Cons: Jonah takes no responsibility for his daughter; long-time separation between the two; lack of sleep and privacy for Toni and Brad—who both work. I could go on.
Time to talk this out, what is Shannon’s future. Are you part of it, some of it, or all of it. You need to decide this together and how it affects your future.
Jonah needs to get a regular job with compensation and hire a sitter when needed. It looks like his acting shots never amounted to much financially. Brad & Toni have volunteered enough. Shannon should be in school some of the time.
It’s Brad and Toni’s fault for letting Shannon walk all over them. If you can’t control a kid and not have them be a whirling banshee in your own home, then you shouldn’t be parents. I wouldn’t give a hoot how she acted for Jonah but she wouldn’t act like that for me
I wonder what is happening with Mrs. Horner. When last we left her she was slowly dying from some ill-defined “Kidney” problem. Has she gotten sicker? Or died? Has she returned to teaching? I wish we had some answers to these questions.
Obviously Jonah is taking advantage of his sister, but his profession involves long absences, and he clearly isn’t interested in finding a spouse right now.
And if he’s not making a decent living now, who’s going to pay for Shannon’s college later? One guess.
The point is that Brad and Tony get more experience being parents. Maybe someday they can stick Jonah with babysitter duty. He won’t be getting as much acting work when he’s older.
It’s looking more and more sure that Toni and Brad will keep Shannon throughout August. It’s going to be a busy month and I can already imagine that Luann will help them a lot, as will Frank and Nancy. Let’s hope it will be a positive thing for the whole family.
It shouldn’t be a big deal for them to have Shannon live with them. She has her room and her stuff there, and they have people who can watch her when they’re at work.
Yes, Shannon can be more than a handful. But, Brad, you’re making it sound like it’s a Mission: Impossible op. Think of it this way, if you can effectively parent Shannon for a month, you’re more than ready to be a parent of one of your own.
The first two are both wrong. YOU didn’t raise her. Her behavior won’t be anything like your experiences (For that matter, your experiences won’t be the same for each of your OWN kids!) Only your patience will be tested. Really, the only pro is, it’s beneficial for Shannon. Helping Jonah is not a pro for you.
The fact that this is the first time Shannon would stay with them for that length of time tells me that she is with her father far more than the readership has assumed. As for critiquing his choice of work, both Brad and Toni have very high risk jobs with long hours. Perhaps Brad should consider getting an office job before starting a family?
Just imagine how many Shannons there will be now that many states are forcing women to have children. And, many of the Shannons won’t be as lucky as this one is, having an aunt and uncle who will care for her. Ditto for Seans.
As a friend of mine once put it: “Kids…. Every aspect your life that’s disallowed by nap schedules, diaper genies, bed/bath routines, potty training, paying for childcare, school pickups/drop-offs, homework tantrums, attitude, slamming doors and cabinets, crashing around the house, never-ending laundry, continuous cooking for ungrateful whiners and picky eaters, insane meltdowns over screen time, refusing to go to bed, refusing to get out of bed and go to school, trashing the house, always-present dirty dishes, Driver’s Ed, endless sporting or performance practices/games/events, the never-ending/omnipresent f**king CONSTANT NOISE… and that’s not to touch on the lack of free time, insane financial drain, psychotic exhaustion, resentment of a spouse who I am most likely only staying married to because of the kids, ruining your life and bending to the ever-present entitlement for little people taking up space in your house who make messes and pay no rent that you will definitely love but may not like very much. For me, it’s a HARD PASS. I’m well-rested, mentally-balanced and my 401k and Roth IRA are well-funded.”
It has certainly taken them long enough to openly admit that they don’t particularly like Shannon. And I am here for all of it. Next stop, Shannon eavesdrops and realizes she’s terrible.
Cheapskate0 5 months ago
Lame.
beb01 5 months ago
Oh Gawd, the torture never stops.
chief tommy 5 months ago
Welcome back real Brad and Toni — I think from the comments last week we all appreciate having you home (G and K too)
Mordock999 Premium Member 5 months ago
The New DeGroots should take a tip from line in the first Godfather movie, and start presenting Jonah a “BILL for their services.”
After all, DEADBEAT Jonah is taking advantage of them.
So “family” or no “family” Brad and Toni should be getting paid. IMO. ;-)
Joe1962 5 months ago
Toni you just threw your niece under the bus!
mnexplorer+ 5 months ago
Yeah, that’s one BIG con!
9thCapricorn 5 months ago
I think Brad doesn’t mind having Shannon for a month but is putting on an act for Toni.
Ruth Brown 5 months ago
Cons: Jonah takes no responsibility for his daughter; long-time separation between the two; lack of sleep and privacy for Toni and Brad—who both work. I could go on.
