For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for April 30, 2014

Here’s a better question: when will Michael stop acting lazy over such dumb questions and let everyone else do the work for him?

As if Michael has never seen John sweep the garage or vacuum the car… I’d be far more likely to reward him for an honest effort to help out than for a blatent scam to “earn” a buck for doing nothing.

don’t mock this, it’s real life. I have a son who is exactly like Michael is.And of course, you’re more likely to reward for real work, but in a kids mind this is real work. And he knows he’s playing them.But true to life? ABSOLUTELY!!!

You will receive less and less as I do more and more.

Yes, answer his questions, but don’t do the work for him Dad!

It was John who made the suggestions as to what Michael could do so he had to show him where the stuff was so he could do the job. Next time Michael wil know.

Fourth panelJohn: “You will build character, just like your friend Calvin.”Michael: “Yes, that is what Calvin tells me his dad always tells him.”John: “Calvin’s dad? What is his name again?”Michael: “Shoot Dad, I do not know. Only a lazy idiot would not know his own name.”John: “Yeah, I know! ha ha”

Never gave my children an allowance. When something needed to be done, they were told what and how to do it and without question it was expected to be done. If there was some available money and I wanted to give them something, I “gave” it to them. But to expect and allowance? No…..get a job…..

John, answer his questions. Tell him where the stuff is, don’t get it for him.

Bet John does the same thing with Elly! He can’t find anything so she has to get the stuff for him. Son like father??

A rather sadly true, but funny story arc! One aspect about the comic that is rather nostalgic and dated is the car…. it is one of the tiny hatchbacks that so proliferated the late 70s through about 1990. Chevy Chevette, Volkswagen Rabbit, Ford Fiesta, Renault LeCar, Plymouth Horizon, and many, many others. All had that rather similar look. But, you don’t see anything like that anymore

You’ll have 10c left after I take my commission for doing the hard part!

-No, it’s not easier to bring tools to someone instead of explaining where they are. If you constantly bring tools to a worker instead of letting him learn where and what they are, and how to use them, that worker will always need someone to do that part of the job for them. No different with a kid. If you want them to learn, they need to start with step one.

Sometimes it’s better to do the job yourself.