Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for March 19, 2024

Ugh… it really was a false alarm. Sounds like she’s still not too anxious to have a baby.

So what does “not in practical terms” mean? When she was chatting with Tj, it sure sounded like she DID want the stick to show positive.

I have a feeling we’ll still be waiting quite a while before Brad is a dad.

If having a child was that important to Brad he should have found a partner that felt the same way.

Brad, is right they have started, and he wants to be a dad, But can Toni get there.

They make a good couple!

In regards to being reàdy for parenthood, consider all the time taking care of Shannon as “On the Job Traing”.

Brad really is a good guy…

This arc will be finished sometime around Chrisymas….

When Brad was younger he had hardly any hair. Now he he has a full head of hair. What’s his secret? Asking for a friend :)

Greg – you’re doing great work, but I’m neither ready nor excited about a boring arc about Toni’s pregnancy in real time, that is, until next year.

Gee—a strip in this arc WITHOUT TJ butting in?!

Call Congress and declare a holiday!!

PLOT TWIST: Toni cannot carry a child, so they use Anne Eiffel as a surrogate!

Just imagine if Toni and Brad WERE expecting: I predict that Frank and Nancy would hover over them so much that Luann would feel neglected—and finally move out.

She (and Bernice, too, maybe) would move into the Manse with Tiff, who couldn’t stand another day with Stef and Bets in the dorm, and manage to get a PT job to pay rent, and…

Are you listening, G&K??

And, you still have time to create a new income tax deduction.

“We’ve started”? No, b-WAD. Only YOU have started. This is just like the guy and the girl who hang out together, where he thinks he’s building some sort of romantic relationship with her, but she only considers him to be a friend and that’s all.

“I don’t care if they’re ten thousand miles apart! We’ve got a plot point that the creators can milk for years to come!”

Most of the time, it’s the wife “Oooops-ing” her birth control in order to trick her reluctant husband into getting her pregnant.

Iviax, you are a guy, I’m guessing. lol

How long has it been in Luann time since they got married? A couple of years? That really isn’t terribly long to wait to be ready to have a kid.

So, Brad is happy they’re on the same page, at least. Time will tell if becoming Dad really happens.

Get back to the Quad Wednesday for final exams push.

I’m glad she is having this conversation with Brad. She may be with child sooner than later!

The Zen of Ann❤️Eiffel would tell us being Excited and Ready are both necessary in Becoming Preggo but being Excited and Ready and Taking Precautions are necessary for Not Becoming Preggo whereas being Excited and Ready and Not Taking Precautions can result in the same Outcome, Either Way, Ready or Not. Now, lowly unworthy Weedhopper… take the pebble from Ann❤️Eiffel’s hand… HA! Gotcha. Sucker. Ommmmm. No Wonder We ALL ❤️ Ann❤️Eiffel! AND The❤️Count! Oh… as far as this thing with Brad… The Magic 8 Ball says… No Way, Bae. Outta Here… TTFN… Count… OUT!

Still haven’t addressed the ‘late’ issue. What if she’s unable to conceive?

So, why does Toni look like she’s 26 and Brad looks like he’s 12?

A decision they need to “sleep on” a lot more.

Beginning to feel bad for Shannon, not!

Women and Their husbands are ALWAYS ready to be a mom. People need to stop putting their timetables and selfish preferences about the natural calling to “Be Fruitful and Multiply”. Those that do look back at regret at all the lives they have lost through their focus on their own fun and "fulfillment"".

When is the right time to have kids? Much sooner after marriage than later. And about two to three times as many as we see nowadays.

Keep trying! Start with the ol’ temperature chart. Pick some baby names. Imagine where to put the crib, shop for baby cribs, … It can be fun!

Toni and Brad are basically raising Shannon and doing a good job so they’re ready to be parents.

Don’t you see? This is a new development in Brad and Toni’s happy marriage. They could be ready for parenthood.

Remember, “practice makes pregnant.”

I reiterate my previous posts: Toni, get therapy!

