For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for February 08, 2014

WELL planned.

Grabbing any free moment you can…

Or maybe Elly recognized that having a kid that bratty every single day is exhausting and his mom needed a break. He’ll grow out of it, but right now, he’s a little jerk.

I don’t know, my mother called my brother “the baby” until she died he was 52. lol

once you are the “baby” you are the baby forever. birth order determines fate, lol

Just a few years ago I got a birthday card from my mother but when opened it said Happy Birthday Brother! I had an uncle with the same first name and thought she’d got the cards mixed up, but when I opened the card I saw that she hadn’t . She wrote “You are getting to old to be my son so now you are my brother!”

“You know how it is”?? How about a phone call to the sitter, lady?? I hope Elly shuts her down next time she needs a sitter.

I’ve had this done to me. Do people who pull this ever consider the babysitter might have plans for later in the day? A ‘couple hours’ doesn’t mean all day long.

I babysit for my two young grandsons (1 & 4) on a moment’s notice and for whatever time is needed – no matter how inconvenient it is. I know how it is. There are things that are nearly impossible to do with a baby or young child in tow. I don’t know how single parent with no community connections do it. (I get calls when they’re going to be late, but remember this is a rerun – it was much harder before cell phones).

she owes Elly now!

Elly is so sweet. She does get it, and she is compassionate to her friend, since she can empathise with her. I can, too! It was years before I could even leave the babies with my husband, and it is SO much harder.

And yes, I was around before cell phones (I only got one 8 years ago and we use about 5 minutes a month), and you did have to think more, since nobody was telling you their every move

My grandfather was hardly called “the baby” at all. Once he learned how to use his hands and legs, his family told him what to do with them: haul in the firewood! During the early part of the 20th Century, children were viewed as a source of family help. Spoiling kids and calling them “the baby” was unheard of.

I used to have a friend whose first question on calling was, “So, what are you doing this afternoon?” Because I never did this to anyone it took me a couple of times of this, overlooking its innate rudeness, not to get trapped into saying, “Oh, nothing. What do you have in mind?” only to find out it was for babysitting for one or more of her children. What I would have done and did do freely out of friendship I deeply resented being tricked into. What made it worse was that she had married as a teenager, desperate to have children to make up for her own unhappy upbringing. So yes, even though we may “know how it is” doesn’t mean we like that kind of thing. It uses up your “people credit” VERY fast.

No, she’s a mother of young children who understands.

Why do they keep saying “baby”? Didn’t it mention earlier that he’s a two year old? I’m glad I am not the only one who objects to this.

I think Elly is a doll, & I’m 84 & still remember “how it was”

I still refer to “my kids.” They are in their fifties.

Elly knows how it is because she’s done the exact same thing anytime she’s gotten out of the house without Michael, Lizzie and later April…or Farley!!!

I never got into the habit of calling my kids “baby” for long. Once they started walking, they were just “little girls”. Now the oldest is “little big girl” and the youngest is “big little girl”.

Selfish woman to inflict her brat on others. Then to take her sweet a** time to pick him up