For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for June 28, 2016

A friend in need is a friend indeed. (I hope the girls’ coldness didn’t work with their biological mother.)

Lynn’sNotes*Having Connie, Lawrence, and their new family move back into the Pattersons’ neighbourhood gave me much more to write about. Elly and Connie were a good mix of characters, and Lawrence was a wonderful sidekick for Mike. I had written them out of the strip without realizing how much they added to it!

The worst thing she could do is attempt to be their “mother”. That (and “father”) is a precious title no step-parent is entitled to and very few ever earn.

But isn’t it usually the same way with biological mothers and daughters?

Should we be asking Why the girls aren’t with their mom? There should be a reason, unless she died..Yes they are brats and should have boundaries set and rules. Dad needs to reinforce them also. It will work for all members.

Directions to “Driving Me Crazy”: turn left at “OMG” street; go forward towards “What The H” (I will leave the H word blank) road; stop at “S (I will also leave the S word blank too), I knew this would happen!” place. And welcome to the Dead End. Sorry. I couldn’t resist making that remark.

Once school starts it might be a different story. We moved between my sophomore and junior year of h.s. (my sister was just starting h.s.). We were not happy campers…long, lonely summer…but once we met new people, made friends, life got easier for all of us, including, I’m sure, Mom and Dad.

Connie’s new husband IS their father.

In real life – Elly’s answer is perfect.And this would be a time for the father of those two teenaged girls to let them know that they were welcome to be a miserable as they wished in the privacy of their room but he would not tolerate such open disrespect for his wife.

Elly is spot on here. What a perfect friend, at a time when sorely needed!

This would be a horrible time of adjustment for everyone. I’ve seen step-parents become “Dad”, but it did take years of love and proof of stability. People in this strip have not been together long, and have hit several terribly stressful milestones: divorce, move, new jobs, marriage- so issues are very believable. The father should definitely be helping, but it is a huge change for kids going through huge enough changes already in their lives, and it is going to be rocky! Doesn’t mean it can’t end well, but it’s tough for everyone.

I know an old strip but rarely do step children like outsider. Elly is right have Connie come talk with her. Connie is not the girls mom.

With my nephews and niece, the reason they couldn’t live with their mother was that she was a drug addict who only cared where her next fix came from.

Seems one of them has some sense.

I’ve lost track: Deanna’s moved away at this point, right?

I remember my Mom telling me that when she married my Dad (she was his 2nd wife) his 2 children (my half brother & sister) would go crying to Daddy when they couldn’t get their way. So, one day she started packing her stuff. He asked her what she was doing. She told him “If I can’t discipline these children, I’m leaving!” Stopped that real quick! Miss my folks!

No mention about what happened to the girls’ mother. Are they divorced? Did she take a hike? Is she dead? How long have they been without a mother? This info would help explain part of their attitude. Being uprooted is difficult, but no reason to be snots. Hubby should sit them down and have a stern talk with them. Connie should stop trying to be a mother, and just be as kind and helpful as she can. They are old enough to understand. Connie is lucky they’re older, particularly if their mother says vindictive things – they’ll be able to sift out the good from the bad.

..and have some MIDNIGHT MARGARITAS, GIRLFRIEND!

Just as I thought! Women don’t even understand women!

And stop trying so hard…let them come to you.