Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for December 20, 2015

Agreed. I think it would be great if they adopted her.

Toni….Brad……..lose the kid and concentrate on each other. You already have Toni’s screwed up brother who, I guarantee will have a negative impact on your future. I strongly emphasize, LOSE THE KID!!!!!!! Toni doesn’t have to be a package deal.

Toni’s niece knows Shannon’s aunt quite well.

The Spanish translator didn’t have to do very much work today for the Spanish translation of this strip.

The kid is a necessary part of the relationship.

I speak from experience…too much experience. Learn to say no, or in-laws will suck the spirit out of you like a vampire. Got plans? Forget them, Shannon needs babysitting (it’s family, you know). In-laws can be toxic and should come with warning labels.

Don’t worry, Brattoni and Shannon the former would-be-Fuhrerin have sunk back to their original position as bit characters in this strip, rolled out as filler whenever the Evanses run out of ideas. You’ll never get to see them enough to engage with them emotionally, even if you want to.

Men are wallets…drain them dry. Pretend it’s really you, but know that they are only good for what they earn, not for what you are able to provide to the world. Beeeeeeaaaaaaaaa…

Why are so many here so cynical.I find today’s strip to be very heartwarming.Shannon has matured greatly from since wefirst saw her. The same thing can be saidabout Brad in these past few years.

Greg Evans, well done.

Aww! Brad and Shannon strips are always soooo cute and heartwarming, good job Evans! And Toni and Brad should definitely adopt Shannon. .But 82.75 for a sweater…wow… prices these days

I didn’t like the little girl when she first appeared in the strip, but she’s grown on me

I agree. The Airman has no heart.

Really enjoyed this strip. Merry Christmas.

Regarding the guys adopting the child…the father is still around..He is Tonis brother..for all we know he is a okn guy and beloved by Toni , understanding that he never grw up and took full responsibility for his daughter..too adopt is another level for all parties including the child and the father as well as Toni and Brad…

I agree, I find it amusing how worked up people get over comic strips at timesMerry Christmas

Great strip today Greg Evans – Love how you portray the way Brad and Toni are with Shannon, very loving characters……….Merry Christmas to you and yours

Bwad and Shannon at Squander Mall – now that’s sweet.

Jeez people, it is a comic strip.

Oh, so Crystal’s mother sells sweaters at the mall.

It was so nice of Shannon to get Aunt Toni that fine (and rather expensive) top! Yeah, Brad helped, too, and bankrolled the deal, but it was Shannon’s thought. I think Brad knows and accepts his rôle. It’s a family thing, a bonding thing….

Brad’s looking more and more like a fantastic father, every day.

Shannon is quite the take charge firecracker, and if overparenting doesn’t get in the way, I see a future ceo.

I hope Toni realizes what a gem she found in Brad. Brad’s is a keeper. I hope the opportunity comes up someday for them to adopt Shannon and save her from Toni’s useless brother.

I was once PART of a “package deal”. When my mother died recently, I overhead my stepfather telling friends that I was part of what “sold” the deal. Like all else in life, nothing is perfect, but there is SO MUCH beauty still to find! May all wounds heal, and all truth and beauty be cherished and nurtured in this, a season of great opportunity for both. Blessed Be

My husband was a package deal…his mother was widowed when my husband was six weeks old, and she never remarried. She was the greatest mother in law ever, and I miss her every day.

Christmas has come early to Luanniverse but there are some very unthankful comments today that do not go with the season’s message!

I am not sure that I agree with your take on the situation Airmen. I have been in just this predicament, I went from single bachelor to instant father, but I will admit that it is a rough road to navigate. But a willing heart, and a mind to do what is best for both is key to handling these things.

Lots of questions need to be answered first regarding Shannon, Brad will have to have a very pointed discussion with Toni first and then Toni will have to have a very pointed discussion with her brother.

Failure to engage in this discourse will be … unfortunate.

Worth every penny.

So sweet! I’m sure Toni knows that Brad did the actually work. She will love Brad more for helping Shannon. Shannon feels loved by Brad. Good for everyone.

She thought of Toni first, not a toy for herself.Also, most kids have no idea what things cost.I once asked my grand daughter, what can I do for her?She was 8.She said, without hesitation,“I want to go to Disneyland!”so, we bought another car, took a week off work, etc.Had to take her mom and sister, also.Was lucky we could do that, as we lived in a nearby state,and that she didn’t ask for something we could not do. She is now on scholarship, in France.

Yeah, it’s just like that. The way it should be. The way they will be.

This is going to be the story of Brad’s life. He supplies the money and the work and the resources, then gets ignored.

Agreed, Shannon has a father. Perhaps the best course is for Toni and Brad to let Shannon know she will always have a safe and welcoming space at their house. Which she probably knows already.

