For Better or For Worse by Lynn Johnston for November 03, 2021

Yep. The downside of being an older daddy.

Insert four Advil for the next ride

Actually Daddy can’t spell either. In Canada the word is spelled crack with 2 c’s.

This is one of those unusual back injuries that causes the teeth to grow to an enormous size and your lips to stretch around them. I don’t know if Lynn Johnston was going for a laugh, because John’s face is pretty scary-looking.

Yep. Wait ten years or so. You’ll be able to wind him up then.

And your friendly chiropractor or osteopath thanks you.

For every bit of fun you have. Some type of payment is due.

That is what true pain looks like. I’m still in chronic back pain from being rear-ended at a traffic light.

Another kid-centric strip..

This reminds me of one time I was visiting my brother. His granddaughter is just a month younger than my older daughter. He had been “tossing” his graddaughter (like in panel 3). Now, his granddaughter was (well, still is, at 18 years old) a tiny, fine-boned child. My girl held up her arms for him to do that to her, and he complied. My girl was NOT a tiny, fine-boned child (although she is now). He went to lift her like he lifted his granddaughter & just about put his back out!

oh yeah, daddy’s broken alright. gonna need some meds, a sofa, heating pad… and long hours of sleep say six weeks or so. :D

I can relate to this. I had terrible back issues which, funnily enough, went away as my daughter grew up and became to big to carry everywhere!

Here’s where you wish your toddler could call 911, or whatever it is in Canada.

I wonder if he played like this with his first two kids? Something tells me, no.

At least he did it playing with the kid. I hurt mine bending over to lift up a toilet seat.

Been there. Done that. I have the receipts from the Chiropractor.

Yep, Daddy broken.

I had an Aunt who was an Army nurse, retired as a Major after 23 years who told a story about a patient she had when she was stationed in Germany, a Green Beret Sgt First Class-E7- threw out his back one morning while brushing his teeth

C’mon,the kid isn’t THAT heavy.

John is a dentist,and spends his day stooped downward over patients.

I remember this strip from the first time around. April’s reaction here was so cute that it became a running expression in my home for years afterward.

Just had cervical disc replacement in neck, in therapy now. Soon to have lumbar disc replacement. Take care of your back while you are young because back pain is no joke!!

Actually, Daddy OLD.

That’s what you get when you’re in your 40’s and you still don’t understand how birth control works.

Time for someone (Michael, probably) to tell April what they do to broken horses…

Only thing worse than that is when baby jumps on daddys lap…and misses the THIGHS!!! ouch……….

Undestanding how much Lynn used her own family for inspiration in “for better or worse”, I’d propose that John’s face was very close to reality. I threw my back out reching for my lunchbox, at work, and never touched the lunchbox!

One of these days, fathers will become paraplegics thanks to their young children.