For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for March 07, 2022

empty nest syndrome kicking in

Connie gets a puppy.

Part of the job of parenting is to help kids grow up to be independent (and to leave the nest).

But then, when they are, these same parents complain that “they’re never home.”!!

lol, the eternal parental debate. They spend the kids’ first 18 years desperately annoyed and overworked with them, wishing they’d have some time to spare… and then the next 60 or so wishing their kids were around more.

Time tends to “edit” the bad stuff out. Parents suddenly forget all the times the kids fought or made messes (or just laugh about it now that so much time has passed- like the time I put a scoop of flour on every flat surface of the house that I could reach when I was a toddler) and you get stuff like how Elly was at the end of FBOFW: the “Ideal Grandma”, remembering her time with the kids as some joyous experience and ready to do it with grandbabies again.

Connie was savvy enough not to get knocked up again in her later-childbearing years..

I know this is only a comic strip but I am surprised that John and Ellie’s marriage is still going on when all Ellie thinks about are her kids and not John. The kids could take care of themselves if she would just let them.

I’ve never understood the concept of parents wishing the kids would move out. While we encourage our daughters to be independent so that they CAN be out on their own someday, we do it against our own wishes.

Wow . . . rude . . . I’m starting to like Elly less and less. I know this is supposed to be a “ha ha, wink wink” kind of “aren’t kids a pain but gotta love ’em” thing, but it’s wearing thin.

Ours grew up and moved across the country. Now we live with 4 adopted puppers who always have time for us.

Living alone means being alone. Alot. It gets to you after a while.

That’s what grand-kids are for!

Connie, just wait awhile. They’ll be baaack!! Sometimes with their wife and kids in tow.

It IS a problem. I don’t like it at all. I have one child out of five still at home. It’s so quiet and weird and boring now we are going to start hosting exchange students! Super fun!

Our kids are grandparents themselves now and complain because they never see THEIR kids!

Too noisy or too quiet?There’s a middle ground somewhere,but you can only see it with a microscope.

Well, if I were doing a nice get together lunch, it wouldn’t be in a cafeteria.

She considers her 16 year old son to be grown up and independent?

My wife and I are going through this right now. I’m fine with it, but my wife feels a little empty.

I see they’re at a cafeteria. I remember those, and I really liked them back in the day. I wish they’d make a comeback.

There is only one thing worse than being alone. Wishing you were!!! (Mark Twain)

Reminds me of Calvin and Hobbes where the dad decided to have a laugh at Calvin’s expense. Calvin is then in the last panel talking to Hobbes.

Calvin: “Have you ever read about those parents who write to Ann Landers complaining that their children never visit, write, or call? Those letters really crack me up.”

You’ll have to forgive Elly, Connie. She wanted the prestige of having children, but expected them to shoulder all responsibility at about 10 minutes old!

It is a problem.

Now I remember: Aside from having just Lawrence, Connie raised Gayle and Molly since her second marriage.

Children grow up leave Home to start their own lives. That is what Generation are make of. One can live alone and never be lonely. Families are expanded and Love Grows. Where Love is Loneliness cannot abide!!!

This is the beginning of Lynn Johnston’s greatest story in the entire 29 year run of the comic strip. Get ready for a ride.

Empty nest syndrome is real, Elly