My family is going through a similar situation. Our 19YO son has a friend who is a great kid living in an unstable living situation. We have talked about having him move in with us. Our son pointed out that our idea, while well intentioned, is selfish. As imperfect though his friend’s life may be, it is still his life. So all we can do is let the friend know, hey, if you ever need a place to crash, we’re here for you.

And who knows. There are probably people who look at us and say, “Sheez, they’re not fit parents! We can provide a better life for their kid than they can.”

ShagsCA: so sorry for your cynicism. Merry Christmas.

I wish I hadn’t clicked on the link to read the comments. So much bitterness and hatred here. The child had a nice thought for someone she loves. I guarantee Toni knows who really bought and wrapped the sweater. The important part is that Shannon thought of it. The fact that Brad took the time and spent the money to make Shannon’s wish of a good Christmas gift for her beloved Aunt come true will only make Toni love him more. (yes, I know they aren’t real people, but if they were…) And I for one would have absolutely no respect for Toni or Brad if they “ditched the kid.” Shannon can’t help that she was dealt a crap hand for parents, but Brad and Toni have a choice to love and support her, or turn their backs on her. Abandoning a child in need of love is incorrigible, and I wouldn’t trust someone who would “ditch a kid” to not ditch me if the going got rough.

Starting off with one or more kids can be tough. By the time you have any alone together time-you’re old! I know.

I welcome the beatings you have dumped on me. Perhaps I deserve it for my comments, but at least it is good to know that others do not have the need to feel as I do. My advice remains firm: Learn how to say no. It is not selfish to protect yourself from negative things. Kindness and respect must be a two way road. I am not a Grinch or Scrooge, but I’ve learned that to some you are only as good as your next favor.

Smart kid – instead of having your Dad buy a gift for you to your aunt, have her boyfriend do it. Then your Dad has more money left to buy stuff for you!!!

So sweet!

ShagsCA is way worse off. Instead of not liking his inlaws, he doesn’t like women—half the human race!

I thought this one was pretty good. Shannon has actually been showing signs of becoming human; of course, this is quite deliberate, & Brad’s been part of that. (Of course, in her case “human” still is typical of lots of kids that age, especially these days: don’t worry, someone else will pay for it, however much it costs.) Brad’s growth has also been handled very well, partly through Shannon, & today’s strip makes the most of that, too.

Okay lets agree to disagree, but I think its a developing theme; the strip has “grown” up if you will. When I first started reading it Luann was in grammar school mooning over Aaron Hil, and I was just getting to know some of her friends who were not that filled out yet. Over the years all kinds of things have happened, from Brad almost getting done in by Dirk, as we all remember, to the incident Luann scholars inform me) where either Luann or Crystal saved another major character from drowning, or Gunther being bullied by the guy in high school years. This strip develops its characters, glacially slow I know, but it is way beyond most comic strips. Doonesbury is an example of a strip that develops its characters, but then Gary Trudeau is like me, one of those mealy-mouth Baby Boomer progressives (lol). Its political. This strip is not political but it sure develops a world we can fight over. Truce?

I haven’t been reading as much lately, because my brother landed in the hospital with puzzling symptoms that seem to be caused by a tumor found unexpectedly during surgery for what was thought was something else.

Just wanted to say that he and I were part of a ‘package deal’ years ago. Our father had passed away at a young age, leaving our (now late) mother a widow at age 34 with two young kids.

A few years later, she met the man who ultimately became our step father. When she was considering his proposal of marriage, she asked me (as the oldest) what I thought. I was only 11, but told her that she needed to do what was best for her, because little bro and I would grow up and move out, and she might end up all alone.

Out of the mouths of babes. It was one of the best things I ever did, I think. We all had many good years, and some not so good, but overall that stepmarriage worked well.

All of that generation of my family are now gone, and they had happier years than they would have alone, I think. And now I’m fearing that I might lose my brother, too.

Appreciate those in your life while you have them. They won’t always be there…

Your prayers are very much appreciated, thanks…

> The point is that her Dad is happy to leave her while he tours the country.>When did this happen, and how do we know he was happy about it?>> I wonder how it would sound in court if he were to plead his case for keeping her?>If it happens frequently, the court would surely frown upon it. But the fact is that parents do sometimes have to be separated from their children to go earn a living and support them, and doing so on occasion is not of itself sufficient reason to take the child away.

If Shannon is being less of a brat now, perhaps her father has in fact done a good job of raising her. After all, she’s with him most of the time. (We see her only on those occasions when she isn’t.) Maybe Jonah has even taught Shannon that biting people is wrong, a lesson that Toni certainly didn’t teach her (and apparently doesn’t even believe to be true).

OK, What happened to Brad. And who is this gentleman in his place?

No, these people are our extended family members!

SPOILER II

So, were you one of those who predicted this? Me, I had hoped for a little bit more…

I also live alone, but try to stay in contact with what family I have left. And I wish all who had bad experiences with family in past some good experiences in future…

Thanks for your good thoughts.

Thanks for your good wishes.

Bwad.