For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for May 22, 2018

not a good joke, Mikey (bet his plan was to watch TV at Gordon’s behind his parents’ backs)

Time for military school?

Interesting. Elly did not react to the beer thing – it is a known fact that Gordon’s parents were alcoholics so there would be beer in their fridge. I’d be concerned if I knew my sons’ friends whose parents are alcoholics and they routinely swiped their beer. I know European countries are very lax about children drinking beer which is like drinking water but Canada?

There are lots of problems here:

1. Michael’s statement implies that he and Gordon have swiped beer before (whether he has or not) and that he says so so casually shows a deep disrespect for his mother.

2. Mike steps out when his mother tells him no, which means the threat from John was going to be physical if Mike did not back down. You never want to be in that situation with your child.

3. This transgression is far in excess of uttering two curse words. If my son did this to me, he would be in deep, deep trouble.

Why doesn’t he just say he’s going to hang out there and then watch TV with Gordon? Then again, he’s probably grounded to boot.

Michael knows he can get away with that attitude with Mom….Not with Dad! Sometimes when you mess with the bull you get the horns!

That disrespectful part? Not an option. There were consequences. Period.

when you’re grounded, you don’t cause more penalties! I think Mike just did.

I could NEVER act that way to my parents, under any circumstances. I would have been thumped to within an inch of my life! :O

No TV for two weeks just for a few cuss words is a bit extreme, however, it’s good to see Dad backing up Mom in the punishment department. They both know why he’s going over to Gordon’s (and it isn’t the beer) and they’re working together to stop it.

I like that it takes ‘two steps’ for Mike to be ‘eye to eye’ with John—sorta puts him in his place !

If were to have spoken to my parents like he did, first-I wouldn’t have any teeth left in my head and second- I would have awakened in the middle of next week. Times have sure changed.

All I know is in my house the belt would have come out and grounded for a good 6 months from doing anything but then I grew up in the 50s, 60s, 70s,……

No way my son would ever talk like that to my wife. If she said no that’s it.

An example of what used to be called “teen angst”. I wonder if teens go through that stage nowadays…

I must have grown up in a rough neighbourhood… swipe some beer meant knocking over the liquor store, borrowing money meant robbing the bank, etc. Definitely would not confess those activities to my parents.

In my family we always told each other we were leaving and saying where we were going. Mom and Dad would tell each other. It was considered respectful and polite. Now, it’s a safety issue as well. But because we saw Mom and Dad do it, we kids didn’t feel put upon when we were asked to do it.

Wise decision.

Michael drinks??!

Like it says in the Bible…“Honor thy mother and father, so your days may be long”.

Coming soon…Michael’s funeral.

Micheal being rude not okay but the united front with Elly and John was so funny to me