Is she in training to become the next Anthony Fremont? The Twilight Zone 4th of July marathon is on right now and they showed that episode almost an hour ago.
From what I have read about their history Toni and Jonahs’ past hardly was spoiled. They lost their parents at an early age, and that implies they did not have the most pleasant childhood. I think there might have been abuse to, which is why Toni was attracted to that brute, Dirk, but why she fell in love with and married a much more loving and gentle man Brad.
And I’m proven right yet again about Shannon being a spoiled brat who can’t hear the word No without throwing a tantrum. And some readers were fooled into thinking she’s gotten better when really it’s just her being placated all the time.
I mean seriously, you guys can’t really!think we’re meant to believe that she’s acting reasonable here, right?
Jonah apparently spoils Shannon out of guilt and to compensate for his frequent absences. Tough job for Toni and Brad to undo all what Jonah started. Because he was only babysitting, Brad caved in. If he were to adopt her or be her guardian, he better change his position.
Some other people on this board almost convinced me that maybe Shannon is not a brat. That she’s been deprived at home, and thus is over-excited to be at her aunt’s, where she has fun.
But with this, it’s obvious that she is not deprived at home, but rather is spoiled to the point of being depraved. And until that whole situation is corrected, she’ll effectively be a brat.
I’m thinking that as long as she’s living with her dad, her dark side will continue to be reinforced.
I like Shannon, but sometimes you have to show a kid that what they think they want, they really don’t want. She wants 6 scoops? Give her 6 of the largest scoops you can. She can get up from the table when the last bite (or drink, if it has melted) is gone. She might not want ice cream for a while after that.
I’ve always been partly puzzled about why Jonah kept Shannon with him, when he really doesn’t want to spend time ‘parenting’ (which is challenging work) and also wants the freedom to leave for a ‘gig’ the minute one appears. Some folks think that Jonah kept Shannon with him because he actually loves her, or feels a sense of responsibility that her mother didn’t have. I have concluded that Jonah holds onto her more because she always admires him and is a built-in audience that will applaud anything he does. Narcisstic types need others around to admire them. As long as he gives her anything she asks for (or promises her that Aunt Toni will do it), Jonah has his devoted admirer. The fact that constantly giving in to her childish demands isn’t good for her is not a problem for Jonah…
(♪) "Whoa, you like to think that you’re immune to this stuff, oh yeah!
It’s closer to the truth to say you let her get away with it, cos she can’t get enough
You know you’re both gonna have to face it, you’re addicted to something like love"(♪)
-Ronald Palmer (semi-pro golfer, who retired early, to get into a singing career… and did a medley of covered up tunes, from his album: “A ‘Fore Gone!’ Conclusion”)
I have a bad feeling that if Shannon pushes Brad the wrong way with “My daddy loves me because…” he may end up dropping the “If your daddy loves you so much, why does he always leave you here with us and run off to do his own thing?” That’s gonna leave a mark, but could prompt Shannon to ask Jonah the same question and maybe he’ll finally grow up.
Time to mention Childhood Obesity – a major issue these days. A lot of busy working parents give their kids cokes, cookies, ice cream and fast food in place of taking time to interact with their kid. So a lot of kids are hooked on video games and eating crap. It looks like Jonah “rewards” Shannon with well timed junk food presents. Brad should not give in next time – and he could show Shannon some photos of fat girls.
Gee Brad, what Happened to Your “Deft Touch” with This BRA…., Uh I MEAN, “Child??”Marriage Made You Soft or Something??
Look, go down to the Toy Store and Buy the Kid a Wading Pool. Or Better Yet, Take the Kid to the Water Park. Then Drop by the fire station and put Her on a fire truck. Then take Her to the Local Amusement Park and put Her on ALL the rides. Then tonight take Her to Park so She can watch the fire-works.
By the Time She gets Home, She’ll be so WORE Out, that You and Toni will be able to DO what You planned to DO in the sack last week, UNINTERRUPTED.
