For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston
- October 31, 2008
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Since its debut in 1979, For Better or For Worse has touched comic strip readers as few cartoons ever do. Cartoonist Lynn Johnston’s eye for detail and her uncanny sense of what real parents and children struggle with daily are a big part of her success. The world has watched the Patterson family grow up in real time, and to many readers, the Pattersons feel like family!
Parents and children alike will relate to the obstacles that the Patterson family faces. Curfews, parent date nights, babysitting, pets and distractions are all hurdles that the Pattersons must overcome in order to enjoy each other as a family. They face the same obstacles that real life families do, which is what makes them so loveable.
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Comments (29) Jump to Comments Form
Margueritem
said,
about 1 year ago
Indeed he does.
wndrwrthg
said,
about 1 year ago
In a battle of wills, always bet on the puppy.
ejcapulet
said,
about 1 year ago
Look at that sweet little face in the last panel (the puppy, not the kid - I never liked Michael much)! How could she say no?
AliKzam said, about 1 year ago
His little tongue poking out is priceless!
liztish said, about 1 year ago
Oh my god… I want a Farley too!
comicologist99 said, about 1 year ago
i love thst is comic !!
arsmall said, about 1 year ago
He is just so cute!
eddieal said, about 1 year ago
I never got to see how Farly came into their lives, but I remember how sad it was when he died. OK, OK, I cried. Just an old softy here.
adldev said, about 1 year ago
I’m just glad a hero is back.
How many heroes we have come in our lives and just don’t know it until down the line.
Doctor Toon
said,
about 1 year ago
Cutest comic of the day. No contest.
ironflange said, about 1 year ago
Aw, nuts, I can’t wait till tomorrow, this is killing me! Are they going to take him home or not?!?
summerdog said, about 1 year ago
Kids and puppies belong together. Pets teach us great life’s lessons.
Susan001 said, about 1 year ago
From Elly it’s always, “i want! Or I don’t want!” Never a thought about what others want. I think she’s more immature than Michael.
Wildmustang1262 said, about 1 year ago
Awww sheesh! Elly! Take that cute pup without an argument. Let us pray to convince Elly to give up and bring that pup home. I hate to think she is hard head like a solid rock. grrrrr!
Susan001 said, about 1 year ago
Nothing wrong with having a hard head, Wildmustang. It’s Elly’s HEART that is so hard. And that’s wrong.
Wildmustang1262 said, about 1 year ago
Susan yea I agree. Oh well! Make her becoming soft heart?
Macushlalondra
said,
about 1 year ago
Oh good grief Elly! She holds him close in the second panel and then hands him back in the third and says she doesn’t want him? She must have a heart of stone!
circuit7 said, about 1 year ago
No, she’s just protesting against her melting heart.
Mothers with kids this age frequently find themselves appearing selfish. Sometimes it’s hard to reconcile what your family gets out of life when your life’s achievement consists not of what you achieve but what you help/allow them to achieve! She learns as she goes along, like we all do. And some of her lessons come from Farley, happily.
wildbanshee said, about 1 year ago
They do say they pick us, not us picking them.
Mishi Uddo said, about 1 year ago
I want a pupppy too mom… there dilicious!
Wood_Gracie said, about 1 year ago
speaking from experience, two litte kids and a new puppy and all the promises…you know who ends up taking care of all of them?…mom. I believed the promises (from the grown up!) and said yes…then dad went on a business trip for two weeks, one week after getting a 3 month old pup and I had a 3 yo and a 3 month old…in November, alone, living out in the country. It was NOT fun and when he returned the help still never came. I know why Elly is hesitant, and for good reason! She knows what it will really mean for her! Hopefully John will step up when he gets home from work!
Susan001 said, about 1 year ago
I wonder if, when she got pregnant, Elly told John, “Honey, I don’t WANT a baby!”
Oh, wait a minute, She DID say that when expecting April.
Jahosacat said, about 1 year ago
I think I’ll try that line on my husband!
OPCgnat said, about 1 year ago
Jeesh, don’t be so hard on Elly…she’s the one who will have to do the work; her concerns are valid! She’s not hard-hearted, just practical - of course, in the end, even practicality sometimes bends to the love of a puppy.
Philip Stultz
said,
about 1 year ago
I’m glad she started this strip over, always liked it but never got to see it from the beginning.
Dry
said,
about 1 year ago
Ironflange, You must be new to the strip! Of course they take him home! He was a BIG part of this strip! I hated it when Lynn killed him off!
And, eddieal, having had dogs and cats all my life, I cried, too, like a baby when Farley passed. If you don’t have the book “Remembering Farley” get it! It is great!
robertolopez144 said, about 1 year ago
Go! Lynn!
B0ydrgn said, about 1 year ago
Lynn has a wonderful way on how animals touch our human lives, with Farley and his story to the bunny. I have had pets in my life all but a few years. They fills us with great joy and equal anguish upon their demise. They make us all more “human”. Lynn has hit the nail on the head with how much our pets become our salvation.
ironflange said, about 1 year ago
Drystyha, I was just being silly, I am a long-time reader. My daughter was born shortly before April was, and the two of them have sort of grown up together. They have similar interests, and the stories in the strips have followed her life so many times it’s creepy.