I wonder if Toni and Brad are ever going to learn the lesson that indulging a kid all the time is a bad idea. Shannon has got to be one of the most spoiled kids I’ve ever seen: nobody ever seems to just tell her No or put any limits on her behavior. As a result, she just walks all over them and has a short attention span even by child standards. I’ve known plenty of parents of six-year-olds, and none of their kids act like Shannon.
NOTE: I’m not describing just her behavior right here in today’s strip (after all, lots of kids get bored fast) but also the behavior around it, as well as their treatment of it. In the real world this would be a perfect opportunity for a lesson on “you agreed to something, now you have to see it through” or more likely she wouldn’t have been allowed to help in the first place because they knew she’d back out later. But Shannon here gets to do whatever she feels like and nobody says anything to her. It’s like that Twilight Zone episode with the all-powerful kid who has the whole town cowering before him, saying “that’s real good” about everything he does for fear of upsetting him. Though the week is only half-done, so I may yet be pleasantly surprised. Maybe these two are about to finally grow a spine. Fingers crossed!Oh, and well-done to all the people who predicted from the beginning that she’d last 5 minutes before getting bored and quitting.
Actually, I find Shannon’s declaration to be quite profound on multiple levels. And she KNOWS when she’s being “HAD.” Smart Kid. She just hasn’t learned her tools, yet.
Here, take this, Shannon. This is called a “M.A.L.L.E.T.” Now head over to this place called the “Gulag.” Then you can play “Smash the Sewing Machine.” And don’t fret. You’ll be doing the owner a BIG “favor.” ;)
Sounds like Shannon is starting to get bored. And, a bored Shannon is a dangerous Shannon. Who knows what she could get into? The remodeling team better call in Aunt Luann.
Knowing someone suffering from Aphasia, Shannon’s malapropisms are getting old. C’mon Greg, time to find a different comedic “tool” for this character.
Shannon’s ‘twisted tongue-isms’ are really no different than the adult mangling of phrases, such as “For all intensive purposes” ("For all intents and purposes "), among others. Hers is just the ‘kid-sized’ version, but in the same vein.
Except for Shannon’s intentional use of ‘Bwad’ when trying to get Brad’s goat, most of her mispronunciations are along the lines of Ruthie’s in ‘One Big Happy’, and mostly funny…
I resist trying to find a point here, love Shannon, and like to see Brad and Toni, in sort of, but not a Sunday foible set of panels. Let’s see where this goes, or if it’s just cute. There is so much story possibility here.
look at it this way for the kid. She is learning more from Brad and Toni than the deadbeat dad could ever teach. Another surprise could happen (and maybe in the works) we could find out Toni is pregnant. Then you would be surprised that this kid would really want to call home to Brad and Toni. I think they are a family now more so than ever before.
I hope the Shannon arc is short – maybe G & K will jump tomorrow. I wanna see Ann Eiffel on a yacht – sweetly asking Tom to bring her another cosmo. Then they get an email – inviting them to dinner at Irma’s. Tiffany is strongly urged (required) to attend. This event would play well in live theater.
Shannon is bored…. that makes a lot of sense and is quite realistic. Her saying “school” instead of “screw”…. not (IMO) particularly realistic…. unless there is some underlying pathology that Greg is leading us to discover (I sincerely doubt that is the case.). Not much else to say about the plot at the moment.
Yet again, though, I have to complement Sheriff on the green “wash” that has a “watercolor feel” in the background… and the decolorized (hence de-emphasized) background features as well. Quite pleasant to view.
Come on Toni! HumorShannon and take a school driver and then ask her to bring three cold waters so everyone can take a break together. Can’t you see she wants to be included?
I grew up thinking the color of certain fishing jigs was ‘shark tooth’ because an adult pronounced it that way. As an adult I asked a woman if she was familiar with the color ‘shark tooth’ and she said, ‘chartreuse?’ and then it hit me and I responded, ‘Yes, chartreuse’. I didn’t have the heart to correct my adult family member who had been mispronouncing it for years.
Templo S.U.D. almost 6 years ago
Now if it were a play pin, Shannon might have fun help build it. Am I right?
David Huie Green DecisionsMatterGoodAndBad almost 6 years ago
Life interrupts the fantasy.
Brdshtt Premium Member almost 6 years ago
♫ If I had a hammer
I’d hammer in the morning
I’d hammer in the evening
All over this land … ♪
Brdshtt Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Speaking of hammers, I see Tj’s sledge hammer in the background of panel 1.
sallymargaret almost 6 years ago
“Princess Tool Bear”? “School Driver”?
