I’ve been reading and enjoying this strip for many years and the over-riding and dominant theme as far as I can discern, is; why did Calvin’s parents have a child? Did they expect him to pop fully grown, mature, and adult like from the womb? They never play with him or take any interest in his amazing imagination and creativity. It’s really feels like a case of “us against him,” the little brat! Can anyone deny that there’s a lot of parents in this world who are totally unprepared and unrealistic about what having children involves? For one thing, children are expensive, they cost a lot of money. How many parents seem to be taken by surprise by this and resent their children for it? For another thing, children are childish and that can be fun or be hateful, depending on your point of view. They can bring out a grown-up’s sense of play and fun or they can bring out the WC Fields in them and evoke the toxic criticism and sarcasm that Calvin’s father always shows or the “oh go away, go outside and play in traffic” attitude that his mother has. Children also are very needy and dependent, (doh), and yet so many parents want to do what they want to do and blame the children that they brought into the world for needing so much and so often. Calvin’s parents should have stayed child-less in my opinion but they didn’t and so Calvin is very alone in the world and has had to create a friend from his fantasies, much like many, many other children whose parents are emotionally still children. Is it possble that if all children were properly and intelligently nurtured that our world wouldn’t be such a messed up place? Or is that a childish, silly, point of view? Has Watterson ever discussed his motives and background for Calvin’s family dynamic? It feels a lot like many I’ve seen, including my own.
rentier almost 12 years ago
Mom has lost all her appetite now!!
kittenpah almost 12 years ago
That did it for HER dinner.
Vandal00 almost 12 years ago
I know where that jar’s going, and it isn’t in the sink.
WW2 Marine Veteran almost 12 years ago
That just about helped me to lose my appetite.
Timberwolves88 almost 12 years ago
Be proud mum! Btw, anyone knows mother’s name?
Donriess almost 12 years ago
@GretchensMomThanks for posting the Calvin Ball rules yesterday! That was awesome!!!
GrimmaTheNome almost 12 years ago
Watterson’s genius is that he can remember the thought processes of a small child which most of us shed.
rolleg almost 12 years ago
That must have been before dishwashing machines. But not before garbage cans.
bluram almost 12 years ago
That’s ’snot phunny!
Phapada almost 12 years ago
ewwww……
watmiwori almost 12 years ago
Make a good sauce for the stewed monkey brains….
YatInExile almost 12 years ago
Good thing I read this before breakfast…
J Short almost 12 years ago
Hopefully, they’re not eating scrambled eggs.
Crossfire905 Premium Member almost 12 years ago
“Tons o’ snot” is a palindrome.
alan.gurka almost 12 years ago
I’m sure mom will decide that that jar is disposable and need not be washed.
Sandy Shore almost 12 years ago
Ugh… BOYS!
Aaberon almost 12 years ago
Today, Stripmates – you ALL SHINE! I’ll check back later to see who glowed the brightest.
Whitecamry almost 12 years ago
“The snot I sneeze” … that should be a song title.
Sandy Shore almost 12 years ago
Time for a coughee break.
Vonne Anton almost 12 years ago
Are those scrambled eggs? Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. (Ok, maybe snot is a little greener…)
bvallinino almost 12 years ago
Whe Calvin sneezed, he thought it was an oyster but it’s “snot”.
darkman12 almost 12 years ago
warning .dont eat around Calvin,lol
Puddleglum2 almost 12 years ago
Calvin’s impropriety is a jar …wide open, even! (Snagglepuss)
Number Three almost 12 years ago
Poor Poor Mum.
Ewwwwwww, Calvin!
LOL xxx
Hephaesta almost 12 years ago
When you’re dancing with your honeyAnd your nose is kinda runnyAnd you think it’s sorta funnyBut it’s snot.
jeremy0203 almost 12 years ago
I’ve been reading and enjoying this strip for many years and the over-riding and dominant theme as far as I can discern, is; why did Calvin’s parents have a child? Did they expect him to pop fully grown, mature, and adult like from the womb? They never play with him or take any interest in his amazing imagination and creativity. It’s really feels like a case of “us against him,” the little brat! Can anyone deny that there’s a lot of parents in this world who are totally unprepared and unrealistic about what having children involves? For one thing, children are expensive, they cost a lot of money. How many parents seem to be taken by surprise by this and resent their children for it? For another thing, children are childish and that can be fun or be hateful, depending on your point of view. They can bring out a grown-up’s sense of play and fun or they can bring out the WC Fields in them and evoke the toxic criticism and sarcasm that Calvin’s father always shows or the “oh go away, go outside and play in traffic” attitude that his mother has. Children also are very needy and dependent, (doh), and yet so many parents want to do what they want to do and blame the children that they brought into the world for needing so much and so often. Calvin’s parents should have stayed child-less in my opinion but they didn’t and so Calvin is very alone in the world and has had to create a friend from his fantasies, much like many, many other children whose parents are emotionally still children. Is it possble that if all children were properly and intelligently nurtured that our world wouldn’t be such a messed up place? Or is that a childish, silly, point of view? Has Watterson ever discussed his motives and background for Calvin’s family dynamic? It feels a lot like many I’ve seen, including my own.
sterling3 Premium Member almost 12 years ago
This is the best Calvin and Hobbes strip ever! I remember reading it when I was 10 and it still slays me.
tcity almost 12 years ago
One of my favs!
lebron almost 12 years ago
I see now why Calvin’s parents are so skinny. Can’t have much of an appetite at that table.
coffeeturtle almost 12 years ago
what a face she made in the first panel! LOL!
ratlum almost 12 years ago
Dinner chat ?
Pirate Mike creator almost 12 years ago
Oh, wow. Beyond gross. Nice.
rentier almost 12 years ago
Where is Hobbes today, has he fleed!
Spyderred almost 12 years ago
Mom needs to avoid visible reactions. Six-year-olds are always fascinated with bodily.fluids of all sorts.
khpage almost 12 years ago
Calvin has been watching too many Ren & Stimpy cartoons…
mistressamethyst almost 12 years ago
Back to the jar…Calvin why don’t you give it to Suzie? (is Suzie spelled right?)
JP Steve Premium Member almost 12 years ago
Read bizaker’s post again s/he nailed it!
margueritem almost 12 years ago
SNERK!!
arye uygur almost 12 years ago
The fact that Calvin’s parents bought him a toy tiger to be his companion shows their love for Calvin.
cookies333 almost 12 years ago
Make Calvin clean it himself! : )
edonline almost 12 years ago
No one’s wondering how much Calvin could have possibly saved up?
Jaime Jean M almost 12 years ago
Mom’s face in p1 is priceless. This is one of my favourite Calvin strips.
Snoopy_Fan almost 12 years ago
YOU might think it’s funny, but it’s snot…
ratlum almost 12 years ago
Come on you guys,it must be an awful small jar ?Awful small boy.
khpage almost 12 years ago
OK Mom – time to rummage around in the closet and get out the Haz-Mat suit…
Hobbs4president over 11 years ago
Awesome! Top 50 Calvin and Hobbes!