For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for August 24, 2016

kids’ll be kids

It’s a better idea, anyway, because by then she will know what all the other girls are wearing and she’ll want the same.

This strip is such a great example of how children wage a war of attrition against the lines that parents draw.

well you did let her wear it, so its your fault

A funny “Back To School Dress” story. My older daughter’s Godmother always takes both of my girls BTS shopping, including letting them pick out their First Day dresses. One year my older daughter picked a “Monster High” dress. GM, who is extremely conservative, was a bit aghast, but it’s what “her girl” wanted. When she brought them home, she took me aside and said, “I wasn’t sure you would approve of the dress, but she REALLY wanted it.” I had to explain to her what “Monster High” was – that their slogan was “Be yourself…be unique…be a Monster” – and that I did, indeed approve. Poor GM!

Or, pick out their play outfit yourself, Elly!

This is so true! I told mine (about Lizzie’s age) the same and she snuck one outfit on when I wasn’t looking and stained it, all in less than an hour (I think it was chocolate and is 90% out)

We are never going to have time to shop for 3 once school starts- I’m home during the summer since I work at the school, so the shopping we can do in an hour with empty malls and no homework for any of the 4 of us would take weeks through scouts (boy and girl), church, homework, back-to-X nights, crowded evening/weekend stores, etc.s

This is the first year the hiding has failed! And yes, by August, a LOT of things are failing. I ran into the PE teacher the other day and asked him if all his plans for summer enrichment worked out, and he said, “I love my kids”. And there we are.

That’s the problem. If I had put the clothes on after being told not to, my bottom would have been sore for a couple of days.

I was all dressed up in my best coat waiting for my mother to finish getting ready when I asked if I could go out to wait for her. Well………my friends were busy painting their fence with mud mixed up in a paint pot……. and I helped. Only time in my life my mother ever spanked me!

Where’d the wine glass in last panel come from?

BarBaraPrzTo me it looks like a little spade for digging in the mud.

How not to parent…

Advantages of school uniforms.

Gee, Ellie. Cave much? You’re the MOM. Lizzie is DISOBEYING. And you’re just LETTING her! You should have physically taken that dress away from her and put it someplace she wouldn’t get at it.

I have to agree with nickel_penny. This is definitely how NOT to parent.

The comments for this strip never cease to amaze me. What a bunch of perfect parents there is out there! ( or forgetful ).

magoctopusTo say nothing of the subtle indoctrination to be obedient robots in a dictatorship. Just look at every military in the world.

A long time ago when girls wore dresses to school.

That’s what you get when you don’t punish your children for disobeying you the first time.

Charlie555 is the 4th to blame Elly

Total to blame Elly = 7. Total to blame Lizzie = 6. That’s a nice balance and just goes to show that not everyone here is an idiot.

Should’ve put the dress and any other school stuff out of her reach until it was time for their use.

If my mother told me to NOT put on my new school dress to play, and I disobeyed, I would not be here now to write this comment.

Well, there’s a logical consequence for this. She gets to go to school in a stained dress, while all her friends are showing off the new ones. No other punishment is needed.

I kept all of the new school clothes in store bags hidden away until the first day of school. Elly sure has no common sense.

You couldn’t have paid me to where my school uniforms anywhere but school.

I predict a major time out a commin’

Let’s see, she defied you once, shame on her, you allowed her to defy you 2 more times shame on you. I would’ve walked her back to her room & told her to change. I also wouldn’t leave it in her reach after the first time she disobeyed me.

Put the clothes out of reach if you want them kept for a special occasion. AND when you say “No” mean it and enforce it.

wcgreen3I remember those days well. My daughter was sent home for wearing shorts under her dress in elementary school. The principal spent his time looking at the panties of girls on the jungle gym and she was interfering. He soon was promoted to principal of a high school, where he could make bra checks as well, and finally superintendent and has a high school named for him.