AnyFace almost 6 years ago
“Cold Water” indeed.
Airman almost 6 years ago
It’s a cruel world poor, petulant, pouting princess.
Argythree almost 6 years ago
I forget. How old is Shannon supposed to be?
B UTTONS almost 6 years ago
Shannon – I bet Toni would have eagerly accepted a “TJ Remover” if offered.
The Pro from Dover almost 6 years ago
Ellen_Wright almost 6 years ago
A “school” driver? LMAO
sid w almost 6 years ago
Looks like Brad is going to find something more interesting for her to do.
kenhense almost 6 years ago
Shannon has just learned about studying for one trade and winding up with another.
GOGOPOWERANGERS almost 6 years ago
That’s life kid get used to it in 15 years
Cheapskate0 almost 6 years ago
Actually one of the more pleasant arcs in quite a while. But that last panel – I hope that GnK don’t blow it!
Brdshtt Premium Member almost 6 years ago
Remembering how small the laundry room was, this room seems to have Tardis – like qualities.
chris_weaver almost 6 years ago
As a compromise, Toni could have Shannon make her a screwdriver.
Rosette almost 6 years ago
Really? She says school instead of screw? I’m done.
Joe1962 almost 6 years ago
Aw poor little Shannon.
asrialfeeple almost 6 years ago
Shannon is a quick study.
BJShipley1 almost 6 years ago
I wonder if Toni and Brad are ever going to learn the lesson that indulging a kid all the time is a bad idea. Shannon has got to be one of the most spoiled kids I’ve ever seen: nobody ever seems to just tell her No or put any limits on her behavior. As a result, she just walks all over them and has a short attention span even by child standards. I’ve known plenty of parents of six-year-olds, and none of their kids act like Shannon.
NOTE: I’m not describing just her behavior right here in today’s strip (after all, lots of kids get bored fast) but also the behavior around it, as well as their treatment of it. In the real world this would be a perfect opportunity for a lesson on “you agreed to something, now you have to see it through” or more likely she wouldn’t have been allowed to help in the first place because they knew she’d back out later. But Shannon here gets to do whatever she feels like and nobody says anything to her. It’s like that Twilight Zone episode with the all-powerful kid who has the whole town cowering before him, saying “that’s real good” about everything he does for fear of upsetting him. Though the week is only half-done, so I may yet be pleasantly surprised. Maybe these two are about to finally grow a spine. Fingers crossed!Oh, and well-done to all the people who predicted from the beginning that she’d last 5 minutes before getting bored and quitting.donwalter almost 6 years ago
The realities of understanding adulthood, suck.
mjb515 almost 6 years ago
That is adulthood. Enjoy being a kid while you can.
sueb1863 almost 6 years ago
You want fun, kid? Wait until the inspector comes in and tells them none of it is up to code and has to be torn out and redone by a professional.
Aladar30 Premium Member almost 6 years ago
I wonder what’s Shannon’s age could be. 8, 9 years?
duckman26 almost 6 years ago
I hate this damn kid. With Brad and Toni building a room for her, they’re going to end up stuck with the little brat all the time.
dlkrueger33 almost 6 years ago
This is going to end with Brad and Toni becoming her legal guardians. Forgot the father’s name. He’s a throwaway character.
drewpamon almost 6 years ago
Toni seems to not be as good at playing the game as Brad is. Often times with kids it’s all about how you sell it.
Mordock999 Premium Member almost 6 years ago
This isn’t as fun as you make sound.
Actually, I find Shannon’s declaration to be quite profound on multiple levels. And she KNOWS when she’s being “HAD.” Smart Kid. She just hasn’t learned her tools, yet.
Here, take this, Shannon. This is called a “M.A.L.L.E.T.” Now head over to this place called the “Gulag.” Then you can play “Smash the Sewing Machine.” And don’t fret. You’ll be doing the owner a BIG “favor.” ;)
KEA almost 6 years ago
True of almost every job, ever.
Tyge almost 6 years ago
Can it kid! And don’t forget to wipe the sawdust off your feet before going into the house.
WilliamVollmer almost 6 years ago
Sounds like Shannon is starting to get bored. And, a bored Shannon is a dangerous Shannon. Who knows what she could get into? The remodeling team better call in Aunt Luann.
Schrodinger's Dog almost 6 years ago
Knowing someone suffering from Aphasia, Shannon’s malapropisms are getting old. C’mon Greg, time to find a different comedic “tool” for this character.
