I really don’t get it. When I was a child, I could see that my parents did much more work than us and that they did not always like it. Also, we never did work for money, why would anyone get paid to do their fair share of work? The work had to be done because it needed to be done, and we did not get an “allowance”, we got (a generous amount of) money whenever we needed money for something.
we never had an allowance, we just knew we had to help out. We always complained about doing the dishes, but, in all fairness, that was the only job my mom ever required of us girls and taking out the trash and mowing the lawn was the boys job.
My brother and I thought the same thing when we were kids, grownups can do what they please. And our parents would even claim this to be true, “When you’re grown up you can do as you please!” Of course it isn’t true, as an adult you have to obey a boss at work, the laws of your country, etc. Kids think parents can buy anything they want but that’s not so of course. When I was a kid we got an allowance and if we wanted to augment it, we could do extra things around the hosue to earn extra money, or go to the neighbours and ask if we could do some odd jobs. It helped teach us the value of money. And that if we had to work for something, it was much more valuable than if the parents just paid for it.
The thing of it is, she shouldn’t have phrased it as if Michael was some sort of burden, who needed to start pulling his own weight. She should be clear that those sort of chores are an exercise for the increasingly greater responsibilities he’ll have as he gets older. He may not understand that at first, but it’d be a heck of a lot better than sounding ungrateful for even having him; describing him more like a freeloading tenant she’s tolerating, than a child she voluntarily had and loves unconditionally…
QuitStorm27 – He was reading a comic. Fun, but hardly “useful”. I’m afraid today’s world is full of Michaels that won’t do what they don’t want. (Congress?)
I hated when my parents implied we had been loafing all our lives and needed to earn our keep. No allowance mentioned. I liked better the parents of some friends who told their children they needed their help and didn’t imply they were lazy bums. They built a work ethic and pride. Very different.
Michael is like Pinocchio. Michael prefers goofing off to working and going to church and is disobedient to his family. That was like the idea behind Pleasure Island, where kids could run wild without any supervision, doing things like drinking, smoking, fighting, being destructive and gluttonous, as well as play without working or having to listen to dumb ol’ parents, parsons or authority figures. Eventually they made jackasses of themselves by transforming into donkeys then getting sold to the circus or the salt mines. The lesson behind that was that boys who do not read the Bible, disobey their parents, or say things such as “school is queer!” or “Boy Scouts is idiotic” are often destined to grow up to become men who are qualified for nothing except jobs with a lot of backbreaking work. That is a real world lesson as there are plenty of taskmasters in the world (i.e. the Coachman), who will take advantage of that
serenasakitty over 10 years ago
If it is true that grownups don’t have to do anything they don’t want to, then I want to be a grownup.
esmeyny over 10 years ago
I really don’t get it. When I was a child, I could see that my parents did much more work than us and that they did not always like it. Also, we never did work for money, why would anyone get paid to do their fair share of work? The work had to be done because it needed to be done, and we did not get an “allowance”, we got (a generous amount of) money whenever we needed money for something.
psychlady over 10 years ago
Even as adults and being “in charge” – there are still things that have to be done, whether we like it or not!
mkd_1218 over 10 years ago
I can see a rude awakening on this young person’s horizon.
jeanie5448 over 10 years ago
we never had an allowance, we just knew we had to help out. We always complained about doing the dishes, but, in all fairness, that was the only job my mom ever required of us girls and taking out the trash and mowing the lawn was the boys job.
She Mc over 10 years ago
I remember saying the same thing to my mother!!!
alondra over 10 years ago
My brother and I thought the same thing when we were kids, grownups can do what they please. And our parents would even claim this to be true, “When you’re grown up you can do as you please!” Of course it isn’t true, as an adult you have to obey a boss at work, the laws of your country, etc. Kids think parents can buy anything they want but that’s not so of course. When I was a kid we got an allowance and if we wanted to augment it, we could do extra things around the hosue to earn extra money, or go to the neighbours and ask if we could do some odd jobs. It helped teach us the value of money. And that if we had to work for something, it was much more valuable than if the parents just paid for it.
rshive over 10 years ago
Think we’ve all said that at one time or another, Michael. Strange how it doesn’t work out that way.
Can't Sleep over 10 years ago
I read the comics to escape from reality. And then this strip reminds me of it.NOT FAIR! NOT FAIR!
QuietStorm27 over 10 years ago
I agree that children should do chores but I wouldn’t stop them from reading to do something that could wait.
thestargazer1682 over 10 years ago
The thing of it is, she shouldn’t have phrased it as if Michael was some sort of burden, who needed to start pulling his own weight. She should be clear that those sort of chores are an exercise for the increasingly greater responsibilities he’ll have as he gets older. He may not understand that at first, but it’d be a heck of a lot better than sounding ungrateful for even having him; describing him more like a freeloading tenant she’s tolerating, than a child she voluntarily had and loves unconditionally…
Gokie5 over 10 years ago
I asked my grandson to pick up the junk all over the floor in his room. He said, “I don’t do housework!”
alangwatkins over 10 years ago
QuitStorm27 – He was reading a comic. Fun, but hardly “useful”. I’m afraid today’s world is full of Michaels that won’t do what they don’t want. (Congress?)
krys723 over 10 years ago
Lynn’s notes were long today lol—I don’t think I want to be a mother because when I was a kid, I rebelled when it came to cleaning
platechick over 10 years ago
If my kid were outside AND reading, I think I’d leave her alone! There will always be chores. I can think of way worse things for a kid to be doing.
zoeannanime over 10 years ago
To an extent. But I would love to be a kid again
LuvThemPluggers over 10 years ago
I hated when my parents implied we had been loafing all our lives and needed to earn our keep. No allowance mentioned. I liked better the parents of some friends who told their children they needed their help and didn’t imply they were lazy bums. They built a work ethic and pride. Very different.
rorena623 over 10 years ago
Boy is he in for a REAL wake up call!…..
USN1977 over 10 years ago
Michael is like Pinocchio. Michael prefers goofing off to working and going to church and is disobedient to his family. That was like the idea behind Pleasure Island, where kids could run wild without any supervision, doing things like drinking, smoking, fighting, being destructive and gluttonous, as well as play without working or having to listen to dumb ol’ parents, parsons or authority figures. Eventually they made jackasses of themselves by transforming into donkeys then getting sold to the circus or the salt mines. The lesson behind that was that boys who do not read the Bible, disobey their parents, or say things such as “school is queer!” or “Boy Scouts is idiotic” are often destined to grow up to become men who are qualified for nothing except jobs with a lot of backbreaking work. That is a real world lesson as there are plenty of taskmasters in the world (i.e. the Coachman), who will take advantage of that