Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for March 22, 2024

Decisions.. Decisions.. It’s good they’re talking these things through. They’ll figure it out.

My gut feeling is we won’t be seeing a pregnant Toni for quite a while.

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So.. anyone else looking forward to seeing the new Ghostbusters movie that opens today? The trailer looks great. I am a big fan of the original 1984 movie.

They are getting down, to brass tacks, of the important details, of starting a family.

Toni is not pregnant, but she is already off wine. She may not understand that baby planning does not have the same dietary restrictions as actually being pregnant.

Toni is ready to have a baby, she has a past, she wants to nail everything down first. Brad is just thinking baby, he needs to get with Toni on how they will do this best for the baby and themselves. Toni may come across as over the top in planning, but she has cause.

I know TJ is tryna be nice but it feels a little cringe…

I really thought they were going to include TJ in some level since he’s been an acting housekeeper. But, absolutely, run it past him.

‘TJ I’m off wine. Jack Daniels, please..’

Who is this, the creepy butler?

Long history: family friend who lives with them.

Young couples shouldn’t have to buy a house before having a kid.

I wonder if TJ secretly videotapes Brad and Toni having marital relationships.

What we have here is an illustration of the state of the world today. The only people having kids are the ones who didn’t think it through to the point where they realized it’s not something they can handle.

They’re asking themselves good questions. Even which of them will work for money and which will care for the baby. How much longer will it take to save for the house they want? In today’s housing market that could be a long time! My personal opinion is if you want more than one child, it’s good to have them relatively close together, I remember as a little kid asking for a younger sister but they waited too long and she was 9 years younger than me and we ended up having very little in common. I envied my friend whose sister was only 2 years younger. I know it’s sexist to say but IMO it’s probably best if Mom stays home for a few years to care for them until the youngest is in school, then return to her career. But there are times when Dad is actually a better caretaker. I hope Brad and Toni can come up with answers they can both be happy with. It’s not easy!

Oh man, what a mood killer, Toni. Brad is not looking excited anymore and appears ready to say no to kids. I think your heavy rationalism wore him down. I know it had that effect on me. Hey Toni, most families are like that. Juggle and make things work. You and Brad will figure it out.

Responsible Parenting!

Bradley Degroot, house dad?

If people didn’t have kids until ready, the population would implode in a generation.

Having children is challenging. Not for the feint of heart.

I guess TJ is happy being their forever butler, housekeeper, chef and babysitter…

When and if Toni and Brad have a baby, I want to see how much baby sitting they get out of Jonah.

That not how most people have kids, under her plan nobody would ever get pregnant. I say, Go For It!

One more day of suspended depression.

The longer the cons of this discussions go on (I don’t detect any pros), the less likely B n T will be starting a family this week. Toni is doing all the talking, but Brad’s second frame expression speaks volumes.

“Just bring me the container of fresh ground roast and a spoon. I’ll eat it raw. Why dilute it?”

Days of Wine and Neuroses!

None of these choices are all that tough if they would just think LOGICALLY

If you wait until everything is perfect, you’ll never have that perfect little baby.

“By the way, TJ, we’re going to be kicking you out.”

You can rationalize your way out of doing anything.

Some LSD would be good though, TJ.

Either at some point in the past Toni must have looked into the maternity leave policy otherwise she did that pretty quickly between her test & Brad arriving home.

Can’t TJ give them some alone time for a change? Make himself scarce, as it were?

And how can they afford that live-in sommelier?

Is TJ’s official title now “houseboy”?

They’re already raising Shannon. What’s the big deal? And Mrs. DeGroot (and LuAnn) could both provide daycare and allow both of them to keep their firefighter jobs. Heck, even TJ could take over things – he’s there already!

One things for sure, they’re never letting TJ babysit. He’s too untrustworthy and sleazy to look after their little bundle of joy.

I’m losing a lot of respect for Brad. Toni shouldn’t have to be doing all the pragmatic fiscal planning for the future from a house to a kid. Nancy should have raised him better than this.

This is simple. The mother stays home with the children. The money will be fine with one earner. Do what families have always done – sacrifice for your children.

A firefighter earns good money and can easily support a family on one income.

I miss the other characters, would love to know where Ann is now, jail? Tiff and the others….

You don’t have to go off wine until you’re pregnant, Toni. ;-) Unlike the vitamins, there’s absolutely no need to get ahead of the game on that one, because your body processes alcohol very quickly. Unless you’re an alcoholic trying to quit (and that’s definitely worth doing!), an occasional glass of wine prior to attempting to conceive makes no difference whatsoever.

It’s nice to see some characters adulting here.

Brad doesn’t seem so sure anymore, while Toni continues to looks determined and begins her new diet regimen. I love the seriousness with which the topic is treated, too often in stories it just happens and the couple adapts, much better to see them discuss, see the difficulties and think about what they can do. I hope neither Brad nor Toni stop being firefighters. Dunno if they can have a second job, but with their great talent with engines they could work as mechanics, maybe even for the fire department or for the police.

Been wondering what these two were up to. Glad to see them discussing their future.

There’s something we aren’t being told!

Let’s get down to business! Fun and family later.