JayBluE almost 6 years ago
“Caution: Menial At Work”
“Why I Hate Mundane Mornings”
“You Water Know, By Now”
“One Fluid (Situation), Over The Cuckoo’s Behest”
“Get Well! Soon!”
“You’ve Got Another Drink Comin’ "
“Tools Of The Tirade”
or
“The Thirst That Could Happen”
JayBluE almost 6 years ago
Shannon’s ‘twisted tongue-isms’ are really no different than the adult mangling of phrases, such as “For all intensive purposes” ("For all intents and purposes "), among others. Hers is just the ‘kid-sized’ version, but in the same vein.
jrankin1959 almost 6 years ago
You’re learning, kid…
Argy.Bargy2 almost 6 years ago
Except for Shannon’s intentional use of ‘Bwad’ when trying to get Brad’s goat, most of her mispronunciations are along the lines of Ruthie’s in ‘One Big Happy’, and mostly funny…
Tyge almost 6 years ago
The menial minion makes me moody.
luann1212 almost 6 years ago
I resist trying to find a point here, love Shannon, and like to see Brad and Toni, in sort of, but not a Sunday foible set of panels. Let’s see where this goes, or if it’s just cute. There is so much story possibility here.
majobis. almost 6 years ago
look at it this way for the kid. She is learning more from Brad and Toni than the deadbeat dad could ever teach. Another surprise could happen (and maybe in the works) we could find out Toni is pregnant. Then you would be surprised that this kid would really want to call home to Brad and Toni. I think they are a family now more so than ever before.
pearlyqim almost 6 years ago
I can do without this story line! Back to something more interesting, please!
GaryCooper almost 6 years ago
It never is as fun as they make it sound.
CynthiaLeigh almost 6 years ago
More Shannon…ZZZ
sallymargaret almost 6 years ago
Shannon needs some friends her own age. She is always with adults.
Pinkweeds almost 6 years ago
Shannon is right, this whole story arc isn’t any fun.
kenhense almost 6 years ago
I hope the Shannon arc is short – maybe G & K will jump tomorrow. I wanna see Ann Eiffel on a yacht – sweetly asking Tom to bring her another cosmo. Then they get an email – inviting them to dinner at Irma’s. Tiffany is strongly urged (required) to attend. This event would play well in live theater.
DCBakerEsq almost 6 years ago
Forced labor is rarely fun.
Ahuehuete almost 6 years ago
Lucky Brad, he gets to raise another man’s sullen and difficult child. It’s the new normal, I suppose.
Scoutmaster77 almost 6 years ago
It rarely is…
Back to Big Mike almost 6 years ago
I never understood why the cross braces on the wall were staggered like that in older homes. Newer ones line them up for the drywall.
Pipe Tobacco Premium Member almost 6 years ago
3
Shannon is bored…. that makes a lot of sense and is quite realistic. Her saying “school” instead of “screw”…. not (IMO) particularly realistic…. unless there is some underlying pathology that Greg is leading us to discover (I sincerely doubt that is the case.). Not much else to say about the plot at the moment.
Yet again, though, I have to complement Sheriff on the green “wash” that has a “watercolor feel” in the background… and the decolorized (hence de-emphasized) background features as well. Quite pleasant to view.
Bernedoodle almost 6 years ago
Come on Toni! HumorShannon and take a school driver and then ask her to bring three cold waters so everyone can take a break together. Can’t you see she wants to be included?
darlatim almost 6 years ago
I’m always impatient for the Shannon storyline to end and for the other characters to come on. The Shannon story moves SOOOOO SLOWWWW.
Yakety Sax almost 6 years ago
“And Shannon grew two inches that day”.
bakana almost 6 years ago
She was picturing constant Attention paid to Her.
Not to the actual Work.
phxhocking almost 6 years ago
How old is she supposed to be? Seems to me she should be speaking more clearly.
Sisyphos almost 6 years ago
Learn now, Grasshopper. Humility suits the very young and inexperienced.
And Aunt Toni is thirsty.
Homeboy1865 almost 6 years ago
I grew up thinking the color of certain fishing jigs was ‘shark tooth’ because an adult pronounced it that way. As an adult I asked a woman if she was familiar with the color ‘shark tooth’ and she said, ‘chartreuse?’ and then it hit me and I responded, ‘Yes, chartreuse’. I didn’t have the heart to correct my adult family member who had been mispronouncing it for years.