Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson for October 13, 2021

That’s one powerful remote control.

And now way, José, are you immediately going back to the TV if the dinner isn’t looking appetizing.

Why we have TV trays.

Mom’s loud voice always works.

On a side note, wonder what Schrodinger’s mom was like?

If your mother says 2 plus 2 is three, then that’s the case.

When I was growing up, we had no TV in the house. There was no cable and only two stations that you could — sort of — get, but that wasn’t why. My parents decided it was a literal wasteland. We read. We played outside using lots of big muscles, roller skating, cowboys-n-indians, bicycles… and inside: Board games, puzzles, riddles, and a LOT of reading.

Worked really well. So We raised my kid that way too. Results not quite so gratifying, but he does NOT spend time watching TV or equivalent. He spends his time doing D & D type things. And hiking. And sitting around the fire in the back yard with friends… Oh, yeah. And working.

There are times when ‘Mom’ would make a good ‘D I’ at a military training base ! ! ! !

The TV must be turned off, anyway. Because when it’s on, it dances in mid-air.

A lot may depend on what’s for dinner. Is that a lasagna or a broccoli-cauliflower casserole?

My mom would have said, “OK fine, go hungry”…and made sure he did.

When your mother says “jump”, Calvin, you say “how high?”! ;/

That might have worked better, if he had remembered to turn the darn thing on!

Calvin’s mum was using her Declarative voice not her descriptive voice. :D

Worked with our kids too.

It’s called a plug, Mom; you pull it out and the juice stops flowing to the TV…

When the mighty spanker gets up close and loud, very suddenly your priorities shift.

Sometimes what is logical (Calvin undeniably is watching TV) is not smart.

Three strikes, and yer out!

I hate when I suddenly realize I’m somewhere else.

Took Calvin a moment to realize that this is one of those times his mom was telling him his future.

My mom would call dinner a couple of times, if we didn’t come they would have dinner, then clear the table. We would wander in and ask, “Where’s my dinner?” She would say, “I called you a couple of times and you didn’t come.” “Breakfast is at 6, don’t be late.” I think she only had to do that twice. I didn’t miss dinner, but my brother was a slow learner or stubborn.

To those readers under 20, that IS a television, not an aquarium.

I was terribly abused as a child. Had to sit down at the dinner table, eat everything on my plate, go to bed at a certain time. Wasn’t allowed to watch TV all day, had to do my chores, and was given a couple of swats on the bottom if I didn’t mind. But, always knew my parents loved me.

The MOM has spoken!

When MOM talks, Calvin listens…

SHE who must be obeyed…

Heh, I’ve sometimes felt like Calvin in the fourth panel, with that sudden trot.

Well done, Mom!!

Back in the dawn of recorded time, there existed “tray tables”. One could set one up, put a meal on it, and eat while watching TV. But I guess Mom doesn’t believe in them.

I could eat TV dinners, do my homework and watch TV at the same time

I know this is a cartoon, but if my child spoke that way to me he would be punished. I remember my Dad’s mantra, punish for two reasons—direct disobedience or doing something life-threatening. Children without rules are not happy children. But hey, it’s a cartoon right?

I just now, after all these years, that Calvin’s parents have never really been mad at him.

Doubt me? Then what’s his middle name?

Calvin discovers reality TV…REAL reality.

That’s one persuasive mom!

No he’s not. Normally in this cartoon the TV is floating in the air while on. The TV Calvin is watching is on the TV stand meaning it’s off

Tuna casserole again?

Moms are pretty good at invoking the ‘command’ mode when they feel it necessary. Mine sure did.

I’m sure the tone my mom motivated me with was the same one as when she told a drunken military M.D. that he wasn’t delivering the baby and that she (who had delivered thousands) would do that. And that was also probably the voice she used when she removed the keys from a general’s hands when he was too drunk to get into his car to drive home after a mess dinner (and he was none too happy about a flight nurse relieving him of his keys…. until the next day when he phoned National Defense Medical Center to apologize to ‘the nurse with the Scottish accent’). And that was also the voice she used when a patient was foul-mouthing her in the E.R. and she said “Your eyeball is hanging out of its socket. Returning your eye to the socket is a finicky operation. If you ever want to see out of that eye again, shut the hell up and stand still while I get it back into the socket”.