For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for March 09, 2022

what else?

Going to be a lot of focus on Connie and her family the next few weeks.

Don’t clean their room, and it will look like they are not gone.

With a glass of wine and a good book.

That’s what happens, Elly—when you don’t install a lock on the bathroom door.

That’s ‘our’ ‘Elle’, cuts right ‘to the chase’ ! ! ! !

El’s last pregnancy was a real shock. They hadn’t planned on having more kids, so April has been a real eyeopener. But, she has provided some experience for Liz in child caring and that frees up El from having to do all things, all the time. Connie acts like a person who entered retirement without having a plan for what to do during retirement. El, on the other hand, can’t wait till she can enjoy the simple things again.

This is hitting home for me; I feel the same as Lynn now with my child, but will I feel like Connie later? I will probably miss some aspects of child rearing, but I hope I will also enjoy the aspects of an empty nest.

It’s going to be very long wait for that bath soak. April is only 2.

Teach your child boundaries at a young age & you can have all of the uninterrupted baths you want.

Sadly, Ellie, your kids will never be gone. April will get to high school and then suddenly you’ll jump back in time about 20 years and you’ll have to do this all over again.

Your kids don’t ever totally leave. They repeat on you, and with their kids!

Ah a nice warm bubble bath!

Close the bathroom and count down from 60 seconds…you’ll never make it.

Just wait, Connie. They’ll be moving back in with you a few times.

Elly’s last zinger takes me back to the days before answering machines…I planned to take a bath when my husband was home, so he could take care of the kids, and answer the phone too. I warned him not to call me to the phone and say that I was out, because I was out—-out of the kitchen that is.

Back to school? What kind of suggestion is this? Connie is not a stay-at-home mom whose kids have left the house and now she has nothing to do. Connie works full time as a radiologist.

High goals indeed….