Elly is leading Carol into the infamous double-bind. If Carol supports Elly and agrees with Elly’s complaints, Elly will never forgive her for being negative about her pregnancy. If she says Elly’s pregnancy is wonderful, Elly complains about her not being a supportive friend. Carol’s stealthy snarky comment in the final panel is well-deserved.
Yup, Happy for you because it isn’t happening to me. I get to hold your bundle of joy for a bit but you get to raise her for the next 18 years…again, especially with our older children nearly grown. (Yeah. Mike graduates from high school in 3 years and Liz from middle school. The older kids will be gone to college and out of college into a job when April starts kindergarten)
My mom was born when her brothers were 15 and 18; my youngest sister was born when I was 14; my one and only child was born when I was 40. Pregnancies in a woman’s 40s are not all that uncommon.
My grandmother had 5 kids. My mother was the baby…UNTIL she was in college and my grandmother had a late-in-life boy. Grandma’s oldest child (female), was already married with a son. So now the newly born son was the uncle of a 5 year old boy. Did you follow that?
My oldest was learning to drive at 17 when I was pregnant with my youngest. I broke the news to her by telling her she had to extra careful with 3 of us in the car now.
Had another in the middle. Never had 2 in diapers, braces, college at the same time – that was the bright spot. Minor kids in the house for 35 years, not so cheery.
I can relate to the second panel. When we went to my husband’s 25th high school reunion, a lot of the other people there were talking about their kids graduating from school, getting married, having kids…and I was 6 months pregnant!
My mother-in-law was the oldest of 10 kids. Her parents had 5 kids, and when those were grown they had 5 more. When hubby and I were first married it took me quite a while to get everybody straight— which were aunts and uncles, cousins, or cousins’ kids.
Ellie doesn’t realize it but she has the greatest friends. When we had our 3rd son, my female neighbors told me all their children were in school and since their homes weren’t baby proofed, I wasn’t welcome to come over for coffee or cards any more. They also told me we were selfish to expect our older ones to have to babysit or do anything to help us. I was miserable and we moved a year later. Our pregnancy was planned.
One woman is at wit’s end about what is to come, the other woman smirks and lets the other know her kids are superior. Since Lynn Johnston loves wordplay, she could have used this for the strip:
Why is she whining after the fact! If this was always a possibility that she dreaded could happen, there are ways to prevent such a thing. An aspirin held between the knees was considered a good, natural form a birth control ; )
My hubby had six older siblings…then after a seven year gap HE came along. His oldest sister graduated high school the summer after he was born…by the time he was 10 he was essentially an “only child”.
I have been watching The Tudors on Netflix. Seems that every time there is a pregnancy it is the opposite of what Elly is whining about. King Henry VIII is shown preparing a big announcement, and the wife is happy to be “with child”.
And in case anyone thinks I don’t know what it’s like – one great uncle was born in 1877, died in 1934; one great aunt was born in 1880 and died in 1971; next great uncle was born 1881, died 1921; one of the great aunts I knew was born in 1883 and died in 1986 at 103; my grandfather was born in 1885, and was killed 12/24/1946; the uncle I knew was born in 1888 and died in 1971; and their youngest sister was born in December 1898 (when my great aunt was 15, and the 1st was 21), and lived to 2003 – her only stated wish was to live longer than the other great aunt – which she did by a few months.
On my mother’s side, my aunt was born in 1915, my mom in 1922, other aunt in 1925 – and my uncle in 1932.
It happens. But I suspect that Elly’s friend has voiced what they are all thinking…
Templo S.U.D. over 4 years ago
oh, you’re quite supportive, Carol Enjo, on that last remark
howtheduck over 4 years ago
Elly is leading Carol into the infamous double-bind. If Carol supports Elly and agrees with Elly’s complaints, Elly will never forgive her for being negative about her pregnancy. If she says Elly’s pregnancy is wonderful, Elly complains about her not being a supportive friend. Carol’s stealthy snarky comment in the final panel is well-deserved.
capricorn9th over 4 years ago
Yup, Happy for you because it isn’t happening to me. I get to hold your bundle of joy for a bit but you get to raise her for the next 18 years…again, especially with our older children nearly grown. (Yeah. Mike graduates from high school in 3 years and Liz from middle school. The older kids will be gone to college and out of college into a job when April starts kindergarten)
Guilty Bystander over 4 years ago
To quote the immortal Kelso from That 70’s Show, “BURRRRRN!!!”
rekam Premium Member over 4 years ago
A woman owned the furniture store with her husband. The very little girl there turned out to be their daughter. Yep, a menopause baby.