And Tomorrow, I’ll show the Kid how to make Good Old Fashion Pea Shooters like the one in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbIpTCrlRaI
So she cries and throws a tantrum. Let her. Tell her if she keeps it up, there will be NO zoo, NO water park, NO roller skating, AND NO ICE CREAM!! Put her in a time out and tell her she has to stay there until she learns to behave.
Because this little brat——-and yes, she IS a brat (thank you WIZARDGOAT) needs to learn she can’t get her own way all the time.
“But as I recall, the definition of the word “brat”, in plain English, is a child with significant behavior problems. So she is currently a brat, by any reasonable definition.’’
Giving in does not help. I don’t care what the kid does to get their way, short of burning the house down, they don’t get it from me. When they cry I ignore it. I get a kick out of everyone else catering to their every whim to get them to stop the crying. I was a kid, very familiar with the GAME, I’m not going to play it as an adult.
Shannon has trained her dad, and now is training Brad and TJ to be her lackeys. They are so scared of her tantrums and of disappointing her that they do as told. They need to get a clue and stand up to her and straighten her out. She is on a path to being a very dysfunctional person
Wish the comic actually taught some values, but guess not. Taking off my list – bad example for my kids. Shannon being ruled by her brother, Brad being a wimp, kid being a spoiled monster.
Jonah is a terrible parent, so Toni and Brad need to adopt Shannon. Yeah, we get it. Now either make it happen, or drop it. This is an unpleasant story to keep repeating, just to reinforce that point. Maybe this “4-day gig” will actually be the arc where she moves in permanently, or if not then how many more times will this happen before the big “adoption” story?
well this is NOT your daddy’s house and my house my rules. I have no patience with children that try to boss the adults with tears and tantrums…….if they are going to cry they can go lay on the bed until they are through.
When caretakers provide no structure (which is happening here), children are harmed. Shannon is already confusing love with providing sweets. Brad, himself, is behaving immaturely by ceding the control of the situation to a 6 year old. I am not sure that Brad will do much better than Jonah without some training or reading about managing children. Only adults can help Shannon learn to get her needs met without throwing tantrums, and that won’t be easy at this point.
Given today’s significance, it looks like Miss Shannon is exerting her independence quite adeptly. It’s Brad who has succumbed (for now), but remember – it is only Tuesday, so we’ll have four installments this week to see how things evolve (or de-evolve). I am hoping for the better path here.
Time to put your foot down, Brad. If eventually you’ll be raising her, you have to show discipline. When my daughter threw a temper tantrum, it was into her room until she stopped. Now she disciplines her two daughters.
WHY do we have to look at this insufferable BRAT every day for….how long??? Someone needs to SLAP her rotten butt . No one wants to read annoying comics! Get rid of the snot. Maybe she and daddy can move to Mexico.
Old school says Shannon is a brat, even though delusional parents, and those super sensitive to the demands of political correctness would like this to become the new “B” word, banned forever from our language. To me, most children are some kind of alien species that I really don’t understand and don’t need to understand in my remaining years. If I had to babysit a demanding female, I would prefer something more like Trixie, the dominatrix in Pibgorn, black boots, whip, and all. My kind of fireworks for the 4th of July. Warning: Never take what I say too seriously, and I don’t do drugs and have never been in jail.
My mother’s response “You want to cry? I’ll give you something to cry about.” always worked on all five of us. I never could understand why adults let children rule the house.
I had in-laws much like Jonah. So upon seeing Shannon’s display so far, then remembering Jonah’s smirking looks from earlier, this does not sit with me too well to say the least. “Big thing coming up!”, “This’ll be HUGE!”, “I’ll be SET after this!”, “Big gig!” I heard it all … only to hear the inevitable sob-story afterward. Next time we see Jonah, if we do, I’m hoping for a comeuppance – but this IS ‘Luann’ – and methinks this saga will continue … Well, OK, then. (You did notice I emphasized the past tense earlier, right?) Hee-Hee!
