For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for June 20, 2012

So, quitcherbellyachin’

If’n it were me, I’m give him a hug. Those are priceless.

From the mouths of babes…

He doesn’t represent them. Just to avoid any political argument myself, the obvious reason this wasn’t to represent them is that this strip was originally printed long before that whole movement began

If you think that, then you neither know nor understand the 99%.

I am familiar with this scenario… buy one kid a treat, buy them all a treat – or chaos will ensue!

I agree with this. I have long taught my kids that things aren’t always “fair”. There will be plenty of times that one will get something and the other will not. It will all even out at some point when the other will get something and the first will not. My kids totally understand, and are fine with itPlus if Michael gets an allowance, he should be able to buy his own toys, except for birthdays and Christmas. Deal with it, Michael, your life isn’t over.

what you see is what you get

One of my eleven year old god-son’s house chores is yard work and pulling weeds; I’ve done this, yes it’s annoying but not all that hard. Plus with all kids, money burns a hole in their pocket.

To say nothing of the fact that it’s a bit of payback for all the times that Michael has lorded being the older sibling over her — such as when he gets to go shopping for new school supplies and she doesn’t!

Because he, like most kids, and face it adults, spends his money as fast as he earns it, so the only way he can get his skates is by earning more money. Plus, as a kid, you don’t want to save up your allowance for something you want, you want it now as fast as you can get it.

My parents always kept receipts. If we made a snappy remark like Liz did to Michael, our toy might have found itself back in the store!

Even though my sister and I are both now in our early 40s, she still gets better treatment and consideration from my mother than I do simply because she’s “the baby” of the family! Even though my husband and I live close by and do everything in the world for her that she needs done . . . and my sister lives 2,000 miles away in California and hasn’t been home to visit — not even for a day or 2 — in almost 9 years because she has “debt” and “can’t afford” to take the time off work or she doesn’t get paid because she doesn’t earn vacation days there . . . my mom still manages to play favorites between us. Oh! And did I forget to mention the fact that my sister and her live-in boyfriend of 10 years just returned from a 4-day jaunt to Las Vegas?!?!?! If I sound mad, it’s because I am . . . but not for me (because I REALLY can’t stand her attitude these days anyhow). I care because of my mom. My sister has been babied and had nothing but excuses made for her her entire life. Mom never said anything when she told me about that Vegas trip but I could tell her feelings were hurt. My sister can’t afford to come home and visit her 75-year-old mother whom she hasn’t seen in so long. . . but she can afford to go blow money on the slots and tables of Las Vegas?!?!? WTF!!!!! Whatever!

Parents, take note: You may say you don’t do it but if you play favorites with your kids, they ALL notice and you’re doing nothing but sowing seeds of entitlement and bitterness between them that can last throughout their entire lives so that they’ll never get along with each other. If you don’t believe that, re-read my above paragraph again!

Sorry! I’ll get off my soap-box now!

Glad to know someone else remembers five and dime stores. When I tell my granddaughter about them ,I refer to them as ‘Family Dollar’ stores.

GrechensMom: The 1% is actual for those who control the economy. There is also a .1% for the ruling junta; a 20% who are sufficiently wealthy not to be concerned about others; a 60% the serfs who support (often by inaction or voting against their own interests) the junta. Of course, this is for the total population – percentages are much higher across the board in Congress, executive branch cabinet level, and courts.

I have found it interesting to watch tourists in Sam Rayburn’s house. The most common comment is, “My grandmother had one of those.” He served as Speaker of the House more than twice as long as anyone else. When he died, he had the family farm (hardscrabble), the house (expanded over years from a stacked 4×4 – four rooms on each of two stories), a car given by congressional Democrats (Republicans not permitted to contribute), and $25,000 in the bank. All since then all Speakers have become millionaires in office except those already there when elected – who became multi-millionaires.

Michael reminded me of the way my older son used to act. He really acted up if his brother or sister got a treat and not him. But he was given expensive sneakers and video games.

The underlying issue was that Mike considered it a double standard that Lizzie gets something while Elly lectured him that he wanted skates he has to work for them. Sort of like the old joke “Son, if you want something in this world you have to work for it. Now quiet, they are about to announce the winning lottery numbers!”