Doneaver 5 months ago
Time to talk this out, what is Shannon’s future. Are you part of it, some of it, or all of it. You need to decide this together and how it affects your future.
Last Rose Of Summer Premium Member 5 months ago
Nah…they’re never having kids.
kenhense 5 months ago
Brad & Toni have already accomplished the pros.
French Persons Premium Member 5 months ago
Like you don’t get all the “pro’s” When Shannon comes over for the day, or a weekend?
kenhense 5 months ago
Jonah needs to get a regular job with compensation and hire a sitter when needed. It looks like his acting shots never amounted to much financially. Brad & Toni have volunteered enough. Shannon should be in school some of the time.
PaulAbbott2 5 months ago
It’s Brad and Toni’s fault for letting Shannon walk all over them. If you can’t control a kid and not have them be a whirling banshee in your own home, then you shouldn’t be parents. I wouldn’t give a hoot how she acted for Jonah but she wouldn’t act like that for me
Uncle Kenny 5 months ago
And one other con—one month could easily turn into six. Or a year.
SHIVA 5 months ago
Bwad & Toni MUST sit down with Jonah and lay it on the line. No one likes being conned into a disruptive change like he’s imposing on them!!!
snsurone76 5 months ago
That’s enough! In fact, MORE than enough!!
j_m_kuehl 5 months ago
Or practice unloading Shannon, on LuAnn and parents
drewpamon 5 months ago
Isn’t it a bit late for this analysis?
MarieStanford 5 months ago
Thank God we’re back to normal characters, I was getting worried! lol
eromlig 5 months ago
Welcome back, Greg and Karen! PLEASE don’t leave us again!!
Wilkins068 5 months ago
‘And the cons?’
’There’s only one. Ann Eiffel..’
beb01 5 months ago
I wonder what is happening with Mrs. Horner. When last we left her she was slowly dying from some ill-defined “Kidney” problem. Has she gotten sicker? Or died? Has she returned to teaching? I wish we had some answers to these questions.
ChristopherLyons 5 months ago
Obviously Jonah is taking advantage of his sister, but his profession involves long absences, and he clearly isn’t interested in finding a spouse right now.
And if he’s not making a decent living now, who’s going to pay for Shannon’s college later? One guess.
The point is that Brad and Tony get more experience being parents. Maybe someday they can stick Jonah with babysitter duty. He won’t be getting as much acting work when he’s older.
Shirl Summ Premium Member 5 months ago
That’s a handful for sure.
sueb1863 5 months ago
Do they know if Jonah even has somewhere else for Shannon to go? My guess is he doesn’t.
leighabc123 5 months ago
That con outweighs the pros!
tremaine53 5 months ago
If they decide to take on Shannon for a month… that might be an excellent time to go on a 30 Day Luann Fast.
Ignatz Premium Member 5 months ago
Hey! What happened to the old art? I’m never reading this again!
DawnQuinn1 5 months ago
Toni and Brad should learn the one word answer when asked to take care of Shannon…for the one thousandth time…NO!!!
Chris 5 months ago
if she’s been there longer than that then what’s the problem… :\
Darryl Heine 5 months ago
Guess this ends 2 weeks of Jay Fosgitt art for Luann.
Doug K 5 months ago
It’s not just a matter of Quantity of Pros and Cons.
It’s also a matter of the Quality of those Pros and Cons.
That one Con has a Quality that comes in a large Quantity.mindjob 5 months ago
Also not getting enough sleep with all that racket and having to shop for groceries every day
Ellis97 5 months ago
Sounds like the pros outweigh the cons. Too bad that one con is having Shannon basically live with them.
Just-me 5 months ago
Sitting someone else’s kid for a few days is one thing; for a month is quite another.
Aladar30 Premium Member 5 months ago
It’s looking more and more sure that Toni and Brad will keep Shannon throughout August. It’s going to be a busy month and I can already imagine that Luann will help them a lot, as will Frank and Nancy. Let’s hope it will be a positive thing for the whole family.
comic reader 22 5 months ago
It shouldn’t be a big deal for them to have Shannon live with them. She has her room and her stuff there, and they have people who can watch her when they’re at work.
baskate_2000 5 months ago
Hallelujah — back to the real world of Toni and Brad!
WilliamVollmer 5 months ago
Yes, Shannon can be more than a handful. But, Brad, you’re making it sound like it’s a Mission: Impossible op. Think of it this way, if you can effectively parent Shannon for a month, you’re more than ready to be a parent of one of your own.
hoffquotes2 5 months ago
The “pros” seem to be artificially created except for beneficial to family
BJShipley1 5 months ago
How is it parenting practice when they refuse to act as parents and give the kid any discipline?
Tenax 5 months ago
Sometimes, one is enough.
MuddyUSA Premium Member 5 months ago
His answer speaks volumes…..as he stares at her lovely legs laying on his lap…….
