Shannon has the right idea. There will always be work to do, and we do need to do it. But the Brad we see this week looks like he’s forgotten how to have fun.
’You’re right Shannon, I do needta have some fun. I’ll make a mess fingerpainting an you can do th laundry, wash dishes, wipe up my fingerpainting mess and sweep. Lemme introduce you to Mr. Broom’s best friend. Mr. Vacuum Cleaner!’
Because, Brad, you and your wife have never told the brat (yes, I’m using that word; deal with it) “no,” nor have you ever taught her how to do chores?
I’ll go out on a limb with a prediction that next week will be about Toni having on-on-one time with Shannon. But I have no idea what direction G&K will take things after that (or instead of that, if the limb snaps).
Guesses, anyone?
I think this story line is about what it’s like for Brad and Toni to have charge of Shannon for an extended period, so I don’t expect a whole week devoted to showing Shannon frazzling TJ’s nerves, or Luann’s, or Bernice’s, or Nancy’s and/or Frank’s. On the other hand, since we’ve been told she’s visiting for a month, I don’t expect that the strip of Monday 8/19 will switch to a completely different arc.
I’d sternly say to Shannon she created more mess for me to clean. Since I have a lot of other stuff to do and this is the mess you made, you clean it up then hand her a wash rag – no paper towel. She’d use the whole roll for something other than wiping milk off the table.
’C’mon Brad lets have some fun! Let’s take aunt Toni’s Subaru out to th demolition derby. We can fingerpaint some numbers on the roof an doors. Can I pick the number?’
So it looks like she filled a cereal bowl with milk – and then flipped the bowl over so it all spilled onto the table, creating a huge mess that Brad will now have to deal with.
Impressive, Shannon hasn’t even been there 24 hours and she’s already created all that laundry to wash. She really doesn’t seem to understand the consequences of her actions, the only thing she wants to do is play with her uncle. I hope that during this month Shannon can learn to play on her own without causing too much damage, but Brad and Toni also have to learb how to propose activities to her. I hate to admit it, but they should do as Bernice did when she convinced her to write a book.
Make that child clean up her own messes and you’ll be doing her and everyone else a favor. A kid her age has no business upsetting her food and playing in it like an infant in a highchair. Everyone feels sorry for her but enabling her bratty behavior is only making her worse.And yes, I do know it’s just a comic strip.
Brad tells her “NO!” Shannon runs away, rest of arc is trying to find her, shows up safe and sound just in time for her worthless father to retrieve her and never trust Brad and Toni with her again. Now that I could enjoy.
I’m just checking out .if this story line continues next week, I ‘ll skip that too. she’s out of control and not in an amusing/insightful way. I resent noah/jonah as much as brad does and see no point in hanging around for it.
So, Brad… now you get to see how much work and stress comes with having just ONE precocious, fussy kid living with you entails. Are you sure you want to be serving pizza panacake sprinkled with popcorn and melted ice cream drizzle to FOUR little kids… while Toni is pregnant with twins?
Purposely dumping her bowlof cereal out on the table needs to be met with swft and memorable punishment. A thirty minute timeout (can’t spank her, which she needs, because she’s not Brad’s daughter) sitting in the corner with no talking, toys, etc. and then required to clean up the mess herself.
She needs a direct talk right there and then about (1) not deliberately making a mess, (2) not wasting food (with what groceries cost these days!), (3) cleaning up her own mess (handing her the necessary rags or paper towels), and (4) no dessert with lunch or dinner that day.
By not giving her discipline, they enabled this…I know, she’s not their child. But I know if I acted a fool at my aunt’s house, there would be….consequences
Good birth control. My 4 year old neice was here for an overnight visit last weekend and after she left (a long melty getting her in the car to go.) we both commented on the joys of being childless. Fun visit and a joyful parting.
What happened? This strip use to be about young teens with big dreams, and a sexy, self centered bimbo. Now, we’ve got a lot of depressed, older teens, a sadly deflated Tiffany, and a hen pecked older brother doomed to clean house and baby sit for his wife’s irritating niece.
They’re acting like this is the first time Brad and Toni have kept Shannon. She stays there all the time. They gave Shannon her own room. It’s never been for a month, so a few weeks in, I could see them having trouble. But this just ignores the whole history of the strip.
“Or you could help fold your own clothes”, said no one in this strip. While it’s nice she wants Brad to take a break, she’s created another mess for him to clean up. Sometimes, in cases like this…thinking of a past paper roll fiasco, Toni would probably join in with the finger painting and leave Brad to finish the dishes, too. =:-o
Yup little kids are a handful all right, just like being around my niece & nephew who are in kindergarten and 2nd grade. Non stop mess, but still fun, it’s all a matter of attitude. And of course having the energy to deal ! Fun week !
