that is good idea JFri… or even start reading the paper to Michael, it can really help a child to learn about the world around him. not to mention that Mike will quickly get sick of listening to the news and leave without having to be yelled at. However, personally, I know that my sister and I always loved hearing dad read the news to us because he would pick them and explain why we should care or he would pick the interesting ones!
Aww, poor Michael. While I’m a big fan of kids learning how to entertain themselves, he really looks like he wants to hang out with his dad. Go do something with him, John.
Who hasn’t been irritated when interrupted? John’s wrong that this is a missed opportunity, though. Having realized it, he could apologize for yelling, and play with his kid. What a great opportunity - to acknowledge that grown-ups make mistakes too. But maybe he’s too proud. (I know I often am…)
someday when Mike is gone off to be a man, and dad is sitting there retired and reading yet another newspaper , he will be wishing that his son called more often and would certainly welcome being ‘bugged’
Read the paper aloud; then ask Michael why the particular story is important (or not, as the case may be)… then let Michael read a news story aloud. Michael gets practice reading, and Dad still gets to peruse the news!
If I were in John’sshoes, I would roll the newspaper up and whack back of Michael’s head with it. And then tell him to do something ELSE to keep him busy than being bored!
I’d love to walk a dog enjoyably but I missed it awfully.
OMG! Just when I though John couldn’t be more useless, he pulls an Elly, screams irrationally at the kid who is just looking to him for some fatherly attention, and guidance, and fails miserably as a father with his abundant, selfish, uselessnes!
Yes Susan, exactly, and now we really know why Elly never bothers to straighten out John, who is the real source of her failed, unfulfilled life. He’s her, only lazier, and he really couldn’t care less.
Oh, MrsLuke, everyone gets annoyed with their kids on occassion. Especially when they pull the I’m boooooorrrreeeddddd crud. Anyone over 30 was sent to clean their room when they said that as a child.
Oh, MrsLuke, everyone gets annoyed with their kids on occassion. Especially when they pull the I’m boooooorrrreeeddddd crud. Anyone over 30 was sent to clean their room when they said that as a child.
I was threatened with that. Turns out I was never bored enough.
Skywalker, how do you give guidance, of any kind, to a kid who is bored?
You’re 20 mroberts. What do you know about kids? You name off all the things they can do and hope they’ll want to do one of them.
I was never threatened with anything for being bored. I was reminded of all the cool things I really did have to do. In fact, I was never bored. I had a great imagination that kept me endlessly creating one thing or another, Jaeldid66.
Well parents should have time to themselves. We shouldn’t drop everything to cater to our children. That being said John could have handled this better. Something along the line of “Why don’t you go get your book and we’ll have some quiet time for 20 minutes. Then you and I will do FILL IN BLANK.” This works for my daughter.
Hey, MrsLukeSkywalker? If you dislike the characters so much, why do you even read this comic? I may be wrong, but it seems that all you ever do is comment on how awful they (Elly and John) are and how they are just doing everything wrong.
I was rarely bored as a child. I loved to read and as long as I had a good book in my hands, I was a pretty happy kid … and I’m sure my parents appreciated that fact, as well!
Meanwhile, not only do I still enjoy reading a good book, I also love cross stitching. Both can be pretty expensive hobbies when you have large collections of each one like I do but as I always tell my husband: “At least you know where I am and what I’m doing … and it keeps me out of the barrooms and pool halls!” (just kidding, of course!)
MorganZ about 14 years ago
Isn’t that “Cat’s Cradle” playing in the background?
The Duke 1 about 14 years ago
Gee, here’s an idea…..read the comics to him!
crazyasabull about 14 years ago
that is good idea JFri… or even start reading the paper to Michael, it can really help a child to learn about the world around him. not to mention that Mike will quickly get sick of listening to the news and leave without having to be yelled at. However, personally, I know that my sister and I always loved hearing dad read the news to us because he would pick them and explain why we should care or he would pick the interesting ones!
lightenup Premium Member about 14 years ago
Aww, poor Michael. While I’m a big fan of kids learning how to entertain themselves, he really looks like he wants to hang out with his dad. Go do something with him, John.
cdward about 14 years ago
Sometimes I have to play with my kids even when I don’t feel like it. Often, just like John, I almost miss the importance of the moment.
bald about 14 years ago
maybe john could have michael read the newspaper to him.
