For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for November 07, 2009

Note to Elly: Purchase typewriter and force John to take the kids out to lunch.

At my house there would be kitty paw prints here and there as well.

wait until Farley’s there sticking his nose under elbows for pats and attention as well! One dog can really mess up one’s typing and they can’t get in restaurants…

Her mother will understand since she and Phil were once little too.

A short pause, as I am thankful for word processors, email and cheap long distance calls. Others may miss the written word, but not people who have seen my handwriting.

@susan Why should Ellie use TV as a babysitter? That is absolutely the wrong thing to do. What she is doing is letting them be with her as she writes her letter, showing them the way words can go a long ways. Maybe Michel is now a blockbuster writer because his mother showed him the love of written words rather than the monotony and adverts on TV. And Lizzy should only be in a play pen when she can’t safely be about. Again, interaction with the environment helps build imaginative minds. No wonder so many children don’t know how to entertain themselves if that is the attitude of parents now.

I bet Grandma doesn’t mind knowing the kids “helped” write the letter. :)

I think it’s all cute except for Lizzie’s finger in Elly’s mouth. Yuck! I’ve always been adament about my kids not putting their fingers in anyone else’s face (eyes, nose, mouth), or their own.

This strip oozes out so much tenderness…

I love the finger in the mouth…its so realistic!

I have two portable Smith Corona typewriters that still work well. I am not selling them, however. I still write letters (some of them) by hand, too.

I too have two typewriters that still work…

I can totally understand this strip today as I have a 5 year old son and a 2 year old daughter. They love to “help” LOL

Typewriters are easy to find. I’ve seen lots of Selectrics in the last few months. Mostly in surplus stores and the like, of course. And Brother still makes typewriters, brand new.

You can find typewriters on ebay as well. And Susan, part of motherhood is allowing your kids to crawl all over you. Besides, even if she set them up with other activities while she wrote her letter, you can count on the fact that they will come over to investigate what she’s doing.

Looks like michaels enjoying the cookies, hopefully none of that milk got on the letter.

My cats occasionally add their comments to my emails and even to the chat room comments for my classes online.