For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for May 25, 2020

yeah, Mike… normal

Just sets the precedent for housekeeping skills (or lack thereof) in adulthood. Not a good thing, to put it mildly.

Time to put your foot down, Elly!

Did Fiona smoke in his room?

Lynn’s Comments:

When I was about 15, my dad’s mother came to live with us for a few weeks. Weeks turned into months. It was my room she was given and I had to sleep in the unfinished basement. No matter how nicely my folks fixed it up, I was still banished from my own bed—looking at studs and drywall, watching for spiders and listening for things that go bump in the night. During the day, I’d go into my room for clothes and school supplies, and grandma’s teeth would grin at me from a jar on my bedside table. I loved my grandmother but I was glad when she left so I could go back to the security and familiarity of my own space. My room smelled like “Grandma” for ages!

Nothing like being able to relax after company.

Wait until he finds the gin bottles and racing forms Fiona had hidden away.

Here we go again in the continuing saga of “how not to be parents.”

I have a grandson like Mike. Never picks up after himself and he’s over 21. I buy him clothes hampers, and plenty of waste baskets. Puh! Everything’s on the floor. Last time I passed his room, you couldn’t see the floor. I avoid his dad’s upstairs area where grandson’s have free reign. I get that urge to purge the place. I don’t think they’d like that.

Had a daughter once that tried that. She had a friend similar to Mike and thought she would give it a go here. Wrong. Wife and I took all her stuff, as is, and dumped it on the front lawn. She screamed, cried, cussed, you name it. We laughed and the wife said, “Now put it back, keep it clean or move out. You have one hour to decide.” Never had a problem after that.

It seems Mom prefers the new aka Fiona normal.

Looks like my sister’s room she was a slob like Michael…..heck my little brother was neater than she was.

Happy Memorial Day.

I can empathize with Mike. Ah, the comfort of your own bed! Your own stuff! Your own way of doing things! So I wonder if a teen’s messiness is their way of becoming autonomous.