For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for February 15, 2010

Is it me, or does FBorFW focus more on Lawrence than Michael?

Despite his young age, Lawrence has proven to be an astute observer of his mother. He knows that she’s unhappy as he has overheard her talking to Elly. He has already worked the pattern between a man coming to his house and his being sent to the Pattersons’ to give them some privacy. He knows how important he is to her, as she packed his suitcase and took him to the Pattersons’ before she’d even asked them if it were OK if he stayed while she went on her booty call to Montreal. He knows that she didn’t drop everything and come back to him when he cried over the phone, and now that he has seen her, he knows she went to get a new hairdo first. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise to him that he has to console her rather than the other way around. Poor kid. Remind me again how often we saw Lawrence and Connie together in the 15 or so years of the strip after he came out? Was it never or once?

I’m just coming back after a being out of town for the weekend and we didn’t have internet so I’m just now seeing Connie’s hair… HATE IT!! But her kid is sweet.

Well gee…she his tongue hanging out from the the squeeze mom’s putting on him in panel 1?…lol

I don’t think Michael’s dumb. He does grow up to be a writer and a very good man, good father and husband. Right now the story focuses on Lawrence and Connie but we’ll get back to the Patterson’s soon. Lawrence is a very sweet kid and very understanding for his age. It’s a sweet scene and I hope it helps Connie realize she doesn’t have to have a man to feel loved, she has this little boy.

Lawrence is gay. Of course he’s sensitive. And recognizes a good hair style. :) Seriously, your kids as a substitute for adult gratification? I asked my cats and they said that was preposterous.

At least she apologized. What a sweet kid. But if she makes this a habit (and no, I don’t remember what happened 20 years ago when this ran the first time), I don’t think he’ll be as understanding the third, fourth or fifth time.

freeholder1 Very funny, eh! lols!

Someday, Connie might go back to her natural blonde hair again. Who knows, huh?

Freeholder1 I disagree. My cats are very sensitive. They listen to everything I say and don’t complain or argue back one bit. I can’t say the same about the humans in my life. ;)

FishStix I disagree. This is the perfect comic for laughs. Not the strip, the comments. It’s a riot every day.

BigHug, I think that was Freeholder’s point. The use of cats instead of children as a substitute for adult companionship. I totally get that.

Her son can make her happy at some points. You don’t have to have a man for happiness, you have to love you, but she may want companionship!

Nice kid.

Freeholder, funny.

Shelby, everyone wants companionship.

This strip makes me want to quit my job and stay home with my babies! My oldest tells me I look beautiful when I know I look like bleeep so Lawrence’s sweet comment to his mom leaves a lump in my throat.

Children are very forgiving.

Notinkanymore. I got Freeholder’s comments too! ;) I was just playing along.

This strip does occasionally make me laugh.

Why is it that parents with problems tend to have the sweetest and most wonderful kids, and parents who do all the right things, not so much?

Aww. Loved this one.

Lawrence has empathy. Gay or straight, empathy is a result of good parenting somewhere deep inside where it counts. People who don’t feel safe, lack the quality of empathy. Does anyone want to give Connie a little credit here?

I don’t agree. I can see how not feeling safe might force you to focus on understanding the people you need, so as to get something from them. This might explain how parents with problems generate understanding in their kids.

But also, empathy is a natural trait. It can be developed, of course, but some people are just like that.

I read an article about empathy, and they gave this example of a very young child who had it naturally: He saw another child crying. (These are kids maybe 2 - 3 years old.) He watched the kid carefully, then he took his hand and brought him to his own mother (the first kid’s mother, that is). He knew that his mother was where he went when he needed comforting, so that was where he brought this other child.

He had the idea, but he was too young to figure it out completely.

Does anybody know of similar stories?

RinaFarina that is an adorable story.

My sweetie says he used to have a cat that would bring home stray cats, usually sick, or malnurished. And as soon as the transients were well enough to take care of themselves, his cat would chase them off.

really cute!

FishStix–while the current story line isn’t exactly a knee slapper, FBoFW does sometimes deliver a major belly laugh. Most often (at least for me) it’s when Lynn does a Sunday strip with no dialog and a physical gag.

rtt470 said, (among other things) Go and socialize a bit.

You know, I think most people on here know exactly where they are. And as for socializing…well looky here!! You’re here too… hmmm! xD

You’re welcome here too, even if most of your comments tend to state the obvious… :o)

Kids know their parent’s true intent, and kids make a lot of excuses for the parent so they can imagine that their life is really how they wish it was. It’s how they cope internally, rather than killing themselves like adults do. Kids gloss over the fact that one parent or the other is never there for them, for instance, or they convince themselves that they really are loved every time they get smacked around so bad they end up hurt. Kids make excuses to themselves, because it’s all they can do. That’s why kids in Lawrence’s position are forgiving, and make excuses, until something happens a few too many times to keep kidding themselves. Too many grown ups like to kid themselves otherwise. Your kid knows you better than you think they do. They only compensate for your failings for their own well being.

Argue all you want with yourself. It’s basic psychology. Self preservation / survival instinct.

Connie went straight to looking just like a grandmother there, huh? Hideous.

FishStix:

Absolutely loved your “artificial intelligence” question!

Then butt out!

Don’t tell us what not to do while you’re doing it yourself. DUH!

Whoa I think it is a bit far-fetched to compare Connie to Susan Smith – I didn’t notice that Lawrence was murdered in this strip – did I miss something? And kids almost always find a way to love their parents – even the bad parents.