Guys you know I actually try not to be a know-it-all, and life has proven to me that the only one who, for a Christian at least, who can qualify for that was Christ, and he could get pissed off too. Comes with being human. Having babies with hot Mary Magdalene also qualifies, but I will leave that alone for now. (lol). My point as to the situation with Shannon is that clearly her dad is not a very good parent, and how that relates to his and Toni’s upbringing is complicated, but no doubt it does, and Greg means it to be. No question in my mind that he relates this to a situation, or situations he has known in his personal life. I like the fact that a humorous strip about the foibles of a now young adult gets gently into so many adult issues, and it makes us Trufans, and Trutrolls alike get into such debates. Which is good. But my experience professionally and personally, both as a lawyer in my first career who had a lot of these kind of parental abuse (yes this is parental abuse on the part of Jonah, even if he is not doing anything mean to Shannon) cases, but even more importantly my personal life, which I am proud to say has been rich in experience, and what I hope is learning, tells me that the true issue with Shannon is how her ego and super-ego (I love to cast things in Freudian terms) are brought into proper phase, because her Id, something in the recovery community called, the King Baby syndrome, is totally out-of-control. But the thing is that is really kind of normal for all of us, but how children are parented determines to a great extent how they grow and mature, and become balanced, normal human beings. I have a lot of faith in Brad, Toni, and yes TJ. Why? Because Brad has fabulous parents, TJ has grown tremendously, and Toni is a loving, tender, but tough young woman who will eventually met up to the need here. STOP HATING ON THE KID!!
;-). From the Greek origin for “long, flowing hair” comes part of the origin of today’s word “chaetophobia” in relation to yesterday’s comment section. ;-)
My younger granddaughter had tantrums. Once, in the middle of a bathroom scene with her mom, I saw her stop and glance at the mirror to check if the performance was grand enough! What I find interesting is that some kids are prone to tantrums and some not, even in the same family.
Shannon is acting like a kid her age who is living a life that is far from the typical 1960s household. She is also acting like a kid her age visiting other relatives in the 1960s. It is just the way kids are. They need limits set like when it is the proper time to eat ice cream and that it is healthier to keep the portions sensible.
Cause and effect. She has achieved her desired effect. Most kids get past the bratty 2-3 year old stage through appropriate discipline and reinforcement of desired behavior. Shannon has never had this consistently in her life, so she has remained ‘bratty’ and become downright manipulative. That is why I used the term manipulative a few days ago. Or that is what she will become if this ‘brat stage’ is not curbed.
JUST TO BE CLEAR. I did not start all the political comments here today. However I will NOT sit back and let someone else hijack this with that stuff. I will stop here. But If you start something be prepared to get a response. I personally come here to get away from that stuff. Now disagreements on child rearing became a political argument. I have a real life. No one here will likely care if I am here or not. I have enjoyed the interaction but I can always read this without having to comment. I am beginning to see why former commenters have left permanently. Have a good day.
Shannon has scared the smirk right off of TJ’s face! There is going to have to be some retraining all around if Broni, akaTorad are ever thinking of adopting this little Princess. (Brad-Toni-fee-fii-foe-BradToni!) (think the Name Game, originally by Shirley Ellis).
“Hey, Jonah! How goes the gig? Really? Uh-huh…. Say, quick question; how many scoops of ice cream is Shannon allowed to have at one setting? Uh, huh… ooookay. What? Oh, they’re calling you back? Alright, we’ll see you when you return. ’K, bye.”
“Say, Shannon. What do you think your dad said about how many scoops of ice cream you usually get?”
Wow, Brad is a real chump. He and Toni are not ready for kids. He should have just told her no and let her scream. He’s not her father and all he has to say is, “I love you, too, but you’re not having ice cream right now.”
Hey, Luann1212, you name dropping friend of Freud, is the Id, Ego, and Super-ego still accepted today? I really don’t hear much about the dark corridors of psychoanalysis anymore. M.D.s are too expensive and medication seems to have replaced “the couch”. Too bad, Hollywood used to produce some fascinating movies. Even “Forbidden Planet” had an out of control Id. A Beautiful Mind fell into that category, but mostly now its just the Wizard of Id comic strip.
