For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for July 23, 2024

“A general anesthetic”. Oh, John. That’s your answer for everything.

If only that was acceptable.

It’s Elizabeth’s turn to be the sulky teenager. Mike got that when he was sent to the farm for the summer. And when the whole family spent Christmas at the farm.

Trust

Give her a chance to stay with her girlfriend, instead of being a built-in nanny…

Four day drive to Winnipeg ??? Are they traveling be camel? Where in hell are they? It only took me about 1 day from Saskatchewan to Vancouver late 80s or early 90s and they must be east of Winnipeg. Doesn’t make any sense at all. They don’t live in the boonies – library, newspaper, downtown, etc – surprised there’s no airport close by.

I think they’re out of their minds to plan such a long drive. Toronto to Winnipeg is over 2000 miles, so you’re looking at being on the road for a good 10-12 hours a day. Driving such a long distance with a rambunctious preschooler who’s never been in a car for long hours, and a sullen fourteen year old who doesn’t want to be there in the first place, sounds like torture for everyone. Just buy plane tickets, John!

Look, you two—Elizabeth doesn’t WANT to go on this trip (which sounds like a crashing bore, anyway). Why can’t you take her feelings into consideration? She can stay with her friend Dawn while you’re away—I think her parents would be OK with that.

I guess there are no direct flights from Toronto to Vancouver?

Twenty twenty twenty four hours ago, I wanna be sedated. Nuthin’ to do. Nowhere to go. Oooh. I wanna be sedated.

What are Bofe Grammas?

My spell checker doesn’t recognize the words.

Why doesn’t Elizabeth wants to visit her grandma?

A general anesthetic. Is that for Elizabeth or mom?

I’ve never accepted that teens must/have-to-be/are-just naturally-expected-to-be moody/grumpy. To do so kind of normalizes it and gives the impression that it’s ok and expected that she’ll be a jerk. Elizabeth has got 10 min to get over her self pity party and get with the program. Now slap a smile on that face and fake it till you make it.

Give her a break.

Leave her home alone. She’s 13. What could happen?

How about a little more respect? I bet that would help.

She’s needs a good KIA

Four days from Mississauga to Winnepeg??? More like only 20-1/2 hrs windsheild time. They could drive straight through switching off driving duty and cut the Liz complaint time by more than half.

You phrased the question in a weird way, El, I’m not sure what variety of answer you were aiming for.

Well a swift kick in the butt might be in order here.

If John and Elly want to do this as a family, then why isn’t Michael going with them?

I know Canada’s a big country, comparable to the US, but I didn’t think anything involving an airplane ride would take four days. Driving, yes, but even part way by air?

And I’m surprised Toronto doesn’t have an airport with flights to Vancouver.

Not condemning, just surprised.

John is a Dentist – he has access to Nitrous Oxide :)

This is surprising that she does not want to meet her grandparents. We don’t always get time for family or recreation.

Unless Elizabeth marries a wealthy man, she is probably going to unable to spend as much time traveling as she is now.

That could work.

Not many things are worse than a sulking teenager. First, they want to be recognized as having the right to be mad….but secondly, they will absolutely go out of their way to NOT have a good time regardless of how much they are catered to….she’ll want to make those she blames for her misery, miserable too (check her comment yesterday regarding having fun). John and Elly will need to convey to her that one of the tough parts about parenting is not always fulfilling their kids’ wishes.

Good answer. )

A tablet and YouTube solve the problem. Or just get them a seat across the aisle and several rows removed.

I’m all for that.

There’s no cure for being a typical teenager.

All I ever got was a coffee can to puke in when we drove up the mountains

Now that was funny

I know I was sullen and sulky often enough at Elizabeth’s age, but visiting beloved relatives always got some enthusiasm from me even then.

$5 she meets a hot boyfriend on this trip.

British Columbia, the larch, the Scotts pine, it makes me want to sing, sing, “I’m a lumberjack and I’m OK, I sleeps all night and I works all day!” Happy TuesdayEverybody! ;-)

Ah, the teen years. The angst, the frustration, the sullenness. What a wonderful time of life!

She needs a little laughing gas….as a dentist, John has access to that!

I can’t believe Liz doesn’t want to see her grandparents! No matter what age I was I loved visiting mine. I never cared about going to big theme parks (especially when my parents started forcing me onto the big-kid rides). I preferred visiting the grandparents.

John has access!

Works for me, although I was thinking of laughing gas.

I just looked at a Canadian map and thought, no, at 14, I wouldn’t want to do this either.

The poor dog looks like it wants out of April’s backpack.

When you have the opportunity to see an older relative it should be received happily. You never know how much time they may have left

I remember that age, five times, oncefor me and four times for my daughters. All I can say is we were all brats.

I like that answer!