Dad was an attorney, and he always got up and answered the phone when it (frequently) rang during dinner. “Might be that million dollar client.” Usually it was cousin Henry, the family drunk, needing to be bailed out.
I used to hate the old double standard when I was growing up. That was one lesson from childhood that I did not pass on to the next generation. The 4 of us have different times and places in the home where we eat; sometimes at home, sometimes on the way home from work, and very rarely sometimes we all have the same meal.
My husband and I don’t bother to answer the phone much anymore—we let the answering machine screen our calls and if it’s someone we actually want to talk to we call them right back.
I have a cell and also a land line. Sometimes the cell refuses to work. The landline seldom if ever has a problem. I could get phone service through the cable TV provider but if the power is out – so is the phone on the cable.
Calvin is a child, and as such, has no rights under the law. He is property of his parents. So if he hears “Jump”, Calvin’s only response should “How high, Mom?”. When he is told to sit and the table, Calvin only should respond with “Yes, sir”. Mom and Dad can do anything they want with Calvin, including sending him out to the fields to pick cotton.
boy, she couldn’t get up fro the table fast enough. guess she didn’t want to hear anymore of his explaining why Calvin needed to stay seated at the table. also, i have a landline too!
40 minutes? Try 15 minutes. We tell the host that’s because their meal was so delicious we had to shovel it down. Besides the hockey game just started again.
BE THIS GUY over 4 years ago
Funny, your wife says the same thing when she’s dealing with Calvin.
The Calvinosaurus That Calvin Wanted To Discover over 4 years ago
Calvin’s mood swing from Panels 2-4 is priceless.
Space_Owl on GoComics over 4 years ago
The hypocrite strikes again!
codycab over 4 years ago
Does being wrong build character, Dad?
Templo S.U.D. over 4 years ago
so much for family meal time as well as a family discussion
Ahuehuete over 4 years ago
How quaint! They have a land line.
Johnny Q Premium Member over 4 years ago
My sister says that when people are inconsiderate enough to phone you at dinner time, you shouldn’t answer.
Red33410 over 4 years ago
An anagram of “recessive genes” is “Essence grieves.”
jmworacle over 4 years ago
That’s why answering machines were invented. Hope it was a tele-marketer.
BigDaveGlass over 4 years ago
Ah the old double standards, how I miss them, not!
Troglodyte over 4 years ago
Just wait for smartphones to happen, Calvin. All your “dreams” will come (ugh) true.
Red33410 over 4 years ago
“All of my great genes are recessive!”
jpayne4040 over 4 years ago
That’s definitely too much to ask!
M2MM over 4 years ago
This “show” is set in the 80’s. No cell phones, yet, at least not for everyday people. :D
dflak over 4 years ago
This strip is from a bygone era. We now always ignore phone calls during dinner time. There’s voicemail.
Otherwise, if we don’t recognize the number, there’s voicemail.
cubswin2016 over 4 years ago
I do not think that Dad’s genes are anything to write home about.
well-i-never over 4 years ago
40 minutes! The last meal that took me 40 minutes to eat had peas, and I couldn’t ride my bike until they were gone.
My First Premium Member over 4 years ago
Calvin – Simple answer. Get a DVR. Then you can skip the commercials.
dlkrueger33 over 4 years ago
Nowadays, people would have their cell phones on the table near them, monitoring texts, calls and Facebook posts.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member over 4 years ago
My family always ate in front of the TV, so no problem other than which program we would watch. Parents had first dibs.
Whatcouldgowrong over 4 years ago
Dad was an attorney, and he always got up and answered the phone when it (frequently) rang during dinner. “Might be that million dollar client.” Usually it was cousin Henry, the family drunk, needing to be bailed out.
A Hip loving Canadian... over 4 years ago
A double whammy for Dad, recessive genes and receding hairline.
Otis Rufus Driftwood over 4 years ago
Was she really expecting a call? I think she just wanted out of this awkward situation.
Jeff0811 over 4 years ago
I used to hate the old double standard when I was growing up. That was one lesson from childhood that I did not pass on to the next generation. The 4 of us have different times and places in the home where we eat; sometimes at home, sometimes on the way home from work, and very rarely sometimes we all have the same meal.
LeggoMaEggo over 4 years ago
????????????????
mistercatworks over 4 years ago
Right, Dad, recess is what it’s all about.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 4 years ago
Recessive genes are fun. In school during recessive I loved the swings.
DanWolfie over 4 years ago
Really, a family dinner that lasts for 40 minutes? In my family, they usually lasted for 10 to 20 minutes each night. Love that random phone call!
RobertaPyle over 4 years ago
My husband and I don’t bother to answer the phone much anymore—we let the answering machine screen our calls and if it’s someone we actually want to talk to we call them right back.
rebelstrike0 over 4 years ago
Calvin’s backhanded mouthing off can be solved with a simple backhand from Dad to Calvin’s head.
KevDoneIt over 4 years ago
I have a cell and also a land line. Sometimes the cell refuses to work. The landline seldom if ever has a problem. I could get phone service through the cable TV provider but if the power is out – so is the phone on the cable.
The_Great_Black President over 4 years ago
Calvin is a child, and as such, has no rights under the law. He is property of his parents. So if he hears “Jump”, Calvin’s only response should “How high, Mom?”. When he is told to sit and the table, Calvin only should respond with “Yes, sir”. Mom and Dad can do anything they want with Calvin, including sending him out to the fields to pick cotton.
VickiP123 over 4 years ago
well this was back in 1985….didn’t we all?
Stephen Gilberg over 4 years ago
“All these great genes”? Well, Calvin did inherit your arrogance.
USN1977 over 4 years ago
Reminds me of the strip about the robbers. The day after they return home. Mom and Dad are a lot more serious about dinner.
Dad: “Calvin, we have been through a lot, let us just sit and enjoy a peaceful dinner.”
Calvin: “I don’t like this food. Besides my favorite TV show is about to start.”
Mom: “Our television set was stolen, remember?”
Calvin looks like a Democrat the day after the 2016 election
Calvin: “Well, I guess I will finish dinner, then go to my room and review my homework.”
Mom: “Good, I am proud of you for how well you handle adversity.”
Plumbob Wilson over 4 years ago
What we’ve got here… is a failure to procreate
j.l.farmer over 4 years ago
boy, she couldn’t get up fro the table fast enough. guess she didn’t want to hear anymore of his explaining why Calvin needed to stay seated at the table. also, i have a landline too!
WCraft Premium Member over 4 years ago
Just wait until every kid (and adult) has a cell phone. Fuggidaboutit!
The Pro from Dover over 4 years ago
40 minutes? Try 15 minutes. We tell the host that’s because their meal was so delicious we had to shovel it down. Besides the hockey game just started again.
Concretionist over 4 years ago
Yeah. That thing about the recessive genes is a hard lesson…
einarbt over 4 years ago
Notice how Calvin helps his dad built character all the time by providing him with, eh, interesting paradigms.
lordhoff over 4 years ago
“Alright, go watch your TV show. You’re Mom set the example.”
hagarthehorrible over 4 years ago
Well, the dominant gene will always kick in first.