For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for February 01, 2022

I think I am missing the joke here. Is it that they are a strong, determined unit even though they look sheepish and unsettled in the final panel? Or is this some kind of symbolism where the slant of the wall, things on the wall and doorway are saying they are leaning so far that they might fall as if they were divided?

Too late, ‘rents. Mike already heard your argument. He knows his mom was rooting for him. He’ll go after her when John comes down on him. He will wail about the unfairness of it all and try to wear down his mom. They really need to wise up about kids eavesdropping by the door and go someplace else to have their conversation…like their master bath which is further into the room, away from the bedroom door. Most basements are soundproof so go down there and talk. I had an aunt and uncle who had their talks in their car.

“Only, not visibly.”

Is this one of those " this hurts me more than you moments?"

I dont figure whats the problem. If my son would miss the way home, I’d lough shortly at him and secretly be happy, that nothing worse happened. Lesson learned for him anyway.

“You’re being sold to the Ministry of Treacle and Butter Tarts for scientific experimentation. We’re very sorry about this”.

This arc would be much better if Saint Michael had been road raging and got into a fender bender or something…

The punishment time will get shortened, as soon as an emergency comes up and they need Mike to drive.

We let our girls know that we were a united front when they were very young. The first time one of them tried to pit one parent against the other by asking one parent, they found out that we always conferred with each other. “What did [other parent] say?” was a question they learned never to lie about…because we’d double-check.

yup, a strong unit of sad looking parents, great example.

John’s back seems much better.

Bring out the belt..

Wish I could get Mrs to understand that. She laments that the 7yo does not listen to her. I tell her it is her own fault, she tells him he doesn’t have to. I tell him to do something or tell him to stand in the corner, Mrs tells him no he doesn’t have to do it or it’s OK, you can come out now. (30 seconds later)

What is that fuzzy-looking blob next to Michael??

You know, I know the mean well, but even if the firing squad doesn’t have their heart in it, the consequences are the same.

They only fight regarding the kids?

What about when John bought that damned car??

This is where America started the rules of No spanking, Now the parents listen to the kids. As a Rodney Dangerfield movie once said " I have two sons, one I put through college and the other I put through a wall…

The Axis was a team effort and united front. How did that turn out for them?

So Michael,the next time you get lost,don’t bother coming home.It’s for the best.

Total wimps and poor parents. The kid deserves punishment, not for being late but for exceeding his permission compounded by taking a joy ride to “see what this baby can do”. Restriction to home, loss of any driving and complete loss of access to the sports car would be appropriate.This has been a horridly presented story making me a little more savy as to the why of troublesome actions by youth we see today that were not around when we were youngsters.

Every day in this strip not a joke. This arc is about the difficulties of parenting.

I think it’s to show that parenting is hard; they’re united, but it took work to get there.

We shall see what we shall see?

hang in there, Patterson parents and son

The “We must stand united” part is intangible. How they apply it could go a variety of ways.

Mike would not have gotten lost if he’d done what his Dad had told him to do and he knew exactly what that was. Yes he needs consequences.

Doesn’t seem to be working. . .

I’m thinking Ellie is the superior officer here.

Tomorrow is the end of this arc. Then we go back to baby April. Oh joy.

i think the joke is to be continued tomorrow

Now neither one of them really want to punish Mike.

So Mike will set his own fair punishment so his parents will start smiling again.

Looks like the jury convicted him and and also gave him the Death Penalty……

I’m wondering what sort of result they are looking for. The whole episode was the result of a minor infraction compounded by getting lost. Is he supposed to be more “letter of the law” rather than “spirit of the law” or to somehow just make fewer mistakes?

You’re gonna get it, Mike…maybe not today!

Disciplining kids is the worst part of parenting… but if you don’t do it, and follow through, you will fail your children.

My wife and I, early in our child rearing careers made a agreement to always support each other in discipline. If there was a difference of opinion it was discussed strictly in private.

I don’t think I ever got punished for getting lost…and my Dad could be really nasty when I was late getting home.

The father spoke well, this is how parents should act when it comes to disciplining their children!