Brad will never be a good dad until he learns to stop being such a pushover, so easy for a spoiled kid like Shannon! Maybe it’s not “her fault,” but she needs to be corrected from this kind of behavior….
Oooops… just yesterday some of us were commenting that Shannon seemed more mature than in the past. What now? Brad should have said that they didn’t have any ice cream. I wonder what kind of balanced diet Shannon has at home. Ice cream is surely the opiate of the masses… used possibly to keep her quiet.
Templo S.U.D. almost 7 years ago
Jonah sure taught his daughter to be spoiled because he too is spoiled.
31768 almost 7 years ago
all hail Shannon bossypants!
AnyFace almost 7 years ago
Reminds me of me when I was a child. ;)
sallymargaret almost 7 years ago
Happy 4th of July, everyone!
m b almost 7 years ago
she’s too old to be throwing tantrums Greg, she needs some discipline :)
Meh~tdology, fka Pepelaputr almost 7 years ago
Another actor in the family!
live2read almost 7 years ago
Is she in training to become the next Anthony Fremont? The Twilight Zone 4th of July marathon is on right now and they showed that episode almost an hour ago.
David Huie Green LosersBlameOthers&It'sYOURfault almost 7 years ago
The REAL actor in the family.
Proper response: “Because I love you, I’m NOT giving you ice cream now.”
luann1212 almost 7 years ago
From what I have read about their history Toni and Jonahs’ past hardly was spoiled. They lost their parents at an early age, and that implies they did not have the most pleasant childhood. I think there might have been abuse to, which is why Toni was attracted to that brute, Dirk, but why she fell in love with and married a much more loving and gentle man Brad.
BJShipley1 almost 7 years ago
And I’m proven right yet again about Shannon being a spoiled brat who can’t hear the word No without throwing a tantrum. And some readers were fooled into thinking she’s gotten better when really it’s just her being placated all the time.
I mean seriously, you guys can’t really!think we’re meant to believe that she’s acting reasonable here, right?tammyspeakslife Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Poor Shannon is going to be a miserable adult if she isn’t ever told no.
capricorn9th almost 7 years ago
Jonah apparently spoils Shannon out of guilt and to compensate for his frequent absences. Tough job for Toni and Brad to undo all what Jonah started. Because he was only babysitting, Brad caved in. If he were to adopt her or be her guardian, he better change his position.
Wizardgoat almost 7 years ago
Some other people on this board almost convinced me that maybe Shannon is not a brat. That she’s been deprived at home, and thus is over-excited to be at her aunt’s, where she has fun.
But with this, it’s obvious that she is not deprived at home, but rather is spoiled to the point of being depraved. And until that whole situation is corrected, she’ll effectively be a brat.
I’m thinking that as long as she’s living with her dad, her dark side will continue to be reinforced.
Brdshtt Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Shannon is about to have a bowl of Greg. Look closely at the ice cream container…
Airman almost 7 years ago
Brat. Are we sure that Ann Eiffel isn’t her real mother?
luann1212 almost 7 years ago
Greg Ice Cream, peach possibly?
Brdshtt Premium Member almost 7 years ago
I like Shannon, but sometimes you have to show a kid that what they think they want, they really don’t want. She wants 6 scoops? Give her 6 of the largest scoops you can. She can get up from the table when the last bite (or drink, if it has melted) is gone. She might not want ice cream for a while after that.
JayBluE almost 7 years ago
“It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Girl”
“With Six Scoops, You Get Egg Roll”
“Dance To The Beat Of Your Own Ultimatum”
“Out-burst Case Scenario”
“The Breakfast Of Chumpions”
“I Am The Very Model, Of A Major Meltdown, Generally” (♪)
“Yo, Ho, Ho! And A Bottled Up Tantrum”
“Stand By Me….Or Else”
“Tried And Incredulous "
“Bawl In The Family”
“By Hook Or Crook…ed Face”
“A Song, A Dance…And A Few Tears”
“Have Tantrum, Will Travel”
“Better Manipulate, Than Never”
or
“Spin The Tale On The Wonky”
JayBluE almost 7 years ago
(♪) "Well, I…know you… expected Custer’s Last Stand
….So, when I refused, I knew you wouldn’t understand
I told you twice, I was hoping you’d ‘play nice’ (why can’t you ‘play nice’?)
