For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston
- October 07, 2009
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Tags: Jerk, practical suggestions. Add Tags

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Tags: Jerk, practical suggestions. Add Tags
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 (39) Jump to Comments Form
OpenWings said, about 1 month ago
…..and perhaps a course in “How to be a Better Husband” would be a great option for the hapless John.
Woohoo, bring on the comments for this one!!! :o))
EarlWash said, about 1 month ago
Feel lucky you didn’t have the sudden need to duck, John.
Fairportfan2
said,
about 1 month ago
Be glad her name’s Ellie, not Lorena, John.
Susan001 said, about 1 month ago
Dunno why for sure, but John somehow reminds me of Ricky Ricardo–minus the accent.
GEE1A said, about 1 month ago
If it were Gracie in “Baldo”, he’d be wearing a Guitar right now around his neck.
Lewreader
said,
about 1 month ago
What did I say? What did I say?
catlady1
said,
about 1 month ago
John just doesn’t know when to keep his mouth shut, does he?
lightenup said, about 1 month ago
The comments are hilarious today! Keep em coming! (hey to Burgandy :-))
Yukoneric said, about 1 month ago
Rolling pins as weapons is a great course.
Macushlalondra
said,
about 1 month ago
John needs to skip his Stupidity 101 class. He made a double whammy today, first saying Elly needs to improve her cooking and implying a woman should take only “womanly” classes like cooking.
Bob said, about 1 month ago
Ooooh look John, there’s a karate class that’s open this semester….
shades_is_here said, about 1 month ago
hey is she did take the cooking class she could become a world famous chef and then John would have cook for his own supper.
homeygfunk1 said, about 1 month ago
supporting her in her effort of self improvement is great and you almost had it right up until that last comment – it was nice knowing ya
Allan Claus said, about 1 month ago
If you’re a man who wants to live a long and happy life …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpFD-kgQxnI
scottcpa said, about 1 month ago
Allan, great link! Check out some of his other youtube stuff - very funny guy!
ninmas said, about 1 month ago
is duct tape an option for this man?
pearlandpeach said, about 1 month ago
no need to guess who does the cooking for awhile….John really should pay attention to his mouth.
Coffee-Turtle
said,
about 1 month ago
I think he’s running out of feet to insert into his mouth! :-D
gaebie said, about 1 month ago
Ellie should be thankful she has a loving husband interested in helping her be the best wife she can be. He needs to help her set goals for her improvement.
rac0308 said, about 1 month ago
Wait until he gets the “special” ingredient…. “I’ll show you creative cooking, mister.”
ShaZamKaPow said, about 1 month ago
Oh he dunnit now!
bogeydog said, about 1 month ago
I am writing a collection of short stories currently.
And I can’t cook to save my life.
Thank God for Campbell’s and my husband’s cooking. And for carry-out!! :~)
yyyguy
said,
about 1 month ago
hi Allan that link was real coo!
kab2rb said, about 1 month ago
I’ve also noticed like others since Lynn Johnston quite doing the modern scripts and only focusing on old times all is bad.
nighthawks
said,
about 1 month ago
or creative floor scrubbing…
or creative laundry ….
or creative window washing..
armand.bastionairre said, about 1 month ago
I know someone like this.
thestargazer1682 said, about 1 month ago
I’m not entirely sure why she’s mad? Are there supposed to be sexist overtones to his suggestion? ‘Cause I’m a guy and I’d enjoy taking a cooking class - not ‘cause I don’t know how to cook, but because I do and like cooking.
Is there an implication that she can’t cook and needs to take a class?
I think I’m offended that she took offense.
rowena28
said,
about 1 month ago
I hate to burst Elly’s bubble, but classes cost money and if she isn’t working now, how is she going to pay for a class? Borrow the money from John and pay him back later when she gets a job? Perhaps she has her own savings or money from her parents?
EarlWash said, about 1 month ago
We’ll all pray for you, thestargazer, that all your feelings will be soothed …with tabasco sause.
bald 716 said, about 1 month ago
john you need a course in how to shut the heck up
mroberts88 said, about 1 month ago
He was just offering help, no need to get offended.
comixavier said, about 1 month ago
Very amusing there, Allan.
I’ve heard of one Green Day parody (“Canadian Idiot” by Al Yankovic), but never the one you posted.
Oh, John. I wouldn’t mind creative cooking… maybe coached by my cousin David rather than some college professor.
gaebie said, about 1 month ago
“Are there supposed to be sexist overtones to his suggestion? ”
I think many women take offense at any suggestion a man makes automatically thinking it is sexist.
I made a comment to a co-worker that I tie my own flies (for flyfishing), a craft that many of us do. I told her women are usually a lot better at crafts then men and this is an exception for us. She took a strong offense that my saying women are better at something is sexist. I sense that same with many of these comments.
howtheduck said, about 1 month ago
Today’s strip is one of the rare occasions where Lynn Johnston completely redraws an old strip. The dialogue in the original was:
John says, “What’s this–a nightschool program?”
Elly says, “Uh-huh, I’m enrolling in a creative writing course!”
John says, “Creative writing? –Everyone’s doing creative writing. Why not take something practical?…Belly dancing and gourmet cooking, for example!”
Elly closes her eyes and cringes.
Personally, I think the original strip was funnier.
Wildmustang1262 said, about 1 month ago
Elly, take karate course so you can do anything to hurt John for his stupid comments.
summerdog said, about 1 month ago
howtheduck….I think it was “pole dancing and French cooking”.
hildigunnur
said,
about 1 month ago
rowena28 uh, what do you mean, BORROW the money from John? and that she’s NOT working? She’s absolutely working - household and childcare is hard work. She also probably worked to keep the family going while John took his dental grade, he owes her a course or two to say the least.
Creative cooking class is fine when you’re thinking of taking a course for fun but probably won’t help you get a job (takes more than one evening class to know enough to start a restaurant, I’d think).
rowena28
said,
about 1 month ago
I mean she is not working for PAY. Childcare and housekeeping are hard work, and each is a full-time job in itself, but there is no paycheque. This means that, unless she has savings or borrows money from John, she does not have any money, despite the fact that she is working hard all day, every day.
I sympathize with Elly. If I had kids, I would want to raise them, not have them raised by a nanny or daycare. Yet, if I stayed home to care for them, I wouldn’t have any income, and I would never feel comfortable borrowing any money from my husband. I can’t imagine asking permission to borrow money every time I wanted so much as a candy bar, let alone a bigger purchase like paying for a class or pair of shoes. It would be humiliating. Maybe she & John have a joint bank account so she can buy things for the kids and household, like groceries, but that would still be awkward. I could never spend money that someone else earned. My husband and I didn’t even bank at the same institution. If we had, I’d certainly have never let him access my accounts!
hildigunnur
said,
about 1 month ago
Rowena28 - when a couple decides that one of them stays at home to raise the kids (be that the woman or man) the other one’s pay should be theirs together, not to be borrowed but jointly spent. Otherwise - well you did describe the situation, the one at home can’t move at all, without begging for money. Pretty stupid - should the one at home never get any new clothes or never be able to get anything for him or herself? Sounds like slavery to me…
You wouldn’t be spending money another one earned, since by staying home raising his kids you’re actually working for him and should be paid for that - yes by him! Otherwise, get that daycare (and mind you, he should pay half of that!)
I’ve got 3 very happy and balanced kids, even though I only stayed home for the first year of their lives - didn’t harm them one bit to get to go play with other children and do fun things I wouldn’t have been able to let them do, a few hours, 5 days a week. Doesn’t mean I’m letting someone else raise them.