For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for April 02, 2021

what didn’t happen, John?

I know that Elly decided to dress up April as a Goth baby in order to set up the visual with the flour, but it is still strange to see baby April in all black. I don’t think my daughter had any all-black outfits until she was a teenager and went through a Goth stage.

April is 12 months old and wears 18 month outfits. This means that April is a big kid if she is already too large for the 12 month size, OR whatever store Elly goes to for baby clothes is terrible at sizing (not an uncommon problem).

The reference to the full-size crib is very strange to me. The comic strip has shown April in a full-size standard crib since late April of last year.

Elizabeth can’t just pick up the baby. She has to report the baby to Elly with such vigor that Elly throws her coffee cup in the air. Is Elly shocked April is in the flour, or is she shocked that Elizabeth has not learned to take care of that baby herself so Elly can spend her time drinking coffee with Connie undisturbed?

Now that John is there but the baby is not clean, does this mean John was always there or does it mean Elly is really, really slow cleaning that flour off her baby?

Elly may talk a good game with John, but Connie knows full well that Elly didn’t “blink”- she was simply not paying attention to her kid and left it to Elizabeth to watch her. I know Elizabeth is in the same room with April and has to take care of her every night, but I don’t think Elly should expect her to do that all the time. She should have some time off. Elizabeth is not April’s nanny.

My son sent a photo of his 3 yr old today with magic marker all over her face and clothes. He calls her a threenager.

Ya know, John, you’re part of the family, too.

Carrying for a 1-year old is a 25-hour-a-day job. That’s not a typo.

Then they turn 2 and it gets hard. ;-)

April just wants to be the kitchen ghost. So let her have some fun. Soon like a flower she will grow and bloom and go away. Enjoy her now while you can track her in all her powdery glory as the cheerful kitchen imp.

I wish I could apply emojis to this website. One of them is worth over 1000 words.

Been there, done that. TWICE. Two daughters.

That will be Marian soon enough.

I had that experience with my then 3yo son. I was watching him ride his hot wheel, right in front of our house. Wife said something and I turned to reply, when I turned back, son was gone. Frantic searching occurred, then one of my neighbors came by and said he saw my son riding his hot wheel headed for the park, he was riding right next to the curb. Park was a mile and a half from base housing. Got in the car headed for the park, finally found him at the park, playing. Moral is, little kids are really quick, you take your eyes off them for a second and they are gone

What’s a flour bin? It looks messy. Does it sit on the floor? Do they keep flour on the floor?

A very nice way of saying, “She’s into everything.” Nice one, Lynn.

The days are long but the years are short

And why is not dad helping with April?

They at that age, are faster than a speeding bullet!

Who has a flour bin any more?

At this point, a certain Ramones song comes to mind; the mere inference of which would no doubt elicit howls of indignation from many.

Why are some people bad mouthing & piling up on John!? If Elly really wanted to have a nice visit w/ her friend; then she should’ve “Told” her husband and asked him to care for April …right from the start. Gee Whiz…is he supposed to be a mind reader??

Full size crib? I didn’t know cribs came in more than one size.

Next time you blink, Elly, she’ll be talking….then having play dates….then nursery school…and in a dozen blinks, you’ll have a teenager on your hands!

Flour power

The day that the EllyLynnHater quacks something mildly pleasant about the character and writer is the day I win the Powerball Lotto…

I love babies but I think they’re even more fun when they start to walk (even if it does mean more work.)

That’s ok. Look at the gleaming eyes of the baby!