TJ would be a great help with a new baby! He’s a loved and trusted friend!

My wife was Hammered when our Super Genius Daughter was conceived. Didn’t hurt at all! Come on… Live a little Toni!

I suspect that they’re not going to be able to afford TJ for much longer.

Some adult needs to be with the baby all the time. Child care is very expensive. A couple really needs to decide who is going to take care of the baby before they decide to have one.

Their first decision should be to clamp down on TJ and tell him to butt out.

Politicians and conservatives: Why aren’t people having children? In the Good Old Days couples had three, four, five kids.

People who might have children: In the Good Old Days, one person was paid enough to support a spouse and children.

When she gets to reason number 839, Brad will be impotent.

It’s not like they’ll ever conceive anyway, what with TJ’s constant hovering as well as Toni’s changing the subject every time Brad suggests sex.

Best laid plans…..go out the window once the baby arrives. Why is she off wine if she’s not pregnant? I think we had this discussion years ago. They are surrounded by potential babysitters – the DeGroots, TJ, college kids who don’t seem to go to classes! ;-))

This is a really good example of what should happen….not what does happen!

I’m off wine, did she fib about her negative test, lol

TJ will be the Nanny, ala Zonker Harris!

She’s probably a Senator by now.

In planning on how to raise this potential child, Toni, have you forgotten one of Michelle Obama’s favorite proverbs? “It takes a village to raise a child.” You will have plenty of help, especially Frank and Nancy.

She’s getting TOO crazy! Split shifts is what they’re doing now. They seem to have plenty of time together. And the one thing she didn’t think about was Shannon. How would SHE react? And here’s TJ sticking his nose in again.

I found out when a coworker had a baby, that Family Leave allows you 12 weeks off, and if you have accrued sick leave, you can use it to get paid. In the PD, we have loads of sick time, and it was use it or lose it. So I talked my wife into having another baby (at 40, I was 42!) I got 12 weeks family leave, 5 weeks vacation, 5 personal days, and 6 accrued holidays. I got nearly 20 weeks off! My wife had the baby, and only got 8 weeks! I took the night shifts during that time!

I do love that they’re talking it through and hitting on all the important points—too many couples never do that, just ‘winging’ it.

They have yet to discuss one important resource: What are parents for…

And so it begins……

I’m so sorry it’s made the turn in this direction, I don’t even want to read it anymore. Life has got enough BS, then have to read it in an arc, no way.

And family, does that include AJ?

A baby changes everything — even the POSSIBILITY changes everything.

(So does the impossibility.)

Yawn

Since these make-believe characters each make upwards of $60-70k per year (they are well past rookie status), and they (ficticiously) live in a house where they don’t pay a mortgage (or very little), it seems to me that they would do just fine on one salary for a while. By now, they must have at least a couple hundred thousand saved. They don’t seem frivolous at all with their money. Brad would make a great stay-at-home dad, don’t you think?

OOPS… sorry to pop the make-believe comic strip characters bubble

Seems like they already have a built-in babysitter / cook / etc.

Sorry, but T.J.’s got to go if Brad is so intent on starting a family. Either that, or he could be the live-in babysitter.

I wonder if TJ’s presence at that moment is meant as foreshadowing that he will be the nanny?

I see TJ stepping in to be the childcare solution Ala Zonker in Doonsberry.

Toni is being sensible, but if everyone did that, none of us would be here!!

There is a lot to consider when deciding to start a family, but if you wait until you are ready, you will never be ready.

Can’t wait to see it, the trailer looks like fun, like the new people in it

Typical. Stupid Brad is such a child, he gets excited about “doing” something and doesn’t have the brains to think it through. He should have been the one to consider everything, not the least of which is his beautiful wife going through a dangerous and life changing event. When he kept bugging Toni to get pregnant did he ever give any of this a thought? No. And it’s sad that she has to school him on everything. AND GET RID OF TJ – He is just super creepy about all this. Is he going to sprinkle the rose petals on the bed as well? Stand outside and applaud when they leave the bedroom? He’s got a problem, and it’s called bro love.

When is Brad going to realize he needs to get, 1-a raise or 2-a second job or 3-an internet influence site with TJ.

Always such a treat to get another run of strips revolving around the idea of these two grunting away on each other.

TJ 1000% listens.

TJ will care for the child if it happens.

TJ, are you trying to solidify your position in the household because you can’t afford to move??

Years ago my Young Driver’s Safety card said ‘If you drink, don’t park. Accidents cause people.’

too much caffeine isn’t good either.

Sure you won’t want something stronger, Brad?

My oldest daughter said she wasn’t going to have any children “until they were completely financially secure”. Her younger sister had a baby girl. Three months after holding the baby my oldest daughter was pregnant.

Saturday: so, will they be too tired and worried to “start”?

If you wait till you can afford one, you’ll never have one.

She’s right. If a little overthinking, like everything else on this thread.

I’d rather see an attractive lady pushing 50 or even 60, rather than a baby carriage.

I worked 8-4:30, the wife worked 3-11:30 while we were raising our kids. It meant a small amount of overlap with daycare, but that just worked out to more socialization for the kids. It’s very doable.

Why is she off wine? She’s not pregnant yet.