For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for December 14, 2018

sucks being the youngest, doesn’t, April? I can relate

I hear you, Liz. I believe they did add a bathroom when Grandpa Jim moved in with them and they added a room for him because he couldn’t sleep upstairs – can’t remember if the bathroom was en-suite or a “hall” bathroom.

Sometimes I get the impression that young Michael is actually a cartoon boy from a much earlier age. Instead of calling Elizabeth a “dweeb” as a 1980s teenager might do, he uses a different insult.

Michael’s insult “door knob” is a shortened version of the phrase “as dumb as a door knob”. That phrase in turn was originally an English insult that was “dumb as a doornail” (or as they said in Middle English “dom as a dore-nayle.”)

Doornails are the large-headed studs that were used in earlier times (14th century) to strengthen doors. Fitting doornails involved hammering them through and bending over the protruding bit. Since few people have door nails any more, the saying became “door knob” instead of “door nail.”

They start so young….. ;P

And then we hear Michael complain.

It’ll suck for April too

Lynn’s Notes:

A friend (who had been married for many years) told me that the one thing that helped to guarantee her happy, long lasting marriage was…separate bathrooms!

So now I’ve got an ear bud — “All I want for Christmas is my own BATH ROOM, my own BATH ROOM, my own BATH ROOM!”

(I wish I knew how to add the music notes…)

There was a time when I was a teenager, that my Dad, kid-brother, and I were all able to wear the same size clothing. My mother used to quip: " First up is the best dressed ! "

Is that Elizabeth’s way of making a polite request? Screaming at the top of her lungs? No doubt that the Enjos and the Thomases, who live next door, heard her! :P

Wow, michael is a grade-A jerk

I would think that the need to use the toilet would take precedence over a hair style. There should be household rules to that effect.

When I was her age, we had only one bathroom – and it was 100 ft from the house.As for April – she was in some of the best strips.

First, don’t let your kids use insults when talking to or about each other. Second, install a mirror in his bedroom or in the hallway and insist that only showering, using the bathroom, and brushing teeth can be done in the bathroom. Personal grooming must be done where it doesn’t interfere with other people’s needs.

You don’t need a bathroom to comb your hair-isn’t there a mirror in his room or the hall etc?

Ok, Elly, it’s time to do your mom thing. Provide Mike with a mirror, and tell him to keep his hair grooming stuff in his bedroom.

Since this is December and the strips are in real-time, sure hope Michael remembered his hat.