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 (32) (Please sign in to comment)
Nabuquduriuzhur said, 5 months ago
Don’t worry. She will be complaining about the hours, the boss, the customers, the kids, or something else before too long. This is ellie, after all.
luckylouie said, 5 months ago
This is a different John from the sarcastic, buffoonish one we’re used to seeing. It’s hard for a man to open up his soul, and it’s kinda scarey when he does.
cdward said, 5 months ago
@luckylouie
But it does explain a lot. You’re often not at your best when you don’t love what you’re doing.
SUSAN NEWMAN
said, 5 months ago
I’m VERY happy to be retired and out of the workaday rat race.
rsurran
said, 5 months ago
John is mostly Every-Man.
Jean said, 5 months ago
I remember when I used to love going to work and couldn’t wait to get back after a forced vacation. I worked at that job for 10 years before I moved to another town and had to find another job that I hated for 10 years. I am now retired now.
Night-Gaunt49 said, 5 months ago
Lynn’s Notes:
Around this time we were both well into our careers, and from time to time, felt like we were stuck in a rut. I guess even the most satisfying jobs can become routine! Taking flying lessons helped me to “stretch my wings,” and Rod began a lifelong passion for model railways.
Macushlalondra said, 5 months ago
It must get pretty boring looking at people’s teeth after a while but he makes good money for it at least.
Night-Gaunt49 said, 5 months ago
And later on the model railway passion would manifest in the comic.
marvee
said, 5 months ago
I noticed yesterday that the date was 2-01, with no year mentioned. Today it says 2013. Is that significant?
rshive said, 5 months ago
Even the most satisfying jobs become routine sometimes. I was very fortunate because in my one job i was able to do things relating to many areas of employer’s business.
Sierra said, 5 months ago
@SUSAN NEWMAN
Me too!!
David Henderson said, 5 months ago
Never never ever turn what you like doing for a hobby into a job for money. You will end up hating the thing you use to loving doing. I have seen it happen more than a few times.
mabrndt
said, 5 months ago
@marvee
Huh? You may want to recheck that. It has a ©2013, just like today, and I don’t see 2013 anywhere else in the strip.
The 2-02 (here) just tells the newspaper when to run it. The original had 2-4 in the first panel.
That change necessitated a new copyright, although it doesn’t really extend the original’s ©1994 (both will run out 50 years after Lynn dies).
If the original’s run-date had been placed outside the panels, a new copyright wouldn’t have been necessary.
For example, the November 23, 2012 Get Fuzzy strip has 11/23 before the last panel, but still has the original ©2010 (after the first panel). The November 23, 2010 strip has both those after the first panel, but is a completely different strip.
gaebie said, 5 months ago
Fact: 80+% of people working do NOT like their job.
Women who are STAH moms look at an outside paying job as exciting. After a few years they regret it. Men think their wives at home have it made, till they get laid off, or retire. Satisfaction is elusive.