For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for February 25, 2024

This strip makes me cry.

Warms the heart!

What a question to wonder. Does John really want to know the answer to that question? Or does he already know the answer and has some regret?

The answer: If you were to examine all the comic strips of John spending time alone with Michael, Elizabeth or April; you would find that Michael gets the least time alone with John by far. However, to be fair, the comic strip starts with Michael at age 5. We get to see Elizabeth and April in the years before 5, so it’s possible John could have had 4 great years before that point. However, for the purpose of a Farley to John, apples-to-apples comparison, there are a few comic strips featuring John playing in the snow with Elizabeth and April. There are none of him with Michael.

Farley ♥

I’ve always been amazed at how well the Patterson kids turned out. But, then again—it IS fiction!

That is so cute. Farley woofs to let his people know he is taking the puppy out

The way Edgar follows his daddy’s paw steps. Copies what Farley does is so sweet.

I wish there had been a pure Farley strip. RIP Farley Patterson

Don’t you mean OUR son, John?

Well, did you?

Ah, yes. That heaping, healthy dollop of self-guilt that decent parents often plop onto themselves. Parents who don’t care about their kids don’t have any such feelings.

I love how Edgar’s poses, particularly his walk and tail pose, are different from Farley’s.

My husband had an absentee father (even when he was there…he wasn’t “there”) and an abusive mother. Hub has worked his butt off to try to not repeat his parents’ mistakes. He works 3rd shift & would sleep while the girls were in school, but would wake up before they got home. If his schedule allowed, he went to as many concerts & awards as he could, and even tried to get home in time to drive the girls to school on bad weather days (we live only 2 blocks away so nice days weren’t a problem). Even now, with both girls away at college, he will text them at least once a day, to say “good morning”. Yesterday we drove out to see the younger one sing with her college choir to accompany our state philharmonic orchestra, & next week we’re taking her out to lunch for her birthday. And he STILL wonders if he’s done enough! Not bad for a guy with his upbringing.

Sweet and touching.

I wish we had maternity leave for both parents like they have in some overseas countries. Early bonding is the most important time. And some serious time off if you end up with a C-section.

aaawww

Cats in the Cradle!

I appreciate that Elly doesn’t have any snark here, just a comforting hand on John’s shoulder.

I think it’s a question that every Dad asks himself.

The answer is often heartbreaking. In my case, due to circumstances well beyond my control, the answer ( in my own mind ) was “No!” – especially, regarding my sons.

At least with my daughter, I was able to make it up to her, in helping her raise her son. I was able to devote lots of time to him when he was growing up. I still share a closeness with him, and his mother, even though we’re a continent apart.

You’ll know, John, when as an adult he wants to spend time with you, especially if it’s his idea to do so.

I think every parent ponders that at one point or another.

No one ever spend enough time with their son or their daughter, the question is, did you spend all the time you possibly could.

The Circle of Life…. from one generation to the next.

It’s nice to see Farley & Edgar together

We all do John.

I think you spent a lot of time with Mike. You were also working hard for a lot of years to keep a roof over your heads. Don’t beat yourself up, John.

I wonder that regularly, and usually decide that I did not. I think he does a better job with his son.

Eventually Edgar will spend time with his puppies. :)

Me too, John.

A fathers lament. I had 3 sons. I can relate.

Aww, this one is so sweet.

Then will John be regretful of what he did in this B.A. strip (Before April):

Michael has just completed a semester in elementary school. John looks over Michael’s report card and glowers

Michael: It could be a lot worse; at least I passed!

John snorts like a pig

John: It could be a lot better too! Look at this! You went down in three subjects!

John walks away in a huff

Michael{talking to himself}: Dad never makes any remarks about the classes I went up in.

I’m not crying, you’re crying!

Cat’s in the cradle and the silver moon … is running through my head. Yeah, turns too real.

A lot of talk about Cats in the Cradle. Ironically, I just saw a Robin Williams movie where he had the opposite problem: Mrs. Doubtfire. He realized that the reason for his divorce was that he was a good father, but he was not a good husband and a horrible head of the household. Robin Williams’ character was devoted to his kids, but seemed to think that all he needed to be a dad was to spend “quality time” with them. That and he was basically a “kidult”. If you haven’t seen that movie, I won’t spoil the rest, other than saying he realized that discipline and an orderly house are also important in being a father.

That’s a resounding NO.

You never get enough time John.

So John, was this a good use of “time spent with your son”? Remembering the strip where John told Michael to use the snowblower:

Michael: Good news Dad, I got the snowblower working. I did a great job clearing driveways in our neighborhood. I did the Picketts, the Lees, the Hills, the Braggs, the Hoods, the Polks, the Jacksons, Gordon’s, and the Forrests!

John reacts with glowering, not pride

John{snarling}: How about doing OURS???!!!!

Teaching him the nice things in life to do.

The answer is NO. There is never enough time.

Dad died of cancer when I was 19, so no, definitely not enough time. But he did what he could. At 65 I still miss you, Dad.

I think they spent lotsa quality time we didn’t see. Michael did great, and the two get along well

Farley taught Edgar right.

“And the cat’s in the cradle and the silver spoon, Little Boy Blue and the man in the moon…..”

“… when you coming home son, I don’t know when, but we’ll get together then, dad, you’ll know we’ll have a good time, then”

Never got to know my first as he was stillborn.

Farley will be remembered by his son.

My kids are the same age as Michael, and I’m starting to have similar thoughts. Missing their youth.

Makes sense that Farley reminds John of Michael.

Michael and Farley have the same hairiness, but Michael is more unkempt! :P

Copy,clip,and frame this strip. It amounts to a “goodbye message”

Cat’s in the cradle…

Me too. The way baby Edgar bounds after his Daddy

Dogs never live as long as we need them to. When they die the grief is agony. Hold your furbabies whilst you can