Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for November 10, 2018

Expect interesting flavors.

long time no see, TJ

Suddenly, TJ is not smiling anymore…

I don’t think TJ happy!!!

Oh, God. I thought I’d seen some permissive parents in my lifetime so far, but Toni and Brad really take the cake. They have got to be two of the wimpiest adults I’ve ever seen. Shannon is making a mess, getting on Toni and Brad’s nerves, and yet, they still can’t say “no” to her. And some posters here have suggested that they should have kids? They couldn’t bring themselves to make rules for Shannon, so what makes the posters think Brad and Toni could parent any offspring they bring into the world?

Shannon actually says “no” to Toni, and “tells” TJ what she is going to do. Adults will either teach her some manners, or continue to be permissive. Too permissive in my book, but I think that many self proclaimed “parents of the year” posting here will strongly disagree.

Like how @kenhense said yesterday, Toni and Brad need to discipline Shannon instead of letting her make that big mess on the wall.

Someone needs to check shannons backpack for empty cans of redbull. I know children are naturally energetic and hyper but shannon is beyond hyper.

LOL, Greg is not much better – in the first panel, he wrote on the wall.

Well, Brad is getting a grip in the last panel.

That kid, with the shortest attention span on the planet, is making mince meat of three adults. When will one of them step up to the plate and take charge?

I find it amusing that no one can say “no” to Shannon, but Shannon can easily say “no” to Toni. Everything is backwards!

If you wish, here is one of Shannon from a few years ago where she gets a little demanding, but it is for a good reason – something her teacher told her. You’ll see in the last panel…

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https://www.gocomics.com/luann/2013/02/05

I’ve noticed….no one seems to say “no” to Shannon. No wonder she’s a bit of a brat. She’s got almost no boundaries.

Many people are afraid to say “no” to their children because they’re afraid they’ll be turned in for “child abuse.”

Brad & Toni need to find an addictive video game for Shannon and get her hooked.

Shannon said “NO” the the adults because she was asked to draw pictures…she was not TOLD what to do. If adults a child to do or not do something they need to be told and not given options.

TJ is the closest thing in this strip to what Shannon is going to be when she grows up.

She seems rather tall for a 2 year old, that is what she is acting like.

Hooray for TJ, his sacrifice will remembered forever.

Looks like a game of hot potato to me.

This is why I never married and had kids.

Happy to see the adults indulge Shannon. We can only imagine what life with her Dad is like.

Good. The strip’s two most annoying characters are now going to annoy each other. That counts as a “happy ending” by any standard, so let’s proceed to ignore events in this household for the next year or so and move on to something else! (But please not more of Gunther and Les annoying each other, either. We get it, already.)

You know, there is this little word out there called “no”. Too few children hear it nowadays, and I suspect Shannon is one of them.

This why you’re room is taking so long to get ready,Little Precious Shannon.

Shannon is not a brat, she is a very normal child. If you look at Jimmy Kimmel’s funny, if a little cruel, show where parents tell their kids they ate all the kids Halloween candy, children react in all kinds of ways, some not sure they still love their parents, others saying, well you should not have eaten the candy, but I love you anyway. Everyone is different, and Shannon is very assertive, and innocent. She needs love and nurturing, and Toni and Brad are more than capable, and would/will be wonderful parents. If they adopt her, are become guardians, it is within the story line of GnK. I think Greg may not be sure himself what to do about that, although I think he is leaning toward adoption, or guardianship. Toni loves her brother, who reminds me so much of Quill (I sure hope Jack becomes the love of Luann’s life, because he cares) but Shannon needs stability. Oh to worry so much about pretend characters. Oh, and hi TJ! MD et. al. you were right, but I still think they will be working on that house, and I am still on Merkle watch with Toni.

Working reeeeeal fast, Brady can salvage Shannon’s mud job and skim coat the wall. No way to use for taping joints.

sallymargaret: Welcome back, Little Lulu!

Last panel: Looks like GnK ruined this arc, after all.

I’d be happy never to see TJ ever again.

They need to make this into a “time out” room!!!

Its TJ or nothing! (See Bwad’s face)

Sunday: Knute babysits Shannon, then Crystal drives him to The Clinic for a vasectomy!

Shannon is that rare kid in a comedic strip that acts like a real kid, especially one being ‘raised’ by an emotionally distant parent.

A female version of Dennis the Menace. Finally

The expression on TJ’s face in panel two is just priceless!

Here’s part of an article I just read:

People my age know it’s the heart of the matter because when we were kids it was clear to us that our parents were the most important people in our families. And that, right there, is why we respected our parents and that, right there, is why we looked up to adults in general. Yes, once upon a time, children were second-class citizens – to their advantage.

It was also clear to us – I speak, of course, in general terms, albeit accurate – that our parents’ marriages were more important to them than their relationships with us.

Therefore, we did not sleep in their beds or interrupt their conversations. The family meal, at home, was regarded as more important than after-school activities. Mum and Dad talked more – a lot more – with one another than they talked with you. For lack of pedestals, we emancipated earlier and much more successfully than have children since.

The most important person in an army is the general. The most important person in a corporation is the CEO. The most important person in a classroom is the teacher. And the most important person in a family are the parents.

The most important thing about children is the need to prepare them properly for responsible citizenship. The primary objective should not be raising a straight-A student who excels at three sports, earns a spot on the Olympic swim team, goes to an A-list university and becomes a prominent brain surgeon. The primary objective is to raise a child such that community and culture are strengthened.

“Our child is the most important person in our family” is the first step toward raising a child who feels entitled.

You don’t want that. Unbeknownst to your child, he doesn’t need that.

You all have to remember, Shannon is a plot device. Were GNK to age Shannon, the plot device would change, it would be different, it would not be the same. In other words, it would be lost. This is the Luannaverse.

Shannon would have a sore bottom, if it were my kid! My parents would NOT tolerate that kind of behavior…what is happening to today’s kids? They are so spoiled! Stop it!

I think the diversion of Shannon to TJ hopefully ends this arc. I am ready for Luann and Jack to get a call from Tara, asking them to rescue her from the police. Or we could zoom to Ann and Tom. Ann is showing Tom her new purse, “Only $1,500 – isn’t it gorgeous!”

Annnnnd, TJ’s ever-present smile suddenly VANISHES!!! Like MAGIC!!! :)

TJ – There’s something to be said for buying another round at the local tavern…

Shannon may be innocent and all, but to me, Brad and Toni themselves are dull as dirt to me, and Toni’s brother has abandoned his kid. What kind of a woman (ex wife) would have let him take custody (as IF he is doing that at ALL) of her child? Is she dead or on drugs? PLEASE, Greg Evans, let us come back to the interesting characters who do more than cutesy things. Please.

Good show, Brad! It’s time for TJ to do some of the heavy lifting, or to get out of town!

Just like Brad to spread the joy!

Say good night, Shannon. A big, black bird is watching you and saying, “Nevermore”.

That kid needs her bottom dusted off!

Uh…it’s a cartoon…