Regardless of Shannon’s behavior (which will hopefully be corrected), she just found out what adulthood is really like. It’s all chores, especially if you are a parent.
Shannon. Your Uncle Brad would love to take time, and, have fun. But with your Aunt Toni being on shift, that means he gets to keep you in clean clothes, and, feed you, on top of all the chores he does when Toni’s on shift. And, when Brad’s on shift, it’s Toni’s turn. Maybe when they’re both off, they can take time for fun.
The olive episode yesterday and now the milk fingerprint today lends themseveles to folks not liking Shannon.
However, I tend to believe that the folks who “hate” Shannon are not really hating her….. she is a kid, after all. What they are actually hating is that Shannon is always getting to continually behave in a poor fashion WITHOUT receiving actual guidance (parenting) on how to behave and become a better kid. It makes folks frustrated (including me at times) that she rarely receives the guidance she NEEDS to become a kid people will generally be far more fond of.
Well, Brad, you wanted kids! This is good practice. What do you think your own kids will be like? (Hint: NOT like the little fantasy comic from a few weeks ago).
It occurs to me that Toni didn’t want kids; but she had been a parent to Shannon her entire life. Brad wanted lots of kids; but he had only babysat Shannon (and we’ve seen him and TJ participate in Shannon’s shenanigans more than once). Now that Brad goes through the parenting part, will we actually see something change?
Pointspread 5 months ago
Yes time for her to learn about work.
Cheapskate0 5 months ago
Shannon has the right idea. There will always be work to do, and we do need to do it. But the Brad we see this week looks like he’s forgotten how to have fun.
Is that a reflection on G&K?
lvlax 5 months ago
They need to lay down some ground rules if they want to get through this month with their sanity in place.
Shannon lacks discipline. Brad should give her some easy chores to do. Pull a Tom Sawyer and make them seem fun.
I wonder when they’re gonna ask Nancy and Frank to help out?
Wilkins068 5 months ago
Oopsie Brad, th cereal bowl’s upside down! Let’s paint our fingers!
Rhetorical_Question 5 months ago
Brad is doing Shannon’s laundry. Did Jonah do the laundry?
snsurone76 5 months ago
It’s brat-timeout time!
Wilkins068 5 months ago
’You’re right Shannon, I do needta have some fun. I’ll make a mess fingerpainting an you can do th laundry, wash dishes, wipe up my fingerpainting mess and sweep. Lemme introduce you to Mr. Broom’s best friend. Mr. Vacuum Cleaner!’
live2read 5 months ago
Because, Brad, you and your wife have never told the brat (yes, I’m using that word; deal with it) “no,” nor have you ever taught her how to do chores?
Just sayin’. . .
kenhense 5 months ago
Make a large lemonade and set her in front of the TV.
howtheduck 5 months ago
Finger painting sounds great. Maybe she can finger paint a picture of Monstro and Puddles. That would be perfect.
outonalimb 5 months ago
I’ll go out on a limb with a prediction that next week will be about Toni having on-on-one time with Shannon. But I have no idea what direction G&K will take things after that (or instead of that, if the limb snaps).
Guesses, anyone?
I think this story line is about what it’s like for Brad and Toni to have charge of Shannon for an extended period, so I don’t expect a whole week devoted to showing Shannon frazzling TJ’s nerves, or Luann’s, or Bernice’s, or Nancy’s and/or Frank’s. On the other hand, since we’ve been told she’s visiting for a month, I don’t expect that the strip of Monday 8/19 will switch to a completely different arc.
9thCapricorn 5 months ago
I’d sternly say to Shannon she created more mess for me to clean. Since I have a lot of other stuff to do and this is the mess you made, you clean it up then hand her a wash rag – no paper towel. She’d use the whole roll for something other than wiping milk off the table.
Uncle Kenny 5 months ago
All work and no play makes Brad a dull boy!
redhawk1138 5 months ago
shannon needs to get whipped into shape, not literal but she needs to be disciplined and set straight.
Argythree 5 months ago
Maybe this arc is meant to teach Brad that he really isn’t ready for kids yet, after all…
Wilkins068 5 months ago
’C’mon Brad lets have some fun! Let’s take aunt Toni’s Subaru out to th demolition derby. We can fingerpaint some numbers on the roof an doors. Can I pick the number?’
MichaelAxelFleming 5 months ago
ANNOYING ≠ FUNNY
comic reader 22 5 months ago
This is really stupid.
