For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for April 09, 2015

Later, in High school & college, when he’s too light to play football, and his Dad doesn’t want injuries to last the rest of his life, he’ll be able to play in the band, & see all those games for free. Altho his lip will be somewhat deformed, he’ll better able to perform on the track team, with better lung capacity.Plus, the band uniforms are nice.

Drama— possibly humanity’s most innate skill.

Another possibility is that his mother could tell him that if he cannot handle the trumpet he can quit…after he gets himself a new extracurricular activity, and reading comics in his room doesn’t count.

A kid has to be motivated to play an instrument AND have at least a wee bit of natural ability. It doesn’t do a lot of good to force a child to play an instrument if they don’t want to or don’t have any talent for it. Better let them do something (constructive) they want to do.

People — it’s a comic, for crying out loud!

And the 2015 Razzie for Worst Supporting Actor in a Comic Strip goes to…

A lot of kids come back when they’re grown and whine about their parents not making them keep up with music or dance lessons and allowing them to quit…

I only quit taking lessons when my teacher said she had nothing more she could teach me. I switched to the organ, had a year of lessons and there was nothing more she could teach me.

If one is looking for sympathy – it’s in the dictionary .. between … oh, never mind, this is a family strip.

MitmanArt: Like all genra of fiction, a comic strip should illuminate reality. So should non-fiction, although it does about as often.

All he needs to do is move out, pay for his own food, pay for his own shelter, pay for his own clothes, pay for his own electricity. A man who makes his own money is his own boss. If you are going to stay dependent on your family Michael, then don’t complain when they expect something out of you. As the old saying goes “You eat my bread you do my will”

I agree. The kid should quit and find something else. When something is shoved down your throat you tend to push it away.

It’s ok Mike I think your uncle is a born loser. He will never measure up to Ted or Rock Hudson.

I remember a time I had parents, a boyfriend, school and a job. And at no darned time could I every get all of them happy with me!

Theo: You’re a doctor and Mom’s a lawyer, and you’re both successful in everything and that’s great! But maybe I was born to be a regular person and have a regular life. If you weren’t a doctor, I wouldn’t love you less, because you’re my dad. So rather than feeling disappointed because I’m not like you, maybe you should accept who I am and love me anyway, because I’m your son.

Cliff: Theo… that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard in my life!