For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for April 20, 2010

Addressing whether the strips are new or repeats, here, Johnston said she was rebooting the comic and would be drawing new strips in her old style. But she also said she would be using classic strips when she wanted some time off. Looks like she’s off.

Thank you, everyone who kindly responded to my questions yesterday. I appreciate the insights I received and I believe that I now understand a bit better where certain people are coming from when they comment.

I certainly feel I have more in common with some of the “regular” posters than I recognized at first, and I will “agree to disagree with” certain others. I intend to ignore those commenters who are too vitriolic for my tastes. If you feel this applies to you, don’t worry about it because I will also not comment on/to you ever again. Thank you.

He opened the refrigerator chock full and said…”There’s nothing to eat”.

My parents never offered those as SUGGESTIONS. If I whined that I was bored, I got ordered to clean my room. I learned to entertain myself very quickly.

Don’t we all!

I feel utterly righteous when I empty the dishwasher while my first pot brews. Has she ever said a word? Will she notice the sparkling floor after my taco disaster last night? Does it cross her mind why the cat box never needs cleaning? And why is the recycle bucket empty every morning.? Elves, it has to be elves.

Amen, sister!

ELVES!!!

Pointy-eared little slackers….

Where’s that blasted Shoemaker’s phone number?

mumble….mumble…

Torture Mom with whining: No.1 kid’s sport. I’m waiting for the video game.

he could pull practical jokes on his mom. then she’d get so fed up she’d let him go play in the rain.

So do I.

I love Elly because she’s the closest to human I’ve seen in the comics. I can’t stand the other comic moms because they’re so artificial. I can relate to her so I guess you should call me a harpy and a whiner. That’s how people react when they feel trapped and unappreciated. To give you some perspective as to why I can relate. I have a special needs child who tires me out during the day. For example I need to bring her home during the lunch hour because she has difficulty with other children and has been bullied in the past. I am unable to work and unable to drive. To say that I have a few off days is an understatement. Lynn opened herself up to show a character in Elly that all of us can relate to (not only me) even if we protest that we’re not anything like her. What she did was very courageous. It’s not popular to show someone frustrated, angry or bitter especially if they’re mothers. Mothers are supposed to be saints with big smiles on their face and a plate of freshly baked cookies.

BigHug–That was the best statement on this sight. Comics have always been a slice of life for most. Life is good and life is bad. It depends on your day and your perspective. Most of s would like to see Elly take more of the oppurtunities to bond than see her whine and fuss.

We also raised a special needs child. She was large and had anger issues but she now is a good friend to us.

Susan001 said, about 3 hours ago

howtheduck has a point. Why don’t the two of them do the chores together? It would be a great opportunity to bond–that is, unless Michael does something less than perfectly, and throws his mother into ANOTHER screaming fit!

I second on that one! :-)

Big hug to BigHug!! Right that they could find something fun to do together – but it’s hard to do when you’re feeling sorry for yourself and depressed. She needs someone to push her in that direction but it ain’ta gonna be the hubster – and it probably won’t be any of her friends either.

FANBLOODYTASTIC BigHug! Well said and far beyond time. I too have a special needs child, and while her’s is not as sever as it seems your child is, it can still be trying and have moments when patience isn’t what it should be.

Thank you for the quick reminder that ALL people are just that…people.

Well said, BigHug (and cutiepie29)!! Sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture when there’s a mess staring you in the face. But I try to ignore it and play with my kids (even if it means my house is far from clean), esp while they still want to be with me. BTW, a big cheer to all of you with special needs children – you are heroes to me.

I feel that way about studying for finals!

This is one of the reasons why Elly drives me absolutely nuts!!!!!

Don’t the kids have any fun games in their room that Elly and Michael can play together like “Chutes and Ladders”, “Trouble” or maybe even “Yahtzee”? How about playing a video game or putting a jigsaw puzzle together?

Yeah, the house is dirty and chores need to be done but children don’t stay this young forever! All those chores can be done tomorrow or maybe even the next day. She should be spending time having fun and bonding with her son today!!!!!

But if Michael’s messy room really bugs her all that much, they should make a game out of cleaning it up together. Maybe they can go out and stomp around in water puddles as his “reward” for getting that particular job done today. Anything so as long as they’re doing it together!!!!!

P.S.: When I was a kid, if I had complained to my parents about being bored and having nothing to do, they wouldn’t have suggested doing a few chores … I would have been ordered to do them! To this very day, I absolutely love to read!!!!!

Susan001 – you lived through a nightmare and I don’t blame you for your feelings!!!!! It’s criminal in this country that we had no help for women (or men for that matter) in the throes of mental illness during the 50s. Unfortunately there is still way too much stigma concerning these issues today so people still don’t seek the help they need. It’s good that you (like these fictional kids) have somehow managed to make a life for yourself.

Wow, wow and WOW!!!!!!! What a great day this has been. Big bearhugs all around(my handle is pawpawbear). Susan, I lived through that similar childhood. Now, I try to be a useful person but some days I just want to run and hide. I managed to get a handle, somewhat, by joining the Marine Corps as soon as I was able.

God Bless to all.

Thank you for the positive responses all around.

@Susan I’m so sorry for your painful memories. I too come from a difficult background with an angry and alcoholic father. My mother enabled him. I was neglected and my parents were unable to give me the emotional support I needed. I was rarely hugged or praised because affection was uncomfortable and foreign to them. My mother is much better now and can say I love you but it’s a whisper and she doesn’t cringe now when hugging. I learned long ago to let go of the past or the feelings would eat me alive. I’m not providing them with excuses but they were essentially children as parents with fractured egos. They thought in their strange way that they were doing a far better job than their parents. My dad was proud of the fact that he didn’t beat us up like his parents and my mom thought she married up by choosing a man who only binge drank and wasn’t drunk 24/7 until he passed out like her dad.

Isn’t that what EVERY mom tells their kid when they have nothing to do? I’ve been there.

Don’t we all, Michael and Elly. Don’t we all.

@Susan I spilled my guts to illustrate a different perspective. I don’t hate Elly. I don’t get angry at her. At times I feel sadness and pity for her.

Wow. Now I can understand why there are so many negative comments about Elly [and Connie]. I did not grow up that way and I don’t see them as constant whiners or complainers. Susan, BigHug and any others, congratulations. You are survivors.

((((((((((BIGHUG))))))))))

(((((((((SUSAN)))))))))))

It’s not easy, either way.

WHY IN THE INTRODUCTION PHOTO WHERE YOU THE THE COMIC STRIP . ELLY LOOKS LIKE SHE IS HOLDING A LITTLE GIRL WITH BROWN HAIR . BUT THERE IS NO LITTTLE GIRL. IN THE STRIP

Elly knows how to play with her kids, when the time is right, and she raised them very well. Today’s strip just doesn’t show one of those times. Today’s strip is just one 4-panel glimpse into Michael’s childhood and Elly’s mothering, but some of you want it to show something different. (Maybe you should go draw your own strips.)

But instant gratification is also an inappropriate lesson to teach a young child, so when Michael just wants to indulge himself, he needs to learn that there are other things that need to be done. This is the lesson that Lynn/Elly are teaching; the chores themselves are not the point. And Elly knows this. If she did not, wouldn’t she be more like her friend Connie?

But again, THAT ISN’T THE POINT! The point is that we all (most of us anyway) know that you can’t indulge every little whim as it comes along, but sometimes we stop and wish it wasn’t so. And so Lyn helps us see ourselves and laugh wistfully, and it’s a little easier for us.

Thanks, Lynn!

Oneliner, why the shouting?

There’s a little girl in the future of the strip.