OneTime59 5 months ago
Don’t let Shannon help Brad fold laundry now.
sueb1863 5 months ago
So it looks like she filled a cereal bowl with milk – and then flipped the bowl over so it all spilled onto the table, creating a huge mess that Brad will now have to deal with.
She needs a child psychologist.
The Reader Premium Member 5 months ago
She loses! (She painted more than one finger.)
Philly1115 5 months ago
Ugh I’m sick of this arc already.
Aladar30 Premium Member 5 months ago
Impressive, Shannon hasn’t even been there 24 hours and she’s already created all that laundry to wash. She really doesn’t seem to understand the consequences of her actions, the only thing she wants to do is play with her uncle. I hope that during this month Shannon can learn to play on her own without causing too much damage, but Brad and Toni also have to learb how to propose activities to her. I hate to admit it, but they should do as Bernice did when she convinced her to write a book.
GirlGeek Premium Member 5 months ago
Can she at least pretend to care?
chris_o42 5 months ago
Make that child clean up her own messes and you’ll be doing her and everyone else a favor. A kid her age has no business upsetting her food and playing in it like an infant in a highchair. Everyone feels sorry for her but enabling her bratty behavior is only making her worse.And yes, I do know it’s just a comic strip.
treutvid 5 months ago
Brad tells her “NO!” Shannon runs away, rest of arc is trying to find her, shows up safe and sound just in time for her worthless father to retrieve her and never trust Brad and Toni with her again. Now that I could enjoy.
NeedaChuckle Premium Member 5 months ago
I was a kid, I had kid friends when I was a kid. I knew I never wanted kids when I grew up.
comic reader 22 5 months ago
G&K go too far with “exaggeration for effect”. This story is just stupid and annoying now.
basspro 5 months ago
I’m done with this particular arc, thanks but no thanks.
Wizard of Ahz-no relation 5 months ago
I’m just checking out .if this story line continues next week, I ‘ll skip that too. she’s out of control and not in an amusing/insightful way. I resent noah/jonah as much as brad does and see no point in hanging around for it.
DaBump Premium Member 5 months ago
They say a skunk never smells its own stink. Of course, that’s just an old saying.
percheronhitch6 5 months ago
Shannon needs her own strip—Feral Girl Unleashed. As for me, wake me up when she’s gone.
French Persons' Celebration of Peeved Harry Dinkle Premium Member 5 months ago
So when did she start calling him “Uncle Brad” as opposed to just “b-WAD”?
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace 5 months ago
Introduce my beloved Shannon to the joys of chores.
French Persons' Celebration of Peeved Harry Dinkle Premium Member 5 months ago
So, Brad… now you get to see how much work and stress comes with having just ONE precocious, fussy kid living with you entails. Are you sure you want to be serving pizza panacake sprinkled with popcorn and melted ice cream drizzle to FOUR little kids… while Toni is pregnant with twins?
Ellis97 5 months ago
Maybe you could give your Uncle Brad a hand, Shannon?
ctolson 5 months ago
Purposely dumping her bowlof cereal out on the table needs to be met with swft and memorable punishment. A thirty minute timeout (can’t spank her, which she needs, because she’s not Brad’s daughter) sitting in the corner with no talking, toys, etc. and then required to clean up the mess herself.
grocks 5 months ago
She needs a direct talk right there and then about (1) not deliberately making a mess, (2) not wasting food (with what groceries cost these days!), (3) cleaning up her own mess (handing her the necessary rags or paper towels), and (4) no dessert with lunch or dinner that day.
The Anderson 5 months ago
Shannon needs to have the seat of her pants heated up.
elliel203 5 months ago
By not giving her discipline, they enabled this…I know, she’s not their child. But I know if I acted a fool at my aunt’s house, there would be….consequences
southernmeemaw 5 months ago
I’m tired of this already.
ImDaRealAni 5 months ago
And the cleaning…
Yuban333 5 months ago
At least she says “Brad”, and not " Bwad".
tremaine53 5 months ago
And THAT was the moment when Brad understood he didn’t want children.
Call me Ishmael 5 months ago
“In my day, that child would already have three years of experience in the coal mine !” /s
Plumb.Bob Premium Member 5 months ago
Good birth control. My 4 year old neice was here for an overnight visit last weekend and after she left (a long melty getting her in the car to go.) we both commented on the joys of being childless. Fun visit and a joyful parting.
MuddyUSA Premium Member 5 months ago
Now there is a real pain in the butt………….holy crap!
