On the floor? That makes the artwork an automatic target for April or Farley. Admittedly, April the Free-Range Child is never being watched by anyone, so Elizabeth should know that she cannot leave anything out where April can get to it. Elly and John are amazed at April doing something nondestructive and creative that they did absolutely nothing to help out with or start. That’s the best kind of parenting, when you let your toddler do whatever she wants and it ends up being art and not a trip to the hospital.
Ugh. As an older sister, I hated it when my younger sister was praised if she’d done something like that. Bad enough she got ballet lessons when I’d been told for several years it was too expensive!
I was the youngest child in my family by 10 years. My parents did all their fighting and arguments with my older brothers. By the time I came along they were tired out and I was given almost complete freedom, so long as I met my responsibilities. So long as i made sure the live stock was fed and watered every day, my other chores were done, and i got good grades I had no curfew or other real rules to follow. Only time i remember getting a lecture was when i came home at 5 in the morning on a school night, and the lecture wasn’t about my coming home so late, it was because I forgot to call and let them know I was going to be later than normal. In my defense there wasn’t a handy pay phone for me to use. I had my shower,, got dressed, went to school (my bus came at 6:45 am, so no time for sleep), and went out again that night and nothing more was said about it.
You know, it took me a while to figure out what Liz was doing in the first panel. Then I realized she was using a pencil sharpener. I’ve got one of those with a suction cup on the bottom for mounting to any table. As to the rest of the toon, it’s Liz’s worst nightmare. Her complaint about the baby messing up her project gets converted into the baby being a genius by the parents. Ah, well, such is the trials and tribulations of the middle child.
Not necessarily “what they want”. You encourage creative thinking, and discourage destructive thinking. If they do wrong, do not punish them, divert their attention to something more creative. Punishment only makes a bitter child.
No landscape painting done by a seventh grader over eight weeks can compare with the pile of blocks stacked by a six-month-old over eight seconds. One of the many reasons for Sibling Rivalry!
No landscape painting done by a seventh grader over eight weeks can compare with the pile of blocks stacked by a six-month-old over eight seconds.This is proof of that. And knowing Elly, she’ll torture Liz by hanging the ruined picture on the refrigerator for the next eight months!
Seems to me the “good parents” ought to notice that Liz is bummed because April ruined her drawing. And yes, it was ruined. Just because she stepped away for a minute doesn’t mean it wasn’t important to her. April may not have meant anything bad by it, but that doesn’t make it feel any better to Liz.
howtheduck over 2 years ago
On the floor? That makes the artwork an automatic target for April or Farley. Admittedly, April the Free-Range Child is never being watched by anyone, so Elizabeth should know that she cannot leave anything out where April can get to it. Elly and John are amazed at April doing something nondestructive and creative that they did absolutely nothing to help out with or start. That’s the best kind of parenting, when you let your toddler do whatever she wants and it ends up being art and not a trip to the hospital.
Templo S.U.D. over 2 years ago
Seriously?
wjones over 2 years ago
I guess that means April does great Art work.
littlejohn Premium Member over 2 years ago
I guess that they couldn’t find the words to express their feelings.
PammWhittaker over 2 years ago
Ugh. As an older sister, I hated it when my younger sister was praised if she’d done something like that. Bad enough she got ballet lessons when I’d been told for several years it was too expensive!
GirlGeek Premium Member over 2 years ago
No offense Liz but Elly’s not on your side if April touches it. It’s your fault from the get-go because it was in “baby range.”
BlitzMcD over 2 years ago
Ex-Hippie Parenting 101 at its worst: “Don’t discipline! Let the ‘individual’ express themselves without consequence”. Sheesh…..
Johnnyrico over 2 years ago
April will be up in Lizzy‘s schyt forever..
theincrediblebulk over 2 years ago
I was the youngest child in my family by 10 years. My parents did all their fighting and arguments with my older brothers. By the time I came along they were tired out and I was given almost complete freedom, so long as I met my responsibilities. So long as i made sure the live stock was fed and watered every day, my other chores were done, and i got good grades I had no curfew or other real rules to follow. Only time i remember getting a lecture was when i came home at 5 in the morning on a school night, and the lecture wasn’t about my coming home so late, it was because I forgot to call and let them know I was going to be later than normal. In my defense there wasn’t a handy pay phone for me to use. I had my shower,, got dressed, went to school (my bus came at 6:45 am, so no time for sleep), and went out again that night and nothing more was said about it.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Sometimes, the silver lining in our dark clouds belongs to someone else.
preacherman over 2 years ago
You know, it took me a while to figure out what Liz was doing in the first panel. Then I realized she was using a pencil sharpener. I’ve got one of those with a suction cup on the bottom for mounting to any table. As to the rest of the toon, it’s Liz’s worst nightmare. Her complaint about the baby messing up her project gets converted into the baby being a genius by the parents. Ah, well, such is the trials and tribulations of the middle child.
DawnQuinn1 over 2 years ago
Not necessarily “what they want”. You encourage creative thinking, and discourage destructive thinking. If they do wrong, do not punish them, divert their attention to something more creative. Punishment only makes a bitter child.
Susan00100 over 2 years ago
Why does Elly persist in looking so dowdy, with that long skirt and klutzy shoes?
sherose over 2 years ago
A good spanking would curb the little brat’s destructive tendencies!
MuddyUSA Premium Member over 2 years ago
Pictures are worth a lot more than words!
donwestonmysteries over 2 years ago
Baby’s first drawing. I have one on my refrigerator.
roberta.forbes.pyle over 2 years ago
Give April her own sheet of paper and some crayons, let her work beside you.
CoreyTaylor1 over 2 years ago
No landscape painting done by a seventh grader over eight weeks can compare with the pile of blocks stacked by a six-month-old over eight seconds. One of the many reasons for Sibling Rivalry!
asrialfeeple over 2 years ago
And Lizzy is the one who gets in trouble because that’s for school.
kab2rb over 2 years ago
Elizabeth because April is a baby why they do not yell but give praise.
John Jorgensen over 2 years ago
April really is a brat.
hagarthehorrible over 2 years ago
For parents the younger ones always take precedence, young lady.
CoreyTaylor1 over 2 years ago
No landscape painting done by a seventh grader over eight weeks can compare with the pile of blocks stacked by a six-month-old over eight seconds.This is proof of that. And knowing Elly, she’ll torture Liz by hanging the ruined picture on the refrigerator for the next eight months!
HodgeElmwood over 2 years ago
Seems to me the “good parents” ought to notice that Liz is bummed because April ruined her drawing. And yes, it was ruined. Just because she stepped away for a minute doesn’t mean it wasn’t important to her. April may not have meant anything bad by it, but that doesn’t make it feel any better to Liz.