LornaP about 14 years ago
Who hasn’t been irritated when interrupted? John’s wrong that this is a missed opportunity, though. Having realized it, he could apologize for yelling, and play with his kid. What a great opportunity - to acknowledge that grown-ups make mistakes too. But maybe he’s too proud. (I know I often am…)
Nighthawks Premium Member about 14 years ago
someday when Mike is gone off to be a man, and dad is sitting there retired and reading yet another newspaper , he will be wishing that his son called more often and would certainly welcome being ‘bugged’
The_Ol_Goaler about 14 years ago
Read the paper aloud; then ask Michael why the particular story is important (or not, as the case may be)… then let Michael read a news story aloud. Michael gets practice reading, and Dad still gets to peruse the news!
NashvilleMac about 14 years ago
howtheduck said:
[I have seen the future of this comic strip, and that moment never happens. Although it is nice to think that it would.]
Actually, you have seen one future of this strip - which doesn’t necessarily preclude the existence of others. :)
Wildmustang1262 about 14 years ago
If I were in John’sshoes, I would roll the newspaper up and whack back of Michael’s head with it. And then tell him to do something ELSE to keep him busy than being bored!
I’d love to walk a dog enjoyably but I missed it awfully.
mjtempke about 14 years ago
Actually, the name of the song is: “Cats in the Cradle”.
mroberts88 about 14 years ago
Wildmustang1262, John could tell Michael to clean his room.
DavidAllenParizekJr about 14 years ago
LornaP -
I think playing with his son is the missed opportunity the comic and John meant.
mrslukeskywalker about 14 years ago
OMG! Just when I though John couldn’t be more useless, he pulls an Elly, screams irrationally at the kid who is just looking to him for some fatherly attention, and guidance, and fails miserably as a father with his abundant, selfish, uselessnes!
Yes Susan, exactly, and now we really know why Elly never bothers to straighten out John, who is the real source of her failed, unfulfilled life. He’s her, only lazier, and he really couldn’t care less.
jaeldid66 about 14 years ago
Oh, MrsLuke, everyone gets annoyed with their kids on occassion. Especially when they pull the I’m boooooorrrreeeddddd crud. Anyone over 30 was sent to clean their room when they said that as a child.
mroberts88 about 14 years ago
jaeldid66 said, 43 minutes ago
Oh, MrsLuke, everyone gets annoyed with their kids on occassion. Especially when they pull the I’m boooooorrrreeeddddd crud. Anyone over 30 was sent to clean their room when they said that as a child.
I was threatened with that. Turns out I was never bored enough.
Skywalker, how do you give guidance, of any kind, to a kid who is bored?
mrslukeskywalker about 14 years ago
You’re 20 mroberts. What do you know about kids? You name off all the things they can do and hope they’ll want to do one of them.
I was never threatened with anything for being bored. I was reminded of all the cool things I really did have to do. In fact, I was never bored. I had a great imagination that kept me endlessly creating one thing or another, Jaeldid66.
mroberts88 about 14 years ago
MrsLukeSkywalker said, 44 minutes ago
You’re 20 mroberts. What do you know about kids? You name off all the things they can do and hope they’ll want to do one of them.
You’re math is off. You might be surprised at what I,or others know, or dont know.
BigHug about 14 years ago
Well parents should have time to themselves. We shouldn’t drop everything to cater to our children. That being said John could have handled this better. Something along the line of “Why don’t you go get your book and we’ll have some quiet time for 20 minutes. Then you and I will do FILL IN BLANK.” This works for my daughter.
cutiepie29 about 14 years ago
Hey, MrsLukeSkywalker? If you dislike the characters so much, why do you even read this comic? I may be wrong, but it seems that all you ever do is comment on how awful they (Elly and John) are and how they are just doing everything wrong.
Gretchen's Mom about 14 years ago
I was rarely bored as a child. I loved to read and as long as I had a good book in my hands, I was a pretty happy kid … and I’m sure my parents appreciated that fact, as well!
Meanwhile, not only do I still enjoy reading a good book, I also love cross stitching. Both can be pretty expensive hobbies when you have large collections of each one like I do but as I always tell my husband: “At least you know where I am and what I’m doing … and it keeps me out of the barrooms and pool halls!” (just kidding, of course!)
feefers_ 5 months ago
Play with the kid. He will be an adult in a blink of an eye