For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston
- September 17, 2009
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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 (31) Jump to Comments Form
OpenWings said, 2 months ago
There does seem to be a touch of the guilt-trip coming from Anne here…..
Maybe it’s just because there’s nothing Anne would like better than to be able to “get away” for a week like Elly.
mroberts88 said, 2 months ago
No she doesnt, she is just helping.
On another note, I’ve heard the Buffalo Bills (NFL) want to move to Toronto, anyone have an opinion on this?
Gweedo Murray said, 2 months ago
On the Bills: Good riddance to bad rubbish. ¦:‒D
luckylouie said, 2 months ago
Elly’s guilt and insecurity is getting more and more irritating. Did we actually enjoy this stuff the first time around?
lightenup said, 2 months ago
Oh, it’s only for a week. Anne is just trying to reassure Elly and encourage her that everything will be fine.
Avolunteer said, 2 months ago
first time around we were living it along with her. It is only as we have matured past it that we realize how silly our fears were back then. Probably there are many of us “boomers” who don’t enjoy remembering the less comforting aspects of those times.
sagetea said, 2 months ago
Well said Avolunteer.
somebodyshort
said,
2 months ago
On the Bills, no thanks, let some one else have them. I guess Toronto sends out it’s garbage so they have to take some one elses garbage in return.
Macushlalondra
said,
2 months ago
I wouldn’t worry that she thinks I’m irresponsible, but I’d wonder when she would want me to return the favour and babysit her kid.
summerdog said, 2 months ago
The Bill’s seem to have let down their loyal fans for years and years. Time for those fans to let them go.
I read today’s strip as Elly full of guilt, and Annie full of wanting to help and just being a good friend and neighbor. May we all be so lucky. And Annie is getting paid. She mentioned that fact a while back.
bald 716 said, 2 months ago
some times you need to get away from the kids fora little while, it helps one to realize just how much they mean to you
Autumnglory said, 2 months ago
I see a lot of myself in this - even if friends or family are verbalizing support for me taking care of myself so I can be a better mom, I still project my own insecurities behind their words.
So many moms feel this even today - I cannot IMAGINE how it must have felt when this strip first ran, when the June Cleaver ideal stay-home mom was still very much the norm! ::shudders::
Evirtinkelbell
said,
2 months ago
Elly is just feeling what all mothers feel at one time or another, my grandmother felt it, my mom felt it and so on.
Comic-Nut said, 2 months ago
Toronto; don’t take the Bills! I used to date a girl from Buffalo and her family were all loyal Bills fans, but they were also very critical of members of the team. I can just see any Toronto Bills fans, “ho hum … lost another superbowl, lost another game. Why did we get this team?” Get a real NFL team Toronto! OR better yet, centrally locate a new NFL franchise between Toronto, Hamilton and London, say in Kitchener-Waterloo. You would get the most fan base attendance ever.
Coffee-Turtle
said,
2 months ago
June Cleaver? Wasn’t she an axe murderer? ;-)
mroberts88 said, 2 months ago
Macush, you have a good point, when is she going to ask for a return on the favor?
I’m surprised. No one wants the Bills. Man, I’m glad no ones talking about the Cowboys like that.
JanCinVV
said,
2 months ago
Coffee-Turtle: Only in the summertime.
Burgundy2 said, 2 months ago
I’m from Toronto - I think, sure, we should take the Bills - they’ll match nicely with the Maple Leafs who haven’t seen the Stanley Cup for 4 decades.
johnnydoc5 said, 2 months ago
I think Detroit should take the Bills. Toronto can have the lions! They are the biggest joke in sports!
4deerinmyyard
said,
2 months ago
Avolunteer & Autumnglory: Well-analyzed.
Um, guys, I’m not one of those who shriek “You’re required to talk about the strip and only the strip!” whenever the conversation meanders off somewhere; but honestly, wouldn’t sports chat fit better on Tank or Cleats? There’s a difference between a natural progression of topic and a topic hijack.
mroberts88 said, 2 months ago
Johnny, what about the Raiders. You cant tell me they arent a joke.
sierramadre said, 2 months ago
I agree with 4deerinmyyard’s comments.
Sorry to digress from the strip, but I often have four deer in my yard eating my pears.
summerdog said, 2 months ago
Talk all the off topic you want. I like it. I learn stuff.
mroberts88 said, 2 months ago
Thanks summer. 4deer, I asked that question, because I know there are Canadians on this strip, and I wanted their opinion.
Susan001 said, 2 months ago
I hate football, but I just gotta ask you Bills bashers:
Do you hate the team for its performance or because OJ was on it?
rricchhterr said, 2 months ago
the eagles have never won a superbowl
the oilers/titans ”
the jaguars ”
the chargers ”
the chiefs ”
the falcons ”
the panthers ”
the vikings ”
how ANY team could manage to make it TO
the superbowl and be considered a disgrace
is retarded, period.
sorry deer, this had to be done
mroberts88 said, 2 months ago
rrichter, what many people are forgetting is that the Bills made it to the Super Bowl, 4 straight times. The only way they could be a disgrace is the fact that they havent made it to the playoffs since at least 2002. The Bills are no disgrace, they just need a QB, and a coach.
4deerinmyyard
said,
2 months ago
Ah, well, didn’t mean to be persnickety. :-)
rricchhterr said, 2 months ago
is Toronto big enough for two leagues?
rricchhterr said, 2 months ago
is persnickety related to kaspersky?
mroberts88 said, 2 months ago
rrichter, 6(currently 5), MLB,CFL, NHL,MLS, NBA, and possibly NFL. That would, with the inclusion of the NFL, be more leagues than most cities. I dont think Toronto could handle that many leagues. shudders So many teams….even without the Bills.
4deer, dont worry about it. My fault, like yesterday, I expected at most 4 responses, and thats stretching it.