Eh, I didn’t mean to turn you off!…" (♪)
-Jonah (singing “I Didn’t Mean To Turn You Off”, from his failed triumphant comeback debut album, “Simply Resistable”)
Argythree almost 7 years ago
I’ve always been partly puzzled about why Jonah kept Shannon with him, when he really doesn’t want to spend time ‘parenting’ (which is challenging work) and also wants the freedom to leave for a ‘gig’ the minute one appears. Some folks think that Jonah kept Shannon with him because he actually loves her, or feels a sense of responsibility that her mother didn’t have. I have concluded that Jonah holds onto her more because she always admires him and is a built-in audience that will applaud anything he does. Narcisstic types need others around to admire them. As long as he gives her anything she asks for (or promises her that Aunt Toni will do it), Jonah has his devoted admirer. The fact that constantly giving in to her childish demands isn’t good for her is not a problem for Jonah…
JayBluE almost 7 years ago
(♪) "Whoa, you like to think that you’re immune to this stuff, oh yeah!
It’s closer to the truth to say you let her get away with it, cos she can’t get enough
You know you’re both gonna have to face it, you’re addicted to something like love"(♪)
-Ronald Palmer (semi-pro golfer, who retired early, to get into a singing career… and did a medley of covered up tunes, from his album: “A ‘Fore Gone!’ Conclusion”)
sstill almost 7 years ago
I have a bad feeling that if Shannon pushes Brad the wrong way with “My daddy loves me because…” he may end up dropping the “If your daddy loves you so much, why does he always leave you here with us and run off to do his own thing?” That’s gonna leave a mark, but could prompt Shannon to ask Jonah the same question and maybe he’ll finally grow up.
kenhense almost 7 years ago
Time to mention Childhood Obesity – a major issue these days. A lot of busy working parents give their kids cokes, cookies, ice cream and fast food in place of taking time to interact with their kid. So a lot of kids are hooked on video games and eating crap. It looks like Jonah “rewards” Shannon with well timed junk food presents. Brad should not give in next time – and he could show Shannon some photos of fat girls.
Mordock999 Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Gee Brad, what Happened to Your “Deft Touch” with This BRA…., Uh I MEAN, “Child??”Marriage Made You Soft or Something??
Look, go down to the Toy Store and Buy the Kid a Wading Pool. Or Better Yet, Take the Kid to the Water Park. Then Drop by the fire station and put Her on a fire truck. Then take Her to the Local Amusement Park and put Her on ALL the rides. Then tonight take Her to Park so She can watch the fire-works.
By the Time She gets Home, She’ll be so WORE Out, that You and Toni will be able to DO what You planned to DO in the sack last week, UNINTERRUPTED.
And Tomorrow, I’ll show the Kid how to make Good Old Fashion Pea Shooters like the one in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbIpTCrlRaI
Then, We can go out and Harass Joggers….,
Walrus Gumbo Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Shannon must have read Donald Trump’s, ‘Art of the Deal’. She’s certainly got his behavior down pat!
Lyons Group, Inc. almost 7 years ago
Anyone noticing she’s starting to look a little more older?
Joel Ivy almost 7 years ago
My parents loved me enough to say no and squash any tantrums OLD SCHOOL!!
Barry1941 almost 7 years ago
A really BAD idea to give in, because it never ends.
Don Draper almost 7 years ago
Shannon is only doing what it takes to be president nowadays. :P
Stray Suede Mutt almost 7 years ago
This strip would be better off without her.
wantcomicsnow almost 7 years ago
So she cries and throws a tantrum. Let her. Tell her if she keeps it up, there will be NO zoo, NO water park, NO roller skating, AND NO ICE CREAM!! Put her in a time out and tell her she has to stay there until she learns to behave.
