Horoscope

ARIES (March 21-April 19): Be patient enough to do what it takes to solve a problem once and for all. The first answer you come up with may not be the best. Go deeper. Ask, “What else? How else?”

TAURUS (April 20-May 20): People want to share with you. Showand-tell time will start out interesting. Brevity is the way to keep it that way. Ward against over-sharing and stick to the safe topics.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21): Life won’t provide you with incentives, but you’re so creative that you can come up with some pretty awesome ones when you’re at a loss. Keep the momentum up today: Know what you’re looking forward to and envision the prize.

CANCER (June 22-July 22): Most children don’t think so, but life really is better with fewer sweets, less screen time and more fresh air. You’ll tap into your grown-up instincts and feel wonderful for the effort.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Long-term thinking isn’t always so fun, and thinking only of the moment is foolish. There’s a sweet spot in the middle of short- and long-term thinking that will be wonderfully accommodating to your plans.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): Your incredible gift of adaptability will kick in today. You’ll stretch, flex and grow yourself in order to meet the new situation. Your lack of ego is what makes this possible.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23): Gather information. Get clarity on all communication. You are mighty intuitive now, but you’ll learn more by asking than by assuming you already have the answers.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21): If you’re constantly standing up for yourself around a certain person, it’s a red flag. Don’t ignore the signal that a person doesn’t accept and support you as you are.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Start making plans for the upcoming event. It’s a lucky time to freeassociate about how you want this to go. Gather inspiration and ideas. Talk to the ones who have done it before.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): You’ll listen to different philosophies, some of which will be easier to relate to than others. Your open mind will hold some of this information for later when it better applies.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Your active mind may also become restless tonight. Just remember that sleep is an important part of any mammal’s life. Instead of lying awake with worry, outline a plan.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Getting back to basics is a very personal process, since what is “basic” to you is not even in the realm for someone else. Honor your own essentials regardless of whether the others understand what you need.

To write to Holiday Mathis, visit www.creators.com/ author/holiday-mathis and click “Contact.” DEAR ABBY » I’m a mother of three beautiful little girls. I’m nervous about having to talk with my oldest about puberty and sex. She’s turning 10, and I know I need to start explaining certain things to her, but I have no idea how. My mother never sat me down and talked to me about anything, really, so my mom would not be of much help. Any advice you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

— Minnesota mom of three

DEAR MOM » You can spare your daughter a frightening experience when her first period arrives if you start talking to her now, before it happens. Start the conversation by making the message positive — that she will “become a woman” soon and tell her what to expect. Show her what to do in case you are not there and what supplies she will need to take care of herself. That’s step one.

A short time later, ask her what she knows about reproduction. Because reproduction is taught in some schools, she may surprise you by how much she already knows. If she doesn’t, start talking to her about how her body works and your family values. It is important that parents also talk to their children about drugs and alcohol well before they start to experiment. My booklet “What Every Teen Should Know” covers sexuality as well as other topics, including dating, peer pressure, sexually transmitted diseases, drugs and alcohol. It can be ordered by sending your name and address, plus check or money order for $7 (U.S. funds) to Dear Abby Teen Booklet, P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 610540447. Shipping and handling are included in the price. Order it for yourself and review it before starting your discussions with your daughter. My Teen booklet has been distributed in doctors’ offices as well as by educators and religious leaders. The more information you can provide your daughters, the better prepared those girls will be to make informed choices in the future.

DEAR ABBY » I’ve been with my girlfriend for seven years and, for the most part, our sex life is great. However, we’ve had disagreements when I suggested ways to spice it up.

I proposed costume/role play where she would dress up as an elf or other fantasy genre character. She hates the idea (and elves) and suggested lingerie (which I have bought for her in the past, but gets worn once or twice before being thrown away). I don’t think my suggestion is outrageous compared to some of the letters I’ve seen in your column over the years. Am I wrong for thinking she’s being closed-minded? — Cosplay curious in

Calgary

DEAR “COS” » It strikes me that your girlfriend may be more clothes-minded than closed-minded. It’s a fact of life that some people are more sexually adventurous than others. Because she finds the idea of dressing as an elf unappealing, choose another fantasy figure you can agree upon.

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.