[Unnamed Reader - 74419e] 5 months ago
G&K need to know when a joke has run its course. This arc is already stale
BJShipley1 5 months ago
So she deliberately dumped over her cereal and is now smearing the mess around the table? Now can we call her a brat?
rbullfogg 5 months ago
That girl is almost beyond help! Do something quick!
nightflight 5 months ago
What happened? This strip use to be about young teens with big dreams, and a sexy, self centered bimbo. Now, we’ve got a lot of depressed, older teens, a sadly deflated Tiffany, and a hen pecked older brother doomed to clean house and baby sit for his wife’s irritating niece.
mindjob 5 months ago
Maybe bread making is in Shannon’s future
billdaviswords 5 months ago
GREG AND KAREN… ENOUGH WITH THE BRATTY SHANNON ARC!!
Mam58 Premium Member 4 months ago
They’re acting like this is the first time Brad and Toni have kept Shannon. She stays there all the time. They gave Shannon her own room. It’s never been for a month, so a few weeks in, I could see them having trouble. But this just ignores the whole history of the strip.
KEA 4 months ago
A lesson in why not to have children
Lord King Wazmo Premium Member 4 months ago
My Gawd, could that little twerp BE more irritating?
Ontman 4 months ago
Give me Alice Otterloop any day.
YorkGirl Premium Member 4 months ago
“Or you could help fold your own clothes”, said no one in this strip. While it’s nice she wants Brad to take a break, she’s created another mess for him to clean up. Sometimes, in cases like this…thinking of a past paper roll fiasco, Toni would probably join in with the finger painting and leave Brad to finish the dishes, too. =:-o
chaosed2 4 months ago
I tend to lay into people for complaining about this strip, but this week has been the same joke recycled over and over.
dayle2 4 months ago
Look up the word “brat” in the dictionary (or to be more up-to-date, Google Images) and you get a picture of Shannon
lnrokr55 4 months ago
Yup little kids are a handful all right, just like being around my niece & nephew who are in kindergarten and 2nd grade. Non stop mess, but still fun, it’s all a matter of attitude. And of course having the energy to deal ! Fun week !
lanainutahdesert 4 months ago
Wow! Talk about an out-of-control cartoon character! I don’t know how Brad does it.
The Quiet One 4 months ago
It’s true Shannon, adulting isn’t a lot of fun.
tammyspeakslife Premium Member 4 months ago
Shannon needs more structure and Brad isn’t a trained child care worker.
My sister got to ‘finger paint’ using chocolate pudding when she was little. My stepmom was a trained childcare worker.
jbarnes 4 months ago
Regardless of Shannon’s behavior (which will hopefully be corrected), she just found out what adulthood is really like. It’s all chores, especially if you are a parent.
WilliamVollmer 4 months ago
Shannon. Your Uncle Brad would love to take time, and, have fun. But with your Aunt Toni being on shift, that means he gets to keep you in clean clothes, and, feed you, on top of all the chores he does when Toni’s on shift. And, when Brad’s on shift, it’s Toni’s turn. Maybe when they’re both off, they can take time for fun.
Dale 15 4 months ago
What is the modern day equivalent of white washing a fence?
Caldonia 4 months ago
What an adorable child. (I am being sarcastic.) And what a great dad Brad will be. (I am being sarcastic.)
Pipe Tobacco 4 months ago
The olive episode yesterday and now the milk fingerprint today lends themseveles to folks not liking Shannon.
However, I tend to believe that the folks who “hate” Shannon are not really hating her….. she is a kid, after all. What they are actually hating is that Shannon is always getting to continually behave in a poor fashion WITHOUT receiving actual guidance (parenting) on how to behave and become a better kid. It makes folks frustrated (including me at times) that she rarely receives the guidance she NEEDS to become a kid people will generally be far more fond of.
Riskfinder Premium Member 4 months ago
Summer day camp?
HodgeElmwood 4 months ago
Well, Brad, you wanted kids! This is good practice. What do you think your own kids will be like? (Hint: NOT like the little fantasy comic from a few weeks ago).
nathenleeturner 4 months ago
She’s a sweet kid. But no way I could take her for more then a single weekend.
pearlyqim 4 months ago
Brat!
Joe1962 4 months ago
I don’t know if ground rules would work.
diazch408 4 months ago
Shannon does have a point.
(Meh) 4 months ago
It occurs to me that Toni didn’t want kids; but she had been a parent to Shannon her entire life. Brad wanted lots of kids; but he had only babysat Shannon (and we’ve seen him and TJ participate in Shannon’s shenanigans more than once). Now that Brad goes through the parenting part, will we actually see something change?
[Unnamed Reader - 14b4ce] 4 months ago
Tomorrow,Jonathan and Martha Kent drop off Superbaby for the weekend
PaulLeckner 4 months ago
Let’s play clean the house.