Because this little brat——-and yes, she IS a brat (thank you WIZARDGOAT) needs to learn she can’t get her own way all the time.
“But as I recall, the definition of the word “brat”, in plain English, is a child with significant behavior problems. So she is currently a brat, by any reasonable definition.’’
NeedaChuckle Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Giving in does not help. I don’t care what the kid does to get their way, short of burning the house down, they don’t get it from me. When they cry I ignore it. I get a kick out of everyone else catering to their every whim to get them to stop the crying. I was a kid, very familiar with the GAME, I’m not going to play it as an adult.
SheilaMiller almost 7 years ago
Jonah’s stye seems to be give her what she wants so she will leave you alone. The baby sitters he hires maybe the same.
TerBer almost 7 years ago
My Brother pulled a tantrum like that about water, so my dad gave him the whole bucket. Worked too.
TerBer almost 7 years ago
at once
Pet almost 7 years ago
In our house, we call that BIRTH CONTROL.
Tuzilla almost 7 years ago
Shannon has trained her dad, and now is training Brad and TJ to be her lackeys. They are so scared of her tantrums and of disappointing her that they do as told. They need to get a clue and stand up to her and straighten her out. She is on a path to being a very dysfunctional person
Tyge Premium Member almost 7 years ago
What flavor is Greg ice cream?
Luanaphile almost 7 years ago
Who is behaving badly here, Brad or Shannon?
Chuck374 almost 7 years ago
Jonah has no interest in raising a good child. just so long as she stays out of his way of playing instead of working.
hk Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Wish the comic actually taught some values, but guess not. Taking off my list – bad example for my kids. Shannon being ruled by her brother, Brad being a wimp, kid being a spoiled monster.
seismic-2 Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Jonah is a terrible parent, so Toni and Brad need to adopt Shannon. Yeah, we get it. Now either make it happen, or drop it. This is an unpleasant story to keep repeating, just to reinforce that point. Maybe this “4-day gig” will actually be the arc where she moves in permanently, or if not then how many more times will this happen before the big “adoption” story?
jeanie5448 almost 7 years ago
well this is NOT your daddy’s house and my house my rules. I have no patience with children that try to boss the adults with tears and tantrums…….if they are going to cry they can go lay on the bed until they are through.
Luanaphile almost 7 years ago
When caretakers provide no structure (which is happening here), children are harmed. Shannon is already confusing love with providing sweets. Brad, himself, is behaving immaturely by ceding the control of the situation to a 6 year old. I am not sure that Brad will do much better than Jonah without some training or reading about managing children. Only adults can help Shannon learn to get her needs met without throwing tantrums, and that won’t be easy at this point.
Schrodinger's Dog almost 7 years ago
Is TJ eating ice cream too ?!
rabizar almost 7 years ago
guess what, they are all fictional!
InColorado almost 7 years ago
Welcome to your blended family, Brad.
Code the Enforcer almost 7 years ago
Given today’s significance, it looks like Miss Shannon is exerting her independence quite adeptly. It’s Brad who has succumbed (for now), but remember – it is only Tuesday, so we’ll have four installments this week to see how things evolve (or de-evolve). I am hoping for the better path here.
davidpepper71 almost 7 years ago
Time to put your foot down, Brad. If eventually you’ll be raising her, you have to show discipline. When my daughter threw a temper tantrum, it was into her room until she stopped. Now she disciplines her two daughters.
chris_weaver almost 7 years ago
Now Shannon will have enough energy to dig her indoor swimming pool.
Numbnumb almost 7 years ago
She needs a good ‘butt warming’ along with an extended stay in the corner.
Germanshepherds4ever almost 7 years ago
WHY do we have to look at this insufferable BRAT every day for….how long??? Someone needs to SLAP her rotten butt . No one wants to read annoying comics! Get rid of the snot. Maybe she and daddy can move to Mexico.
