Stone Soup by Jan Eliot for January 10, 2013

she’s kidding, right?

hang on, not the end of the story

I agree.

Don’t be an idiot Val, babysitting isn’t a one way street. You are taking care of your sister’s kids for two week while she goes off to Paris. Do you seriously think Joan wouldn’t watch yours if you asked?

Evie would help as well, but my experience with girls the age of Holly and Alex is that they really don’t like their mother getting involved seriously with another man even if he is a good guy. They say they don’t mind and they try not to but in the end they aren’t mature enough to imagine a parent in a physical relationship with a new partner. When they are older and finished school they are able to deal with the reality a little better.

Jersey Shore is located right in the middle of PA. The nearest “shore” is at least 200 miles away.

That’s the second time Phil has said love, but I don’t recall her saying it.

Why do you read shis stryp?

In the last frame, is Phil asking how many years until Holly and Alix are both gone and will just be Val and ‘Biscuit’ in the house? Or is he asking how many years has he loved Val in a vain hope she will return the love?

@Flyer Tom Phil said THE Jersey Shore, NOT Jersey Shore. I live in PA and know the difference.

Why would you say that? She has raised two daughters that are lightly modelled off Holly and Alix. Either way, that is just a mean statement based off a CARTOON DRAWING!

Grab the Day!!!!!

My sister’s dating again, finally. Her daughter is 37 and is not happy that Mom is dating, especially when Mom spends the night with the friend, doesn’t answer her cell phone, doesn’t call and say where she is… “She could be dead in a ditch and we wouldn’t know until the cops show up.” A statement that sent me, my husband, and my nephew into hysterical laughter.

Thanks for giving a shout out to THE Jersey shore. We can still use all the help we can get.

“When the kids are grown”!! Are you NOT babysitting your sisters preschool children while she goes off to Paris Quid Pro Quo baby!! At least Holly & Alix are more or less self-sufficient.

Val,

You forget that your sister and brother-in-law will owe you a major favor when they return from Paris. Of course, as the mother of young, impressionable daughters, you need to set a very good example. You better make that road trip a honeymoon.

Seems no one has picked up on Phil’s paraphrase of Elizabeth Barret Brownings poem…C’mon, people, this strip goes HIGHBROW, once in a while !!

Val and Phil are not a good match. Phil is a confirmed bachelor, Val. He doesn’t understand your role as a mother and wants you only for yourself. He might know how to romance you and that would be all. Is that all you want? Are you content to wait until the girls grow up and leave home before Phil would bring your relationship to the next level – if ever? Most single mothers I know would dump men like Phil – guys who is only interested in wooing the mother and disregard the children. Phil never goes out with Val AND the girls. Looks like Val is interested in just romance from Phil and not looking for a guy in her life. She is still mourning her husband like Joan said the other day. Time to move on, Val. Dump Phil and find a real family man or a guy who likes children and will do things with them.

In For Better or Worse, the kids do grow up. When Lynn Johnson ended her strip, Michael was married with kids, Elizabeth had just married and April was getting ready to go to University.

@somebodyshort said,

@UncaJim

“I caught it, I also caught Phil’s sarcasm in it.”

Oh, let’s not be rash… let’s just call it ‘dry wit’…>clink<

Don’t wait.