Gemini (May 21-June 21): As today’s conversation gets heated, you’ll draw from your ever-growing information banks for interesting contributions. It’s your congenial attitude they’ll remember. Cancer (June 22-July 22): Many things will go as planned to satisfy your need for order and control. And some things will not. It’s more fun when things don’t go as expected. It gives you an excuse to interact in ways you might not have had to. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): Old baggage will get left on the roadside of the highway of love. Good riddance. Relationships will lighten up, cruise along and gain a real sense of progress and freedom. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): The process is the goal, really. And yet, without a stated goal, there is no process. This will all be a moot point as you follow your natural instincts today. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): You’re famous for your diplomacy, lovely manners and ever-considerate ways. You’ll once again be the glue that brings people together today, and, like a clear-drying glue, your efforts will be invisible, the results uncredited. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): Because you are not reliant on feedback, you don’t ask for it. And yet, you need it now. Your success will depend on getting in touch with your audience, reading the room and finding the right kinds of rooms to begin with. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Unless you’re a world leader or you’ve been placed in charge of the livelihood and future of a great number of people, avoid overly serious conversation today. Truly, such grave talk will benefit no one. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): If you can afford to ignore the problem, you’re rich. But if you can’t, you’ll wind up more capable, less afraid and more confident in your ability to handle and solve things. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): You’re not looking to surround yourself with perfect people; the showoffs and know-it-alls bore you. You want a sincere connection with a flawed, compassionate, authentic individual. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): There will be plenty of appreciation for the work you’ve done. New people want you to create similar results for them, and they’ll offer to hire you, consult with you or be your apprentice.

To write to Holiday Mathis, visit www.creators. com/author/holiday-mathis and click “Contact.” DEAR ABBY >> I am a full-time nanny for a family with two children, ages 7 and 9. The mother is wonderful, and so are the kids. But the father, who is absent due to work travel most of the time, teaches his children attitudes I strongly disagree with. It is not often I must interact with him, but when I have, he says hateful things about people who are gay, obese or poor.

The children have now begun to repeat these comments, pointing out large people when we are in public, or saying nasty things about the homeless we see as we drive. I try to combat this hatred by sharing words of love or acceptance.

The mom is mortified when I tell her the things her children have said. She doesn’t share the same attitudes as her husband, but she works a lot and isn’t around to discuss things like this with her kids in the moment.

I feel like part of the family because I spend so much time with the children. But I wonder if I am overstepping my boundaries by admonishing them for saying things their father has taught them to believe. Is it my place to teach the kids lessons about acceptance that are contrary to what he tells them?

— Nanny in Tampa

DEAR NANNY >> The person to whom you should be addressing this question is the children’s mother. Whether I think teaching the children compassion and tolerance is the right thing to do (which, by the way, I do) is not relevant. You should abide by her wishes because she is your employer.

DEAR ABBY >> I am a 29-year-old female. I’m not married and have no kids. I’ve been dating a man who is 14 years older for two years now. He has no children.

We have talked about marriage and having children, but recently I found out he has no retirement savings. This scares me because I’m thinking about the future. If something were to happen to him and we were married, I’d be stuck with his debt.

I am at a loss. I don’t want to be the snobby woman who kicks him when he’s down and leaves him, but at the same time, I don’t understand why he hasn’t planned for retirement. Am I wrong for thinking this way? — Contemplating my future in

Santa Rosa, Calif.

DEAR CONTEMPLATING >> If you don’t understand your boyfriend’s thinking on the subject of financial planning, continue discussing it with him until you do. He may not realize how important it is to plan, invest and save for the future. Many people older than he is are now having a rude awakening about how long they will need to continue working until they have enough of a nest egg to retire. In many cases, it takes the effort of both spouses to accomplish it — if they can retire at all.

Please don’t call yourself names. I wouldn’t accuse you of being a “snob” because you’re thinking rationally on the subject of finances. I call that being sensible.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Abby shares more than 100 of her favorite recipes in two booklets: “Abby’s Favorite Recipes” and “More Favorite Recipes by Dear Abby.” Send your name and mailing address, plus check or money order for $14 (U.S. funds) to: Dear Abby, Cookbooklet Set, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Shipping and handling are included in the price.)