For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for January 03, 2023

A Long Island iced tea would do the trick

My mother and her older brother (bless their souls respectively 2004 and 2014) had their quarrels too.

This one from 1994 is very contemporary for Lynn Johnston, who at the time was estranged from her brother.

My brother died before I was born and my sister went to college when I was a toddler. I was raised as an only child. I never had the sibling experience.

I’m grateful that I got to be friends with my late brother before I lost him to leukemia. No one should wait too long…

It’s Lizardbreath’s fault, she’s too sensitive

My sister and I NEVER got along and still do not—even though it has been 50 years. She was and continued to be my opposite.

I didn’t enjoy being a sibling. Older sister (by 4 years) and younger brother (by 8 years). We never really got along well.

My just-older brother (I have 3 older brothers) and I used to fight all the time. Fast forward to about 1986: My brother was in a near-fatal car accident up in Alaska. He called me, in tears, apologizing for every mean thing he ever did to me…and then proceeded to itemize them! The thing is, the accident messed with his head, and some of the things he was saying were things he saw on TV shows! I just accepted everything. He still lives up in Alaska, but whenever he comes down to visit he & I are pretty much attached at the hip.

Something stronger than tea is needed.

Ah yes, mothers are so good at taking their kids back to their childhoods, to remind them that they are really not that different than their kids are now.

I’ve read before that siblings to bicker a lot in childhood and adolescence are actually more likely to report having a close relationship with each other in adulthood.

The ones that don’t bicker are the ones who hardly spend any time with each other in the first place.

Sometimes siblings are the enemies we have to live with, even if we love them.

Eventually we did get along. We share so many memories

That’s what normal brothers and sisters do. Be a pain in each other’s rear ends.

As the elder sister in a family of four kids, my younger sister irritated the hell out of me, just for me having to share everything with her. Once we were both out of college, we became best friends. I think we just both just needed our own space. Now we have a pact that if we’re old and single, we’ll buy a duplex and live in each half. :-)And same with our brothers; once we became adults, we got along a lot better.

It’s no fun if the quarreling isn’t about something petty and senseless.

There are no strips where Elly and Phil hit each other.

The only story arc where Elly raised her voice to Phil was when he was fornicating. Elly did not like that he was cohabiting with Georgia prior to the marriage and thought the excuse of “test drive a car before you buy it” was silly. True, human beings are not equated to merchandise.

Love the sibling rivalry…. It never changes.

I love it! Karma revisited!

I don’t think that’s the type of drink Ellie had in mind.

I saw a YouTube video of a 9 year old girl on the audition round of Holland’s Got Tallent. She earned a golden ticket. When she got off stage, the first thing she did was hug her brother, and then her father. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDqTBlKU4CE .

No tea Mom, make it a martini!

Touche.

Tea is certainly not the drink she needs.

Feel the burn…

It may be that Michael is worried about apologizing. If he does apologize, it may be like this:

Michael: Elizabeth, that was rude and insensitive of me. I am sorry.

Elizabeth cackles like a witch and the house darkens

Elizabeth: He admitted it! Now we can blame him for everything!

Elly: It’s your fault I am a dropout!

John: It’s your fault I wear glasses.

April: It’s your fault I cannot speak like other kids my age!

Jim: It’s your fault I smoke!

Marian: It’s your fault I burned the kitchen!Martha: It’s your fault I broke up with you!

Brad Luggsworth: It’s your fault I am a lowlife bully.

Lawrence: It’s your fault my dad kicked me out of the house. You made me come out to my parents!

Brian: It’s your fault you were peeping in the girls’ shower hut at camp!

Gordon: It’s your fault I made your mom’s car rollaway and dented it!

Michael looks at a crucifix on the wall

Jesus Christ: It’s your fault I got nailed to the Cross!

Michael looks at TV

Prime Minister: It’s your fault Canada has lost its ways!

Michael is on his knees while a bunch of fingers are pointed at him; everyone in marching around in a circle

Everyone: It’s all your fault! It’s all your fault! It’s all your fault!

Michael: I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry!

In all fairness, Marian and Jim are part of the Greatest Generation. All other generations stink compared to them.

Kids are just punishments for your own childhood crimes.

When I went to college and she got married.

“A sister is someone you fight with and fight for.” – Source forgotten

Touche’ grandma!

So is mom

That long huh?

And the grandmother is the voice of wisdom once again, reminding the daughter of her relationship with her brother, I like that lady!