For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for November 16, 2022

Bring on the embarrassment.

Well, like mother like son in the motormouth department. Mike is his mother’s son having inherited the loquacious side of her personality as well as enjoying creative writing. Hence he needs a wife similar to John who listens to his verbose spouse while reading, loading the dishwasher, or working on the car.

I don’t think any teenager has ever said fogey, let alone fogeyville in their life, yet Lynn still gets how some teens see their parents: both the good.. and the stuff that drives them up the wall.

This isn’t going to end well.

Could be worse, John could actually play the accordion.

I find it interesting that Mike has to go through a long explanation of what his mother does for her career only to top it off with “she could be something.” As for his father, there is not one mention of dentistry or model trains. I suppose this means Mike is embarrassed by his mother’s career and is not embarrassed by his father’s.

Accordion music? Maybe by a Yankovic?

And I thought that canadians were normal…

Typical parents.

Rhetta is actually April at 17 years old, who traveled back in time, just to mess with St. Michael.

Granted, it was Rhetta saying to the parents, but I promised my daughters that I would NEVER greet one of their friends or dates with “I’ve heard all about you!” I actually remember how I felt when my mother said it to a boy I introduced her to. I did it once as a joke…thankfully, both my daughter & her friend were in on the joke.

Darn it by the way panel 4 is drawn we can’t tell if Michael’s dad greeted Rhetta while wearing a dirty old t-shirt! But it does look like he at least dragged a comb through his messy hair.

Well, Michael, when we’re talking about YOU, it’s total Asshatyville..

Lawrence Welk! “A 1-A, a 2-A, and a 3-A!”

Just a couple of old fogeys, who gave their best, to get him to adulthood.

Wait until mom pulls out the photo album.

“If she went back to school, she could be something.” That is incredibly harsh.

Ah yes, the typical teenager with a preventative strike carried out to deter expected embarrassment from the parents.

Rhianna is going to do ‘ok’, after Mikes briefing….

Rhetta is going to do ‘ok’ after Mike’s excellent briefing…

Perfect

wow… sends chills…her name was Marilyn…we were coming home from college for T.Giving …she was my very first girl friend…coming to and Italian family’s dinner with alllllll the relatives…. as i was introducing her around..my uncle joe, the doctor in the family, said hi to her and then told her that… guys with mustaches…. (yes, i still have one) ….have 1000’s of times more germs on their mustaches when they kiss….. it made a lasting memory ….that still gives me chills…..

Have you hidden the family photo album?

Mom is running a household of 3 children and working a job. I say she is SOMETHING now. There is more to life than your career title.

Then the dinner menu is all the stuff Elly didn’t know Rhetta hates…….

So much for the evenings small talk…

Time for them to tell her all about Michael.

Is Dad cleaned up now/

I don’t remember ever having dinner at a boyfriend’s house. I do remember one time having a boyfriend over for dinner, but that was after I graduated high school. (I also remember how embarrassed he was because he couldn’t figure out how to eat what mom served. Long story.)

dang old coffee-stirring dad

My mom had Tom Jones and Fifth Dimension records. I guess that’s old fogey music now

Fogeyville. I like it. Is it Canadian term?

And now, at dinner mom and dad will turn the tables and tell you all about Michael….. EVERYthing….. Poor guy. ;-)

Jeeze, Michael, for a guy with two loving parents, you’re an….well, it starts with an ‘a’ and ends with “ss”

How come Rhetta’s parents did not act like buffoons when Michael came over? Guess they are not (stereo)typical parents who feel a need to get their thrills by putting down their kids in front of others.

I feel bad for the real life son. How was he to know what girls were interested in him and not in getting their hands into Lynn Johnston’s deep pockets?

Michael, your mom DID go back to school when you were younger.

I know how how Michael feels. My dad made one of my boyfriends the 3rd degree,was so embarrassing thought if d never see that boy again but Idid!!!

For some reason, this storyline reminded me of an off-topic but true story. My doctor and his wife were friends of the family in our small town. I wasn’t home at the time this happened, but he told me about it years later. My dad was a physician. Doc’s future wife cut her leg while riding horseback, and she and her friend then rode over to our house for my dad to help her. My 8 siblings and my parents were eating supper at the time. They finished supper, then dad had the young lady lie down on the dining room table). He then neatly stitched her laceration, and she and her friend remounted and rode away!

Kids always underestimate the potency of parents. The realization occurs when they grow up and mature. And the cycle of life continues.