Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for June 16, 2020

Interesting that Calvin equates interacting with arguing.

He doesn’t hear you Dad, and probably never will!!

I feel I had this very same conversation with my parents. Sorry, folks.

Why can’t parents just take a hint?

1990, and they don’t have a VCR?

Gee, there was a time where you could miss an episode of a show? A time before recording and all-access streaming services?

That’s why TV dinners were invented. And those trays on stands that you could fold up.

Even when I was a kid, we watched TV during dinner.

What’s a channel?

Alright Calvin, we’ll compromise. You didn’t have to finish your dinner. But you aren’t going to watch TV go to your room…….

You mean the way you’re all interacting now?

How does he have a favorite TV show on at dinnertime unless they’re not usually eating at that time?

My grandma put a small TV in the kitchen. When we visited her, we thought it was a good idea. When we tried it, we thought it turned out to be a bad idea for us.

Watterson is making good points. Parents, including Calvin’s, should work on imparting the importance of what the father says in third panel more.

My wife and I, with our kids, made a rule that our dinner table was a criticism-free zone. All topics of discussion were okay, but nobody got scolded or criticized. We had all four at the table about 90% of the time until they left for college. Wish my parents had set the same rule.

…shortly will kick in.

The only time the TV is ever on at dinner time is when a playoff sporting event is on, either baseball or hockey, otherwise it’s never on. We’re big on those.

Calvin is wasting so much time arguing that if he just ate his food he would be done sooner and then he could go watch his show.

So it appears that lessons are being taught, if not learned, right now. TV isn’t as important as family, unless the game is on, of course.

It seems to me that mother is silently agreeing with Calvin. Take a look at her expression in the final panel.

“Perhaps I haven’t made myself clear, mom and dad— I can’t STAND you guys!”

Calvin dinner is the one time, that we set aside to be together and talk. Calvin don’t talk with food in your mouth.

When Kennedy was shot the Sunday morning after we came home from church. The tv was on in the living room like everyone in the world. They were moving Oswald in the Dallas jail . We sat down to dinner in the kitchen when the tv started screaming . Oswald had been shot on live tv.

My parents always used the “no dessert” ploy. It worked every time. That’s why I’m so fat today.

Now he will always view “family time” as being an unwanted chore.

The TV’s small enough, Dad – go unplug it and lock it away…

We had the same rule when I was a child. Now I get it.

In the ‘old days’, children were fed early, bathed and put to bed. Parents ate later and leisurely. What happened to change all that, I wonder.

I like Calvin & Hobbes!! They are fun to read.

Oh, ok – we’ll sit hear and argue about why I can’t watch TV. That’s a good family activity…

I’m surprised Dad wants more interaction with Calvin.

this still applies, but substitute TV for phones at the table

Ah, prehistoric times before DVR

Calvin seems to be channelling his inner couch potato.

An argument for everything….Just sayin’

All the best shows are on at dinner time.

Does it bother anyone that Calvin begins by saying he wants to watch “his show” but then betrays his argument by saying we could argue about which channel we will watch. He seems addicted to the screen and not the content.

Calvin makes a legitimate point here.

You can’t always get what you want…. (Rolling Stones)

SO TRUE when i am bored i do the same thing

This is so my Dad!!!!

How about grounded from TV for a couple of weeks.

The kid has a valid point. Kids always find a reason to binge watch tv or the smartphones these days.