Lyrak over 4 years ago
My mom was born when her brothers were 15 and 18; my youngest sister was born when I was 14; my one and only child was born when I was 40. Pregnancies in a woman’s 40s are not all that uncommon.
Watcher over 4 years ago
Mike is now old enough to baby sit and change diapers which will prepare him.
GirlGeek Premium Member over 4 years ago
Here we go again with Elly complaining about future April.
dlkrueger33 over 4 years ago
My grandmother had 5 kids. My mother was the baby…UNTIL she was in college and my grandmother had a late-in-life boy. Grandma’s oldest child (female), was already married with a son. So now the newly born son was the uncle of a 5 year old boy. Did you follow that?
dorotheac928 over 4 years ago
My oldest was learning to drive at 17 when I was pregnant with my youngest. I broke the news to her by telling her she had to extra careful with 3 of us in the car now.
Had another in the middle. Never had 2 in diapers, braces, college at the same time – that was the bright spot. Minor kids in the house for 35 years, not so cheery.
Wren Fahel over 4 years ago
I can relate to the second panel. When we went to my husband’s 25th high school reunion, a lot of the other people there were talking about their kids graduating from school, getting married, having kids…and I was 6 months pregnant!
Cincoflex over 4 years ago
That punchline sucks; it’s not winning my sympathy for Ellie’s friends.
lauradolan over 4 years ago
My mother-in-law was the oldest of 10 kids. Her parents had 5 kids, and when those were grown they had 5 more. When hubby and I were first married it took me quite a while to get everybody straight— which were aunts and uncles, cousins, or cousins’ kids.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Misery loves company, as long as the company is more miserable.
Grutzi over 4 years ago
Ellie doesn’t realize it but she has the greatest friends. When we had our 3rd son, my female neighbors told me all their children were in school and since their homes weren’t baby proofed, I wasn’t welcome to come over for coffee or cards any more. They also told me we were selfish to expect our older ones to have to babysit or do anything to help us. I was miserable and we moved a year later. Our pregnancy was planned.
The_Great_Black President over 4 years ago
One woman is at wit’s end about what is to come, the other woman smirks and lets the other know her kids are superior. Since Lynn Johnston loves wordplay, she could have used this for the strip:
“Batty meets Catty”.
summerdog over 4 years ago
Why is she whining after the fact! If this was always a possibility that she dreaded could happen, there are ways to prevent such a thing. An aspirin held between the knees was considered a good, natural form a birth control ; )
RobertaPyle over 4 years ago
My hubby had six older siblings…then after a seven year gap HE came along. His oldest sister graduated high school the summer after he was born…by the time he was 10 he was essentially an “only child”.
Space & Kitten over 4 years ago
The Truth comes out. :-)
RoxannJadeDixon over 4 years ago
God Bless honest friends!
phoenixnyc over 4 years ago
With friends like this, who needs morning sickness?
USN1977 over 4 years ago
I have been watching The Tudors on Netflix. Seems that every time there is a pregnancy it is the opposite of what Elly is whining about. King Henry VIII is shown preparing a big announcement, and the wife is happy to be “with child”.
Petemejia77 over 4 years ago
Don’t see an extra panel often.
Aladar30 Premium Member over 4 years ago
What a great friend!
PatsyL.Paul over 4 years ago
My husband’s mother had him when she was 42. She was 40 when she got married. My husband became a chemistry professor and retired at age 72.
rebelstrike0 over 4 years ago
Carol Enjo did a Pearl Harbor on Elly!
Diana Gregory Premium Member over 4 years ago
And in case anyone thinks I don’t know what it’s like – one great uncle was born in 1877, died in 1934; one great aunt was born in 1880 and died in 1971; next great uncle was born 1881, died 1921; one of the great aunts I knew was born in 1883 and died in 1986 at 103; my grandfather was born in 1885, and was killed 12/24/1946; the uncle I knew was born in 1888 and died in 1971; and their youngest sister was born in December 1898 (when my great aunt was 15, and the 1st was 21), and lived to 2003 – her only stated wish was to live longer than the other great aunt – which she did by a few months.
On my mother’s side, my aunt was born in 1915, my mom in 1922, other aunt in 1925 – and my uncle in 1932.
It happens. But I suspect that Elly’s friend has voiced what they are all thinking…