For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for July 06, 2018

why e’en bother?

My kids used to love being held upside down. Mr. Howtheduck would swing them upside-down and they could not get enough of it. Mr. Howtheduck’s back, however, was another story.

It’s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye.

My darling niece is a first-born princess, and didn’t take kindly to her little brother at first. Last year, when they were five and two respectively, she slammed a door in his face and split his lip open. He had to get stitches. The final call was that she meant to slam the door on him, but didn’t mean to “hurt” him, per se. Jealous older siblings can be a legitimate danger, especially at a younger age!

rosette. Very true. My college roommate admitted she tried to drown her younger sister when she was 7 and her sister 4. Her mother turned her over to her grandmother to raise her. Her mom figured she was competitive about attention and knew her mother would give her what she needed – sole attention all to her. She used to say she was an only child and said we were perfect roommates because i was an only also. Imagine my surprise when she admitted having a younger sister with whom she did not grow up with and why. Made me look at her differently.

I’m getting tired of this story line.

Don’t speak for the baby, Elly! It’s not too rough for her!

From the stories in the comments here, I’m getting the idea that it’s never a good idea to have kids more than two years apart in age. Three seems to be the age at which sibling rivalry becomes a factor!

In the strip from two days ago, a cat is shown. Was that the Pattersons’ first pet?

My daughter learned pretty quick, that if her brother touched her, and she yelled and cried, he would get in trouble. I was an “only” and not used to kids fighting. And no, they do not have a relationship now that they are in their 50s.

I heard my daaughter threaten her (older) brother with “I can get you in trouble and you caan’t do anything about it.” I rushed in with a “Oh no you can’t” and never had such problems again.

My brother is 10 ½ years younger than I.

He used to pull that “cry and run to Mom” stunt all the time.

Sometimes, I HAD smacked him for being in my room and touching my stuff.

Most of the times, he was “faking it.”

One day, he ran to my Mom, and she started yelling at me, so, I reached out and smacked him—-right then and there…in front of her.

My mom was furious, and asked me, “Just WHAT do you think you’re doing?”

So I told her, since you are taking his say so, and I’m in trouble…I’d rather be hung for DOING it, than to get shot for nothing!

I’ve always hated getting punished for “nothing.”

From then on, Mom only reacted to what she KNEW was true, not ‘cause lil’ bro was yelling.

Now, Mom is gone, and we are friends.

;-D

When baby Lizzy barfs on Michael, that’s when he’ll put her down right quick!