For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for October 14, 2017

Well, THAT was a good parent/child conversation.

Just as it was with Mike 2 weeks ago, John just sits there and gets a “My kids are wise beyond their years” look on his face. It’s tough when your 8-year-old knows more about life than you do.

What to do … what to do? Do you let her hold on to her innocence and let her find out on her own later or do you prepare her for adulthood?

Hang on to that dream, Lizzie— until they threaten to have you committed.

To quote Qui-Gon Jinn from Episode I, “I wish that were so.”

Unfortunately Elizabeth, not only do grownups do those things, they’re even worse at it than kids are.

When I was in middle school I saw a lonely, picked-on girl and made friends with her. We got along so well that, eventually, our mothers became friends, too. However, her mother decided to put her in a Catholic school. She called me soon after to say that she was doing fine in her new school, but that the only reason she was unpopular was because she was hanging around with me! Fast forward a few years, long after high school graduation. My husband and I had a circle of friends, but because we agreed with some friends and disagreed with others on a certain point, both camps decided to spread rumors about us to make the other side not like us. Alleged adults.

A few years ago I got a lovely e-mail from a girl who was one who my school life so miserable…apologizing. I said that, yes, I DID remember her, and I thought it was incredibly brave and kind of her to do so and accepted the apology. How could I not?

The only thing different is most Adults don’t do it to your face. They’ll backstab you in a heartbeat in order to get ahead given an opportunity.

Lynn’s Comments:

One day when my daughter had had a bad day at school, she asked me when it would stop. When did the mean stuff and the teasing and the game-playing stop? I told her… “never.”

There was an old movie I just saw where Will Rogers had a daughter and she is musing about a boy she just met at the annual country fair and how a year takes so long to pass for kids, to which Rogers remarks “When you are old enough to pay taxes, you will not think a year takes too long to pass.”

Now which worldview best fits reality?

It is people like those who make good friends so valuable.

You people make me sick ! Let’s all stand around in a circle and sing Cum Ba Ya. GAG !!!!!

Look in the mirror, Elizabeth, then comment on “kids.”

Life is not fair, but ask yourself at time if you’re always fair.

Sounds like she’s talking about the current White House resident. Among others.

Time to get out the “wet blanket” for her!

She’s walking away. Obviously she had no real hope for an answer to her question.

The problem with children is that they act too much like adults.

Life is not fair. Only humans can mitigate that.

That’s what she thinks…