For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for September 12, 2009

If she wants to have a part time job, she should be allowed to go out and get one.

John looks more wistful than argumentative.

John should really stay away from Ted….that’s all I have to say.

Okay then…how about you have a job, bake cookies and pick up socks?

Allowed?

Cheer up John; It will be much easier for you to cheat on Ellie if she has a regular work schedule!

There is no “allowed” about it. She is a human being, and has every right to have a job, and nothing John (nor any other man) says can change that.

Go get ‘em tigress! (or is that “cougar” hah)

Is that why you haven’t learned to pick up your own socks, Mr. Dentist?

Allan, you go boy! Cleo, it needs to be a joint effort and maybe he’s lazy.

I was brought up only a few years before this and my mother worked full time, cooked every meal, drove me places, did all the babycare/school stuff, and was the only one who lifted a finger to clean anything. It’s not that unusual. My husband helps more, and I stay at home

Knowing my parents, it wasn’t a question working or not, it was most sensible to watch me for a few years and economically sensible to get a job when I went to school, and that is what my mother did.

I love that nowadays, you can decide what you want to do based on what you’re good at and need- both work, Mom work, Dad work…. whatever.

I don’t mind baking cookies but picking up someone else’s socks is demeaning. And no she shouldn’t have to ask for permission, he’s her husband, not her father.

I second what 4deer said:

ALLOWED???

hildigunnur: about your comment yesterday. Amen to that. I have been close to saying the same thing myself. Bless you. Too bad employers do not think like you. A lot of women my age would get hired. I am pt with the county answer phones and major files/ scanning, and other jobs. I hope Elli knows with pt there is no SL or V. County your hours are limited to a 1,000 for one status 1,500 another status. I am 1st status :(. John also sound like my husband at times. He like me grew up with mom at home. I wanted to break that sterio type when my two got old enough to take care of getting around for school. Didn’t work out that way. Once again my apolgies to the readers. This is a sore subject with me.

RinaFarina: read my comments from yesterdays post. That and this should answer your questions on my feelings I hope. I know my boss will not see this he knows nothing about gocomics. And my username is different.

My mother was a workaholic who hated the domestic part of marriage (cooking, cleaning, etc.). Her paycheck, along with my dad’s, afforded us to be able to take day trips on the weekends and do other things besides stay home and watch the television. It also paid for a lady who needed the money to do the “chores” my mother disliked.

Ash - I was joking for crying out loud.

Interesting that John’s mom was a stay-at-home according to this strip, then years later when Lynn posted Carrie’s biography on the fbofw website, she was not - at least not until John was 17.

Ok, apparently I wasnt paying close enough attention to what I was typing. What I meant to say was that if she has a job, it isnt hurting anyone, only helping with the extra income. Sorry if I offended anyone, it was unintentional.

L.E. May: Just wanted to mention that it doesn’t necessarily take extra money to do things besides stay home and watch television. My mom stayed at home for years, and my dad’s job was decent, but not high paying, and we still regularly went out as a family, not always to expensive places, but we always did things together. I didn’t start watching TV on a regular basis until my mom started tutoring after school

After my brother and I were old enough, Mom got a job, running a savings stamp company (like S & H Green Stamps). I not only did not feel neglected, I was immensely proud of her. And when I was out of town on business, my wife got a job at a local radio station, as a disc jockey, without consulting me. Her friend at the station asked her if that was going to be a problem with me…and she told him, No, he’ll be proud of me…and I was! I’ve been so fortunate to have many women in my life…two daughters, sisters-in-law, who are strong and competent women, with happy marriages, I really feel blessed. And bless you ladies who not only have jobs, but also care for your homes, with husband and children…don’t know how you “juggle all those balls”, but thank God you do!

M. Roberts: Got it; no problem. Thanks. Bob W: Aww. JanCinVV: Oh, there are always going to be discrepancies between any creative work and the real life upon which it is based.

John seems like a real jerk. Maybe Ellie’s the one who should be cheating?

Honestly, just looking at the expressions on John’s face, I just want to punch him!

wow wrong answer…

4deer, your welcome.

Allowed?!? John has no authority over her! She is an adult, not his child.

@kab2rb, got it. thanx for the explanation.

Rowena, I already apologised for that. What I meant to say was that if she wants a job, she shouldnt be stopped. The extra income will help out, no matter how much or how little. What I wanted to say, and what I said are two different things. I have already apologised to those who I offended, this could be considered a second one. I’m not doing it again. To those who are mad, I understand, but read my 2nd post.

Well, John, get a life. Elly isn’t your mother!

cleokaya said, about 18 hours ago

Okay then…how about you have a job, bake cookies and pick up socks?

cleokaya, That sounds like my life….

I know many people will be offended by this but, I think one parent should stay at home when children are that young and only go to work when they are in upper elementary/ jr. high.

I don’t care if it is the father or the mother. In my belief that one parent should be there at all times. Young children need a parent there to show them the basic skills before they get to school and even in school need support until they understand how to be successful.

If people don’t want to or are financially unable to do this, don’t have kids. Simple.

Wolfdreamer, thats a good point.

My mother had to go out to work to help bring in more income when I was a kid. So she’s told me lately - but not only did I not feel neglected, she worked when I was at school and I barely noticed that there were a few times she may not have been around (good extended family). The grief she felt at “failing” me was something of which I’ve only recently become aware, and it breaks my heart. Because no way did she fail me, the fact of her working was barely a blip on my childhood consciousness!

Having said that - hmmmm, John … a bit an Oedipus complex there I fear?

I feel that I’ve really missed out on my son when he was young. For school he had to draw a picture of his family. He drew his grandparents house with his Grandma in the kitchen, his dad in the living room with him, his Grandfather in the workshop with his best friend added. Where was I, outside the house coming home from work. I was so upset over the picture that I cried for days. I didn’t let him know that it upset me so, and I never will. Not to long after that we decided to start homeschooling him,and I still worked full time at night. Still missed out on other things, but I guess I can’t have every second with him.

Wolfdreamer, wow, I’m not even going to start on this one. Suffice it to say, I have 3 extremely happy and successful children, 9, 13 and 17 years old and they have had daycare and kindergarten (excellent of the sort) since they were 1 year old. Yes, they get guidance, one doesn’t have to be there 24/7 for that. The girls (two older) only went to daycare/kindergarten half the day, I started with the boy like that, but then he wanted to be all day in kindergarten, he missed out so many interesting things in the morning programs, we ended up allowing that and he was really happy.

amongthestars - your poor mother! Probably feeling horrible because of all the (otherwise well-meaning) people that insist someone has to be home at all times for the well-being of children.

I wouldn’t dream of homeschooling, I think the children miss out on more than they get - associating with other children, learning to work in groups and to compensate, learning to interact and that not everyone is the same, tons of things they can do in school one hasn’t a possibility to do at home, list goes on and on. Actually homeschooling isn’t even allowed where we live. (and now I’m probably going to be the hated one). Too much sheltering isn’t good either.

This is the main reason that my husband and i have no kids and will not likely have kids