Airman almost 7 years ago
Old school says Shannon is a brat, even though delusional parents, and those super sensitive to the demands of political correctness would like this to become the new “B” word, banned forever from our language. To me, most children are some kind of alien species that I really don’t understand and don’t need to understand in my remaining years. If I had to babysit a demanding female, I would prefer something more like Trixie, the dominatrix in Pibgorn, black boots, whip, and all. My kind of fireworks for the 4th of July. Warning: Never take what I say too seriously, and I don’t do drugs and have never been in jail.
pchemcat almost 7 years ago
My mother’s response “You want to cry? I’ll give you something to cry about.” always worked on all five of us. I never could understand why adults let children rule the house.
RonnieAThompson Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Happy 4th of July my friends. God Bless You and America.
Code the Enforcer almost 7 years ago
I had in-laws much like Jonah. So upon seeing Shannon’s display so far, then remembering Jonah’s smirking looks from earlier, this does not sit with me too well to say the least. “Big thing coming up!”, “This’ll be HUGE!”, “I’ll be SET after this!”, “Big gig!” I heard it all … only to hear the inevitable sob-story afterward. Next time we see Jonah, if we do, I’m hoping for a comeuppance – but this IS ‘Luann’ – and methinks this saga will continue … Well, OK, then. (You did notice I emphasized the past tense earlier, right?) Hee-Hee!
luann1212 almost 7 years ago
Guys you know I actually try not to be a know-it-all, and life has proven to me that the only one who, for a Christian at least, who can qualify for that was Christ, and he could get pissed off too. Comes with being human. Having babies with hot Mary Magdalene also qualifies, but I will leave that alone for now. (lol). My point as to the situation with Shannon is that clearly her dad is not a very good parent, and how that relates to his and Toni’s upbringing is complicated, but no doubt it does, and Greg means it to be. No question in my mind that he relates this to a situation, or situations he has known in his personal life. I like the fact that a humorous strip about the foibles of a now young adult gets gently into so many adult issues, and it makes us Trufans, and Trutrolls alike get into such debates. Which is good. But my experience professionally and personally, both as a lawyer in my first career who had a lot of these kind of parental abuse (yes this is parental abuse on the part of Jonah, even if he is not doing anything mean to Shannon) cases, but even more importantly my personal life, which I am proud to say has been rich in experience, and what I hope is learning, tells me that the true issue with Shannon is how her ego and super-ego (I love to cast things in Freudian terms) are brought into proper phase, because her Id, something in the recovery community called, the King Baby syndrome, is totally out-of-control. But the thing is that is really kind of normal for all of us, but how children are parented determines to a great extent how they grow and mature, and become balanced, normal human beings. I have a lot of faith in Brad, Toni, and yes TJ. Why? Because Brad has fabulous parents, TJ has grown tremendously, and Toni is a loving, tender, but tough young woman who will eventually met up to the need here. STOP HATING ON THE KID!!
SukieCrandall Premium Member almost 7 years ago
;-). From the Greek origin for “long, flowing hair” comes part of the origin of today’s word “chaetophobia” in relation to yesterday’s comment section. ;-)
Luanaphile almost 7 years ago
My younger granddaughter had tantrums. Once, in the middle of a bathroom scene with her mom, I saw her stop and glance at the mirror to check if the performance was grand enough! What I find interesting is that some kids are prone to tantrums and some not, even in the same family.
locake almost 7 years ago
All kids test the limits at times. A good parent, or uncle, learns when to say no and stick with it. Bad Brad.
locake almost 7 years ago
Shannon goes from Screaming Terror to Happy Child very quickly. I think she is a better actor than her dad.
seismic-2 Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Shannon needs some discipline at home, and so does Jonah. He should marry Bernice.
dblbaraje almost 7 years ago
I wonder if Toni was there, if she would have given in?
Willow Mt Lyon almost 7 years ago
Shannon is acting like a kid her age who is living a life that is far from the typical 1960s household. She is also acting like a kid her age visiting other relatives in the 1960s. It is just the way kids are. They need limits set like when it is the proper time to eat ice cream and that it is healthier to keep the portions sensible.
