For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for November 02, 2023

AWWWW! She misses him!

I enjoy the bizarre symbolism of the 3rd panel. Elly and her grocery cart are shrunken compared to the giant amorphous gray cash register and waves upward to giant silhouettes of people in the store.

Poor Elly. Her son would give up his time to write 8 pages to his girlfriend and give his mom only 5 minutes calls. I think that’s pretty typical. Children marry and dedicate their lives and time to their spouses and give parents a couple of hours on holidays and occasional visits. That’s the way of life these days. I am experiencing this myself and I can relate to Elly.

What? You’re only his mother. I know, I have a son too.

That is rather typical. It’s nothing personal, Elly.

At least Michael’s, budgeting his Money, hasn’t had to write home for more

All grown sons (with girlfriends) are like this. It’s pretty normal.

To put this in historical perspective, that back in 1994, Michael couldn’t likely afford to call his girl because he had to use a land line with long distance charges which likely if he had to say out loud 8 pages worth would likely have been $10 worth of long distance charges!

Approximately 50 cents back then for a postage stamp would

Yes this is typical. I remember when my eldest brother got his first serious girlfriend. He may have still lived at home but he wasn’t really “home” since in his mind he was always with her. After they were married I remember how shocked and upset I was to learn he was spending Thanksgiving with her family instead of with us. Lucky for him my mother was much more understanding. But I grew to really hate the expression “A son’s a son till he takes a wife, a daughter’s a daughter all her life.”

As it should be, Mom!

Single- or double-spaced?

He loves his mom, but he’s not in love with his mom, he is in love with his girlfriend and misses his girl. Big difference. It’s hard to be away from your better half.

Parents (And it’s usually mothers) have a hard time recognizing and accepting that they are not the very center of their children’s universe anymore as they spread their wings into adulthood.

When I joined the army I never wrote home, I came home on leave occasionally and nothing was said. After six years I left and I went home briefly, the first thing my mother said when I walked through the door was “thanks for writing!”. It never occurred to me that I was missed, I was the middle one of 4 (younger twins).

And how often has she written Michael? And end with the line "Don’t spend this $10 all in one place!

What is wrong with boy. Write you mother

No Letters For You!

She is losing him.

Brian and Dawn’s mom would likely be more relaxed, saying that Elly should be not be wrapped around the axle about this.

“All he did was send a retta to Lhetta”

Ellie, it doesn’t take 8 pages to ask for money.

Oh, yes, good job Michael. Devote all your energy into keeping touch with some forgettable high school fling now that high school’s over.

A good story arc could be where Elly is told that there will be a black prime minister before she gets a job with her educational background. Ergo, Elly decides to go to Michael’s college to complete her education. Then she says “Isn’t this great; now we can see each other every day. We will be just like pals”, to the look of contorted horror on Micheal’s face.

Adolescant boys can’t talk to their moms about most things

My friends have the opposite problem, children and grandchildren that constantly come back to sponge off them. Raise your children to succeed and yes they will see you on rare occasions, but they won’t bleed you dry in your old age.

And Mike obviously misses Rhetta…

Every mama has to let go of their babies eventually. Sorry about that.

Michael seems oblivious to the fact that for nearly 20 years those who provided a home for him, cooked his meals, kept lights on, put clothes on his back and filled his room with toys and electronics were Elly and John. Not Rhetta.

What a great boyfriend!

The trick is cut-and-paste.

It’s MEGAFOOD,where teenage workers go to die and be forgotten

8 pages Michael and you can’t even drop your Mom a post card?

Welcome to your new reality, Ellie. When they fly the nest, you are no longer the center of their world. It is as nature intended, and that means you did your job. Will you worry? Of course! Get used to it!

Rhetta’s supposed to be in college. Why isn’t she?