For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for September 19, 2017

Clingy Liz. I am thankful my boys were never the clingy types. We would lip smack, hug, say I Love You at expected times such as going somewhere or bedtime. Otherwise, they were busy doing their own stuff. I am thankful for their sense of independence. I’d not know what to do with a clingy child.

Oh, poor Elizabeth trying to spread a little love to her family.

Lynn Johnston goes to this subject a lot. Usually about once a year we have a cartoon where one of the kids begs for a hug. She may be trying to push the “cute kid strip” button with this one, but it comes off like the daughter is starved for any kind of affection.

Lynn was just sharing part of her own growing up. She only realized why she pestered her parents AFTER growing up. Kind of sad.

My husband grew up in a family that really didn’t show any affection at all (actually, his sisters received affection, but he never witnessed any between his parents, and he got none). I grew up in a “touchy-huggy” family where physical contact was constant. It took him a while to get used to getting greeted with hugs from my parents & siblings. He’s also pretty good at giving and accepting hugs to our daughters.

Hug them while you have them.

My parents were stingy with their hugs. I have always made it a point to be generous with mine.

You cannot blame Elizabeth for wanting affection, especially after yesterday’s strip, where he was wearing a sign on his back “Call Me Hot Lips”. As Elizabeth was approaching from behind, she likely saw the sign and figured Hot Lips was in the mood for love.

Liz should climb over the hedge: Hammy Squirrel always has hugs to spare!

There’s a little girl in need of a pet to love, I’m sure Farley wouldn’t mind a few hugs. Or get her a kitten.

I wasn’t hugged a lot. In fact, I didn’t like to be touched. I grew out of it, but I married a man who grew up without hugs, too. He’s not the hugging type, but it suits me.

Lynn’s Notes:

This is from my childhood. I used to lean on my mom when she was cooking and annoy my dad when he was reading the paper, and at the time, I didn’t know why. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized I was looking for affection. It’s not always easy or convenient to stop what you’re doing and hug your kids, but when I was a young mom, I tried.

How sweet yes hug them while you can

One day you will have to seek them out to hug them as was done to April toward the end of the strip. (I saved the last few weeks of the initial printing and publication of the last of the strip.)

Awwww……