Lord King Wazmo Premium Member 5 months ago
Another con: irritating readers who still follow your barfy storylines.
kjnrun 5 months ago
This is funny. Good, simply comic to make one laugh.
IBGumby 5 months ago
Lake Tahoe is nice this time of year.
jconnors3954 5 months ago
So what happens to Shannon if they so no?
tcayer 5 months ago
The first two are both wrong. YOU didn’t raise her. Her behavior won’t be anything like your experiences (For that matter, your experiences won’t be the same for each of your OWN kids!) Only your patience will be tested. Really, the only pro is, it’s beneficial for Shannon. Helping Jonah is not a pro for you.
kauri44 5 months ago
The fact that this is the first time Shannon would stay with them for that length of time tells me that she is with her father far more than the readership has assumed. As for critiquing his choice of work, both Brad and Toni have very high risk jobs with long hours. Perhaps Brad should consider getting an office job before starting a family?
comix4joyce 5 months ago
when can we go back to the “real” cartoons? This is boring…
EMGULS79 5 months ago
BACK TO REALITY! YAAAAAY!!!
candomarty Premium Member 5 months ago
Whatever the story line, it’s so good to have “Luann” back. I don’t even know what that other thing was.
alexius23 5 months ago
If this has been mentioned before….what ever happened to Shannon’s Mother?
mfought 5 months ago
those legs are telling a story of their own
mark spieller Premium Member 5 months ago
The party’s over and we return you from a 60s sitcom to the comic strip in progress.
pearlyqim 5 months ago
Don’t do it!!
pearlyqim 5 months ago
It’s only good parenting practice and useful experience if you plan on your kid/s being a brat like her!
Saurischia 5 months ago
Just imagine how many Shannons there will be now that many states are forcing women to have children. And, many of the Shannons won’t be as lucky as this one is, having an aunt and uncle who will care for her. Ditto for Seans.
[Unnamed Reader - 14b4ce] 5 months ago
NO FAIR “SWITCHING”.
I was waiting for the wife on MY THREE SONS to have her triplets!!
French Persons Premium Member 5 months ago
As a friend of mine once put it: “Kids…. Every aspect your life that’s disallowed by nap schedules, diaper genies, bed/bath routines, potty training, paying for childcare, school pickups/drop-offs, homework tantrums, attitude, slamming doors and cabinets, crashing around the house, never-ending laundry, continuous cooking for ungrateful whiners and picky eaters, insane meltdowns over screen time, refusing to go to bed, refusing to get out of bed and go to school, trashing the house, always-present dirty dishes, Driver’s Ed, endless sporting or performance practices/games/events, the never-ending/omnipresent f**king CONSTANT NOISE… and that’s not to touch on the lack of free time, insane financial drain, psychotic exhaustion, resentment of a spouse who I am most likely only staying married to because of the kids, ruining your life and bending to the ever-present entitlement for little people taking up space in your house who make messes and pay no rent that you will definitely love but may not like very much. For me, it’s a HARD PASS. I’m well-rested, mentally-balanced and my 401k and Roth IRA are well-funded.”
[Unnamed Reader - 14b4ce] 5 months ago
Jonah is a slang word for “Jinx”
kapppazei 5 months ago
Welcome back :)
Call me Ishmael 5 months ago
“An hour is enough of anything.” – Voltaire. “ A minute of Shannon is more than enough.” – Moi
kaffekup 5 months ago
They are correct about that. We take care of our grandson from Saturday noon to Sunday noon, and it’s exhausting.
MemaJean 5 months ago
Time for a lawyer to start guardianship/adoption processing. Jonah would have to pay child support or some restitution. Either that or a flat no.
eced52 5 months ago
Don’t you mean having a whirling dervish all month?
Mise Féin 5 months ago
Yay
JonnyT 5 months ago
It has certainly taken them long enough to openly admit that they don’t particularly like Shannon. And I am here for all of it. Next stop, Shannon eavesdrops and realizes she’s terrible.
oakie817 5 months ago
aw…you guys love her
JPuzzleWhiz 5 months ago
Is “Greg 7-8” a Pro or a Con? d;o)
Caldonia 5 months ago
But you’ve had years to “practice” on Shannon, and you both know nothing.
Susan123 5 months ago
I love Toni.
Frankie Harvey-Shea 5 months ago
Con: settling precedence for future child dumping expectations by Jonah. Brad doesn’t need to learn how to be a father—Jonah does.
HodgeElmwood 5 months ago
What about summer camp? Even a day camp would at least get her out of the house for a while!
stillfickled Premium Member 5 months ago
I’m wondering why Brad is just sitting there with his arms crossed.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace 5 months ago
As if that’s a con.
Sweet Shannon!!
drewpamon 5 months ago
What happened to the twins?