For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for December 15, 2021

Because they know you’ll do it dummy!

I forget, but why is Elizabeth going to the national capital city?

If you wait long enough, Mom will ALWAYS do it

Training parents is important

Congratulations Elly. You fell right into her trap.

Ummmm….because she knows you will do it for her, Elly. Next time, just don’t remind or check on her. When she realizes she hadn’t packed and missed the bus as a result of not packing earlier, she’ll learn the value of planning ahead. She will understand why you plan ahead. She has to experience it for herself. Lecturing her does not work.

I believe Elizabeth played Mom like a five dollar fiddle.

Are those half dozen lines in panel four just behind her rear supposed to indicate that the mom is so mad that she farted?

The sad thing is my boyfriend’s mother pulls an Elizabeth on us when she can. She was meant to get an early train for a 4-day trip and kept wringing her hands about ‘how difficult’ it all was and finally we ended up doing the packing for her and arranging a cab and she still moaned about how hard it all was. Some people just can’t sort themselves.

You’re being ‘played’ Ellie—you’re being played ! ! ! Elizabeth didn’t want to pack, sooooo she got you to do it ! ! ! !

The first time I packed my own bags was when I left home. My mother never allowed my brother and me to do our own packing.

Because it my Mom Servant does it then she is responsible for when something is left at home.

Seriously??

choir

One strip has Elly demanding her kids start fighting their own battles, then another strip has her pining about how “they will always be my babies”. You can’t have it both ways, Elly.

Thought that was what MOMS are for! I don’t remember packing a bag till I moved out.

Elizabeth learned this tactic from Mike..

I certainly wouldn’t want what my mom would pack for me. I’d choose my own things for the trip. But who could pass up mom’s lovingly done deed? Lovingly done? ha,ha,ha!

Why should she?…..

Back off Ellie and maybe Elizabeth would learn more than how to manipulate you.

My neighbor always packs for her kids when they go to see their Dad every other weekend. They stayed with us for about 4 days last month and she packed all of their stuff for them then too. The sheer disorganization that followed when I asked them pack up their own things when it was time to go home was epic. I now know why she does it.

They leave it because they know you’ll do it for them. It’s like dear old hubby messing up something and Elly having to take over and do it herself.

Missing today…the usual commenter analyzing every minute detail of the strip and explaining what’s wrong with the premise and the characters, and throwing in something to show she knows everything about the strip’s past history.

Kids have to fail at something before they see the importance of it

What would have happene, if Ellie had said, “Fine, I hope you’ll have a good time. By the way, I’m not doing your packing”

Like you MOM and they know you will do it for them.

Because, Elly… they’re not as GOOD at it as YOU are!

Refer to the third panel for an answer to your question, Elly.

When Calvin packed himself to run away from home, he packed comic books, and maybe one sandwich each for Hobbes and himself.

Well Duh!

And once again, Elly berates one of her children. Sadly AKA being Elly.

I remember packing the same way!

Why bother when someone else can do it?