Outsideplaying almost 7 years ago
Cause and effect. She has achieved her desired effect. Most kids get past the bratty 2-3 year old stage through appropriate discipline and reinforcement of desired behavior. Shannon has never had this consistently in her life, so she has remained ‘bratty’ and become downright manipulative. That is why I used the term manipulative a few days ago. Or that is what she will become if this ‘brat stage’ is not curbed.
Outsideplaying almost 7 years ago
Have a very safe and Happy 4th everyone!
kenhense almost 7 years ago
Time for Luann to the rescue! However Luann should be paid. Luann is currently a professional handling kids.
Meh~tdology, fka Pepelaputr almost 7 years ago
Quick, TJ!
Build a room for her to “go to”!
Train 1911 almost 7 years ago
This kid need some serious time out
Terminal Frost Premium Member almost 7 years ago
JUST TO BE CLEAR. I did not start all the political comments here today. However I will NOT sit back and let someone else hijack this with that stuff. I will stop here. But If you start something be prepared to get a response. I personally come here to get away from that stuff. Now disagreements on child rearing became a political argument. I have a real life. No one here will likely care if I am here or not. I have enjoyed the interaction but I can always read this without having to comment. I am beginning to see why former commenters have left permanently. Have a good day.
STACEY MARSHALL Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Shannon has scared the smirk right off of TJ’s face! There is going to have to be some retraining all around if Broni, akaTorad are ever thinking of adopting this little Princess. (Brad-Toni-fee-fii-foe-BradToni!) (think the Name Game, originally by Shirley Ellis).
Meh~tdology, fka Pepelaputr almost 7 years ago
(A quick, fake phonecall to Jonah)
“Hey, Jonah! How goes the gig? Really? Uh-huh…. Say, quick question; how many scoops of ice cream is Shannon allowed to have at one setting? Uh, huh… ooookay. What? Oh, they’re calling you back? Alright, we’ll see you when you return. ’K, bye.”
“Say, Shannon. What do you think your dad said about how many scoops of ice cream you usually get?”
“FIVE! uh, three…? ….one?”
“One scoop it is then.”
nathenleeturner almost 7 years ago
This kid has Brad wrapped around her little finger. Time to call in Luann.
jayaresea almost 7 years ago
either of these two guys have jobs?
Mark DeMist Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Time to grow up Brad and get used to saying no. Deal with it now and be done with it or spend the next 10 years listening to it.
Meh~tdology, fka Pepelaputr almost 7 years ago
“Let’s see that pouty face again Shannon.
I want to record it and show it to Aunt Toni when she get’s back.”
sueb1863 almost 7 years ago
Wow, Brad is a real chump. He and Toni are not ready for kids. He should have just told her no and let her scream. He’s not her father and all he has to say is, “I love you, too, but you’re not having ice cream right now.”
Airman almost 7 years ago
Hey, Luann1212, you name dropping friend of Freud, is the Id, Ego, and Super-ego still accepted today? I really don’t hear much about the dark corridors of psychoanalysis anymore. M.D.s are too expensive and medication seems to have replaced “the couch”. Too bad, Hollywood used to produce some fascinating movies. Even “Forbidden Planet” had an out of control Id. A Beautiful Mind fell into that category, but mostly now its just the Wizard of Id comic strip.
Sisyphos almost 7 years ago
Brad will never be a good dad until he learns to stop being such a pushover, so easy for a spoiled kid like Shannon! Maybe it’s not “her fault,” but she needs to be corrected from this kind of behavior….
RSH almost 7 years ago
Oooops… just yesterday some of us were commenting that Shannon seemed more mature than in the past. What now? Brad should have said that they didn’t have any ice cream. I wonder what kind of balanced diet Shannon has at home. Ice cream is surely the opiate of the masses… used possibly to keep her quiet.
RonBerg13 Premium Member almost 7 years ago
No, TJ, she’s BAD!
Terminal Frost Premium Member almost 7 years ago
The child needs to be corrected. Brad dropped the ball. Saying he will be a lousy father is absurd.