For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for February 01, 2020

touché, El (from what I’ve learned, my position at the grocery store pays a little more — though I don’t remember how much more — than being a Salvation Army donation trailer attendant)

Housework is just unpaid janitorial work. Which is why I do as little of it as possible, until I can no longer get away with that.

Huh. So Michael’s older than I thought. He’s 14 going on 15.

The minimum wage in Ontario in early 1991 is $5.40 an hour, so $11 is not so good for a last minute call for baby-sitting and dealing with the 3 monsters. I seem to recollect baby-sitters getting paid better than minimum wage back in my day. I think Mike has a legitimate complaint.

Elly has a point about the jobs. Mike could work a few hours on the weekend and make considerably more than $11. It’s not like he does any homework, so he should have plenty of time. Plus, if he is still going out every night with Martha, he is going to need to make some money somewhere, so Martha doesn’t have to pay for it all the time.

To be clear, Elly is talking about her role as a housewife/mother doing those things for nothing (i.e., her family doesn’t pay her) and not her role as the assistant to the assistant to the assistant librarian, where she gets paid for “stocking” book shelves.

Ya gotta start somewhere Mike. And you’ll earn money to buy stuff with, go on dates and save some for college or a car. And it’s good experience for you. (I sound like a parent lol)

In the long run, baby sitting pays better than a minimum wage job.

well, starting in the Spring that hot dog cart should be coming back………

Sorry Mike, but nobody said work was suppose to entertain you.

Thanks Mom. Miss you.

AHHH! The good old days!

Elly, room and board is mighty good pay for housework and child rearing. Singles usually do a paying job and housework besides.

Yeah, funny why all the priceless things we do actually have a cost and we wouldn’t do it if we were paid.

You could go back on the hot dog route.

Michael just got . . .BURRRNED.

You tell him, El!

Didn’t Mike sell hot dogs not too long ago?

Guess the Pattersons don’t live in a community property state.

I was lucky to get 50 cants an hour to babysit in the late 50’s and early 60’s. I was paid 25 cents an hour many a time…and happy to get it.

No, you do all those for family.

What exactly did he have “to put up with”? He made the explicit threat that he was going to give the parents a report on their actions and they all went meekly to bed. He had the rest of the evening to sit and watch the tube. The worst he could have gotten is “Writer’s cramp”.

Mom – Dad – or anyone else: Housework and home chores is part of a functional life, whether you live alone or in a large household. Should you be thanked and appreciated? Yes, absolutely. Should you be paid? Of course not.

Mike should check out the Help Wanted ads in the DREAM ON newspaper.

My mom cleaned her house, cooked and then went and did it for others too. Plus when it was top to bottom cleaning time I got to stay home from school to help her. I loved cleaning too so we were two peas in a pod. Still love it in fact today to top to bottom bathrooms cleaning walls, shower, toilet and then next week the dusting and cleaning of walls in all the other rooms. Friday is kitchen day top to bottom. I will be in my glory.

Touche, yet both make a point.

Another good strip could be where Michael complains about all these low-income jobs.

Elly: “So you want a job where you get a lot of money, don’t have to face any consequences no matter what you do and live the high life?”

Michael: “Yeah!”

Elly: “Well you forget about that job; Justin Trudeau already has it!”

She has a point.

I thought it paid half of whatever a spouse/dentist grosses.

Gross income: $11.00

Federal tax: $1.65

Ontario income tax: $0.55

Canada pension plan: $0.87

Employment insurance: $0.18

Michael’s net pay: $7.75

Actually I believe Canada pays a “mother’s allowance” or whatever they call it there…not so in the US, though a mother’s worth has been calculated to be about $237,000/year.