A baby? Maybe!

Excitement yes, then 9 months to get ready…

What? Brad didn’t throw himself on the floor kicking and screaming when he heard it was a negative test?

Brad, calm down. Being a dad is a LOT of work and responsibility. Take your time getting there.

I see there are a lot of opinionated ignoramuses who are not only unaware of the trauma that’s left Toni so ambivalent about having kids, but unwilling even to try to imagine that she could have a reason for feeling as she does.

Brad looks so happy. He was waiting for this news for a long time. Toni is still a bit scared by the idea, but she’s sure that she felt sad seeing the results. TJ, wisely, decided to leave them alone, well done! Brad is right, this changes the things quite a lot. The way he holds Toni’s hands is so sweet. Now let’s see how many time will pass before the pregnancy.

Rereading Toni’s history, raised by an aunt, very structured life and knowing how Shannon is, maybe in her subconscious she thinks babies are messy and contrary to her penchant for order. But Brad’s spontaneous nature is getting to her. Maybe too much thinking here and there?! ;-))

This conversation is so adult compared to the last too many to count arcs I think I need to sit quietly now and do some deep breathing! I love it!!

Luann is still 19 and Brad is what? 21,22?

So the couple are still young and haven’t waited that long.

still taking bets on what day this week they disappear to the bedroom …. :-/

wondering if this arc eventually gets used for fertility issues. Being firefighters and with the airborne chemicals they can come in contact with…

Step One=warming up to the idea of being a parent

IF these were real people, as some of you seem to suppose, what makes any of you think that you have a say in the matter?

Another really nice strip! Hope it lasts all week. Great couple!

Toni and Brad could take some cautionary advice from the other comic strips.

I can only hope that one day I will have as loving a relationship Things can be learned from “just a comic” :)

“Well, ‘excited’ and ‘ready’ are still pretty far apart.” defines maturity as well as anything else one could say. In my experience, kids then blow maturity out of the water real quickly.

I don’t know that Toni’s ever said she never wanted children, but after the amazing father figure Brad’s been to her niece, Shannon, it doesn’t seem right to begrudge him wanting a child of his/their own. Just my opinion.

It’s guys like Brad who are responsible for the population explosion

It could also be a false negative

Given any distance no matter how great and given any speed no matter how small, if you have enough time, you will reach that distance at that speed

I still say you’re ready Toni. I believe you and Brad will make great parents.

Paul Lynde will now sing “Kids”……

If you’re going to be a parent, “ready” is better for the child than “excited”.

Excitement wears off, ready doesn’t. Ready, as in, prepared.

The journey of a thousand miles does NOT begin with a moment of fantasy.

it’s only tuesday and it seems like we are at a stopping point; where can this arc go from here?

Does Toni have the Shannon gene??

HOW IS BABBY FORM?

HOW GIRL GET PRAGNET?

I’m worried about TJ. The house will be too small for him and a new baby, yet he’ll probably remain their live-in chef. He’ll never be in a serious relationship. Actually, he’s never been in a relationship. Perhaps he’s asexual. Anyway, most people wouldn’t choose this when they’re still so young. Boo hoo!

Yay!!!

Toni is ready to consider having a baby. The thought that she might be, seems to have primed that desire, but it hasn’t actually lit yet.

Looks like they’ve found some common ground at last.

In my experience no one is ready to be a parent but they just let the excitement at the idea take over and deal with the reality later.

Could be a false negative! Wait and see ……..

god,…not another 6 year storyline.

Yer gettin’ ahead of yerself, young man.

I like this arc…it’s very real and sweet. And being ready to think about something and ready to do it are two very different things.

Brad, I would like to think you “started” a few years ago…

I thought they’d end up having an “oops” pregnancy like Mike and Deanna’s first in For Better or For Worse. Of course, they may still.

I don’t like the implication here that women who aren’t “excited” to have a kid simply aren’t “ready” yet and will change their minds given enough time. That’s not how it works.