For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for June 20, 2016

Oh, the joys of step-parenting.

Oh, yes, the forced visit to the “old folks” Nothing good can come of that!

Teenagers are teenagers… step or not.

No one ever thought, they meant the move, and leaving behind their friends?

Why does the girl who made that comment look like Liz’s friend when Liz gets older?

Elly shakes hands with her LEFT hand?=-O

I love her 1980’s hair and clothes!!! (I know this is when the strip originally came out but I was too young back then to be interested in it).

My four grown step-kids (aged 40-53) refer to me as their wicked stepmother. But that is true only occasionally. (Just kidding. I’ve been married to their dad for just five years and we all get along just great!)

This is a great start to their new life. The girls, teenagers or not, should have been taught a few manners. But then….the strip wouldn’t be funny, and we couldn’t pick it apart here and thoroughly enjoy the experience.

And don’t ever go against the will of a teenager!

And it’s a joy to meet you, too!

Unfortunately, stepparents have been stereotyped as awful, with the “wicked stepmother” trope. Stepfathers are usually portrayed. In the spirit of Father’s Day, I am glad there is a song that positively portrays stepfathers, “Color Him Father” by the Winstons, about a man who marries a war widow and accepts her kids as his own.

Why am I not surprised?

But cone heads are from France!

Ship ’em back to their mother.

Maybe they’re just prescient… they can sense how horrible it’ll be living near Michael & Lizardbreath, John & Elly, Gordon & Anthony, Annie and all the rest.

Why do people in this strip often shake with their left hand?