Trending
ARIES (March 21-April 19). The best way to figure out someone's motive is to put yourself in their shoes. As a detective working a case might, you'll conduct a recreation of sorts to tease your mind into coming up with answers.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You'll become directly involved in the sort of scenario you once dreamed about. Things are different in this hands-on position. There are stressors you hadn't considered, and many benefits that surprise you as well.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You have a unique contribution to bring to the world, but it's not something that's fixed or a treasure hidden in you that you must discover. It's more like a meal that you make as you go with the ingredients available.
CANCER (June 22-July 22). The absurdity of life is not lost on you. You'll take the weird parts and weave them into your plan, and then sit back and be amused at the interesting way it all plays out.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Most things you can fall into (including luck, love, a rhythm, a rut, a mood, debt) require some sort of surrender. You've come to a slippery slope. Keep a tight grip as you assess the nature of what you could potentially be getting into.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Dramatic change due to large-scale efforts is rare compared to the change that comes of small daily moves in a particular direction. Results may be undetectable over the course of the week but radical given months and years.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). If you give someone a little extra pause after they are finished speaking an idea, they will often go further. You'll get more information by waiting for it than you will by asking for it.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). WhaDear Heloise: My husband and I spoke to our three children about drinking, and we thought we had a clear understanding with them. They all promised to refrain from drinking before the age of 21. For a time, I felt comfortable with them going to parties with their friends, until the police came to our door to let us know that our 16-year-old son was arrested for drunk driving. There were consequences, of course -- both with the law and at home.
Your column reaches thousands of people. Please tell parents of teens to discuss the dangers of drinking and driving. Drinking and driving can ruin or possibly end their lives. In the case of my son, it was more of a "go along to get along" situation, but that did not justify drinking and driving. Sadly, my nephew wasn't as lucky. He and his girlfriend, both of whom were 16, died in a drinking-related accident. -- A Reader in Kentucky
Dear Reader, my condolences for your loss. Underage drinking is a problem for so many families. In fact, alcohol is considered the most commonly used illegal substance by teenagers in this country. The "Youth Risk Behavior Survey" in 2019 discovered that among underage children, 29% drink alcohol; 14% binge-drink; 5% drive after drinking; and 17% ride with a drunk driver.
This is not acceptable, but the statistics get worse. Underage drinkers have been shown to have a higher rate of absences from school and/or low grades. They are more likely to have unwanted, unplanned sex without using any protection. There is a higher rate of suicide or homicide among underage drinkers, and there is always the risk of alcohol poisoning.
So, what can a parent do? Parents are the primary influencer with their kids. Have talks with your children about the effects drinking has on their bodies and their lives. Parents need to remember their children will often emulate the behavior they see at home. That means you shouldn't binge-drink.
If you find out that your underage child drinks alcohol, you can also try getting professional help for them, to discover why they're drinking and how to stop it. -- Heloise
Dear Heloise: It seems that every time I crack an egg open, I lose a tiny piece of shell. I hate to say it, but nine times out of 10, I will lose that little piece and someone will find it when they chew their scrambled eggs or bite into their muffin.
Finally, I decided to break the eggs in a small glass bowl, where I could easily see if there was a small piece of shell floating in the egg whites and fish it out.
No more crunchy eggs! -- Ellen F., Fresno, Californiat used to give you a charge now has very little emotional energy to it. Outgrowing certain influences is a natural progression of life. This might have to do with a teacher. Seek teachers that challenge and inspire you.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). The gatekeeper isn't necessarily an enemy or a friend, but merely the one who provides criteria for entry. You will learn about the expectation at hand and use it to strengthen your resolve and sharpen your skill.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Writing and transportation are two themes of the day. Through writing you can transport yourself and others to a different headspace. And through physical transportation you get the inspiration to write.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Like looking everywhere for the glasses that are sitting atop your head, sometimes thinking something is missing inspires futile searching. Check yourself. Chances are, what you're looking for is already inside you.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The next step is logical, and don't wait until you have the confidence to do it either. Don't worry, the courage might kick in or it might not, but you don't need to believe you can do it to accomplish it. You just need to move.