For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for October 30, 2019

what goes around comes around

Well, Mike, did YOU call your parents when YOU were going to be late? No, you did NOT. Perhaps you now understand and will remember this and call the next time?

Michael, didn’t they say, don’t wait up.

It’s a learning experience for both. Michael knows how his parents felt, and his parents know how easy it is to be a little late for innocent reasons. Group hug!

Oh, Elly. That taste should be sweet, not bitter. You should be proud your son was concerned about your well-being. That’s an improvement.

When Michael was gone all night on the boat ride with Martha’s family, his parents didn’t notice he was gone all night until the next morning. When Michael missed his curfew, there was no discussion about fear of being in an accident, only a discussion about his being grounded.

Michael has shown he has grown.

Those worrying thoughts of “the worst” are painful, as if they are real.

Next time you’ll hopefully know better.

How did we ever survive without our cell phones?! I remember having to hunt down pay phones so I could call and let my folks know I’d be late. Now I can track my kid using their phones GPS…

Respect shouldn’t be bitter.

It’s all a matter of common courtesy. One time, years ago (before we had cell phones) a “friend” took me out shopping. She told me not to bring anything, as it was her treat. I told my husband that I would be home around 5. When it started to get close to 5, I mentioned that to my friend. She got upset: “He doesn’t own you! You are your own person! You can stay out as long as you want! I’m not calling MY husband!” She then proceeded to go out of her way to keep me out later, going so far as to have dinner at a drive-thru. (We were far from my home so getting out & walking was out of the question.) It was well past 6 by the time she let me go home. My husband was SO worried he was sitting in the living room in the dark. He was so relieved to see me! (Side note: We’re still married & the “friend” was divorced just a couple of years later.)

Young padawan has learned well

Turn about is fair play. Still, it is hard to ground your parents while they are still under 80.

Michael is a minor, and as such, has no rights. As property of his parents, he either stays put, gets forceably moved to another location, or is allowed outside on the terms of his masters.

Mike was making a point. He got in trouble for doing the very thing his parents did not. Turn around is fair play. His parents should practice what they preach. If Mike has to call, so should they.

If Michael ran away from home, he could make it into a song.

It is the night

My body’s weak

I’m on the run

No time to sleep

Got to ride

Ride like the wind

To be free from “them”

Such a long road awaits

To make it to the border of the United States

So I’ll ride like the wind

To be free from “them”

Does being free from “them” mean you have run far enough away from the giant ants?

Try waiting out “in field” chasing helicopters. Have a prearranged place and time to meet, get there and wait….1, 2, 3 4 hours later the machine shows up. You have no phones and are out of radio contact. You don’t know i f the machine has gone down or been delayed by other mechanical issues that you are there to support.I was fortunate, I never lost a machine (and crew), a few other guys I knew, not so much.

They not only got a taste of their own medicine, Michael did as well. He now knows how his parents feel when he decides to break curfew “for 15 minutes next time”.

Thank you! Point made.

And so…how long are THEY grounded for?