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.
© Lynn Johnston Productions, Inc. - All Rights Reserved.
Foolish Mortals by Tom Horacek
For Heaven's Sake by Mike Morgan
Comments (22) (Please sign in to comment)
Night-Gaunt49 said, 7 months ago
When you get a bad reputation the sitters will say “no” or demand a high fee for the job.
MAC45 said, 7 months ago
That`s what my dear old departed mom had to do.My brother and I were holy terrors.
Arye Uygur said, 7 months ago
Looks like El is in no mood to make dinner.
masnadies said, 7 months ago
True this. Our town is full of families with small kids, fighting over the same sitters. You have to grovel 3 weeks out with good pay and nice kids!
Jean said, 7 months ago
why not just take the kids with you to a family restaurant. I mean you have to fix dinner for the kids anyway. My parents almost never went anyplace with out the 4 of us. Of course back in the day families didn’t eat out alot. There were no Mickey D’s, or Pizza place.
As I raised my children, we went out to eat once a week but usually to a fast food place because it was a treat for the kids and got me out of cooking for a night.
IndyMan said, 7 months ago
Face it, Patterson, you are eating out tonight. No quiet evening at home, after looking at people’s teeth all day.
But most of the money you made will go to pay the sitter!!!
lightenup
said, 7 months ago
Or you can just swap with a friend. If they watch your kids, you’ll watch theirs another time. Cheap and easy!
@IndyMan – Boy, are you a sourpuss this morning. Sitters are not going to take up “most of the money” a dentist makes in a day. And why can’t they go out every once in a while? My husband travels a lot and enjoys staying at home when he’s here, but he still wants to go out with his wife (and the kids too, but sometimes just me) to make things special.
Shyygirl27 said, 7 months ago
@lightenup
Good morning again lightenup! My best friend and I both have too many children for the swap with a friend idea. Luckily for us, our oldest children are old enough to watch the younger children every once in awhile.
hcr1985 said, 7 months ago
Either that, or pay a high last minute fee!!!
mollie05 said, 7 months ago
Good Morning again Shyygirl27 and lightenup I remember making 25 cents an hour babysitting in the early 1970’s. I was very popular in my neighborhood!!
Night-Gaunt49 said, 7 months ago
Lynn’s Notes:
We were lucky to have several wonderful babysitters who would come at a moment’s notice. One resource was the Clarke family and their four daughters. I remember calling at the most inopportune times, and if one of the girls couldn’t come, Loretta would take the baby herself! I would do anything for her as well, which is what good friends do. She and I have been close for over 30 years!
ARF2 said, 7 months ago
Theres always Calvin’s sitter, Rosalyn. She could use a break— any kid has got to be less of a pain than Calvin.
SUSAN NEWMAN
said, 7 months ago
That’s what happens when parents and grandparents live far apart.
angusdad said, 7 months ago
@Night-Gaunt49
Thank you for posting Lynn’s notes. It gives us insight about what was going on behind the comics and is entertaining.
AThomas75 said, 7 months ago
I love reading Lynn’s comments on the daily strip. Fun!