Arlo and Janis by Jimmy Johnson for August 02, 2016

Good luck, Gene….

“I just mean it came from your mother’s side of our family. I’m a bit of a slacker. But I love you despite your conscientiousness flaw.”

Is this beginning of a rift that will never heal?

Take a few minutes to stop and smell the roses. Just be careful that you don’t get stung by a bee. BTW, she looks like Shannon from “Luann” but too seriousand much less playful.

He’s definitely his father’s son! I’m known for putting my foot in my mouth too, it helps to type it out, that way at least I get a chance to delete my faux pas before it’s seen.

I think that there may be child labor laws against that, regardless of what the kid wants. No parent should allow that before school & after school. She is way too young for those kind of hours working. Occasionally, yes. Regularly, no.

@starcandles – I believe kids 12 and over can legally work on their family farm when needed and older ones also take time from school for it, for example, during the harvest. found this… https://www.dol.gov/whd/state/agriemp2.htm

Gene is not Meg’s biological father, which is probably why he said “your” instead of “our”. She can’t inherit anything from him. That doesn’t mean they are not family, though.

In our blended family “your family” means everyone!

Gene meant (I believe) to say, “Your Mother’s side of the family.” He just spoke too quickly and too abbreviated. Unfortunately, such a slip, which can easily be misconstrued…. can prove to be very hurtful to a kid, like Meg. Gene really needs to backtrack immediately and say something akin to:“You know what I meant. I mean that you and your mother and grandfather all are a bit overzealot in regards “hard work” whereas I am more of a slacker. So, from your Grandpa, both you and your mom inherited a work ethic that (fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how Gene wants to slant this) I personally do not have. In our family, it will always be me who tends to let work go to the wayside if something more interesting comes along."

How old is Meg supposed to be? Is she 8 or closer to 12? There is nothing wrong with wanting to work hard. Many people lack that desire.

I’d love to see a cross-over with Baldo, because Meg and Gracie would get along great; they’ve both got the over achiever mindset.

Agricultural work is essentially exempted from child labor laws. Otherwise migrant worker kids would be in school breaking segregated schools instead of working in the fields for seven cents a pound harvest. Despite the white fascist class bemoaning “socialism” (a word they can’t even use properly), this is still as capitalist as the 1890s.

I remember when Head Coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish told his players some of the previous Coach’s players weren’t playing up to potential. Not good to alienate players.

If the shoe fits, one must wear it.

Gene just doesn’t belong in this hardscrabble family. It’s so not him; I think it’s been obvious from the start.