Excellent parenting, John. And Liz does look cute in the last panel. If Lynn continues to draw her in this cuter version, she’d be happier – that would mean no more beanie-on-wet-hair- and -hair-drying-thicker-on-the-ends look. Just a simple uniform page boy.
Don’t listen to John, Elizabeth. You can’t tell someone they can’t be sad because someone has it worse. You can’t tell them their pain doesn’t matter. There will always be someone who has it worse, but that does not mean your emotions and feelings are irrelevant.
For heaven sake, shut yourself in the bathroom with a curling iron and find a way to fix it. We’ve all been there and we figured out a way to fix a bad hair cut. About 10 years ago I really got a 50’s housewife cut. I figured out how to curl it so that it looked fine.
While John has a point, that doesn’t mean that to Liz this haircut is a disaster. I remember one time a lot of us were shamed when we heard the very tragic story of a woman who lost all 3 of her children in a car accident one day. She was injured herself and her husband had to tell her that all 3 of their children were gone. Just as we were all making sounds of sympathy and “Oh, how terrible!” the person telling us this said “Kinda makes the flat tire you had last week look insignificant doesn’t it?” That’s not really fair since you can’t compare a flat tire to 3 tragically killed children and it doesn’t mean that a flat tire can’t be a bad situation at the time. Some perspective is called for.
I understand that it’s important to you and I can sympathize with that, but look at the big picture, the world around you. One of my dad’s favorite talks.
John, this is 1994. People were being stabbed. not shot!
There should be a strip where the Pattersons are watching TV when suddenly they see a Ford Bronco being tailed by several police cars in a low-speed chase.
While John makes some valid points about the bigger problems in the world, he trivialized his daughter’s feelings. Being upset about her hair doesn’t mean she thinks the world revolves around her. A better solution, in addition to pointing out the more serious issues in the world, would be to get her an appontment at a nice hair salon so the cut could be fine tuned to be more flattering. Her self esteem as a growing teen is important to her mental health. Maturity will come later.
Thank you for giving the perspective of her concerns for the real world concerns, but a little sympathy for her poor decision is a Dad’s obligation also……..
A girl going through this needs a parental hug and a kind word. Not “If you think that’s bad!” But something like, “I know you think that this is the worst thing ever but trust me honey, you’ll be glad one day that this is the worst that happened to you.”
Elizabeth is sullen that she lost her long hair. What was John supposed to do about it, anyway? Unless suggested a voodoo lady who will shrink Elizabeth’s head, thus making her hair long again.
And what are you doing to help all those people, John? Cleaning all their teeth for free!? Liz is the one person with a problem you COULD help, and all you do is nag at her. I thought that was your wife’s job, and you were the CARING parent!
This is why a large portion of the the world dislikes the Unites States of America and at the same time want to be here. We live in a our own personal bubbles and care little what other plights face so, so many throughout the world.
Full disclosure: Nothing wrong with giving people a little perspective, but it needs to be done after you show some sympathy. The only thing we’ve seen John do is tell Elizabeth to “stop moping”.
Check out the strip on September 26 2015, dear old dad makes fun of Elizabeth’s ponytails by calling them punytails and make her look like her head has handles. And when she gets upset he tells her she’s too young to be so sensitive.
This is a lesson that more teenagers – people in general, methinks – need to learn…or maybe it is a lesson that parents need to make a point of teaching
Back in June of 1972 I was a blooming adolescent, with critical, life-changing issues before me, things that I could never hope to overcome, and life was so terribly unjust…well, so I thought.
I was carrying on one evening about, well, something (obviously it was really important if I can’t recall what it was, LOL) and my Dad, the stalwart Englishman that he was, tired after a long day at work, evidently had had enough of my whinging and whining and carrying on. He handed me his newspaper – a day old copy of the Vancouver Sun if I recall correctly – and wordlessly directed me to the front page photo and caption of The Napalm Girl in Trảng Bàng. My Da didn’t say a word, and as immature as I may have been, I got the message and shut the #%$ up.
That image haunted me for years, (and, quite frankly, still does, despite a professionl lifetime of dealing with very similar things) and mostly kept me in check throughout my most demanding and self-centered years.
I’m sure my Dad’s actions would be considered child abuse by today’s standards, but it was one of the most valuable things he ever passed on to me.
C 12 months ago
The world doesn’t revolve around me? That can’t be right..
9thCapricorn 12 months ago
Excellent parenting, John. And Liz does look cute in the last panel. If Lynn continues to draw her in this cuter version, she’d be happier – that would mean no more beanie-on-wet-hair- and -hair-drying-thicker-on-the-ends look. Just a simple uniform page boy.
TexTech 12 months ago
Good, John. Give her a little bit bigger perspective.
snsurone76 12 months ago
It’s just a typical case of teenage self-centeredness, John. Let it go.
snsurone76 12 months ago
At least Liz is starting to see things in their proper perspective.
Johnny Q Premium Member 12 months ago
Remember when Calvin let Hobbes cut his hair?
mnexplorer+ 12 months ago
Reality check.
howtheduck 12 months ago
Don’t listen to John, Elizabeth. You can’t tell someone they can’t be sad because someone has it worse. You can’t tell them their pain doesn’t matter. There will always be someone who has it worse, but that does not mean your emotions and feelings are irrelevant.
hubbard3188 12 months ago
I would have gone with a blue Mohawk, but that’s just me.
French Persons Premium Member 12 months ago
No, the proper young teenaged girl response here is to huff and walk away.
Last Rose Of Summer Premium Member 12 months ago
For heaven sake, shut yourself in the bathroom with a curling iron and find a way to fix it. We’ve all been there and we figured out a way to fix a bad hair cut. About 10 years ago I really got a 50’s housewife cut. I figured out how to curl it so that it looked fine.
shadowdwellr6352 12 months ago
Perspective is a good thing. Sometimes it has to be delivered rather than self-administered.
jmworacle 12 months ago
Cold water meet face…..
Tantor 12 months ago
Go away?! that’s not nice!
Alys France 12 months ago
Is Elizabeth hoping that if she mopes enough one of her parents will pay for a new haircut?
Macushlalondra 12 months ago
While John has a point, that doesn’t mean that to Liz this haircut is a disaster. I remember one time a lot of us were shamed when we heard the very tragic story of a woman who lost all 3 of her children in a car accident one day. She was injured herself and her husband had to tell her that all 3 of their children were gone. Just as we were all making sounds of sympathy and “Oh, how terrible!” the person telling us this said “Kinda makes the flat tire you had last week look insignificant doesn’t it?” That’s not really fair since you can’t compare a flat tire to 3 tragically killed children and it doesn’t mean that a flat tire can’t be a bad situation at the time. Some perspective is called for.
garethkb415 Premium Member 12 months ago
If I’m ever that much of a dick to my kids shoot me
figuratively speaking 12 months ago
I understand that it’s important to you and I can sympathize with that, but look at the big picture, the world around you. One of my dad’s favorite talks.
Pet 12 months ago
Well done, Dad!
dcdete. 12 months ago
Glad that dad is in his cheerful mood today! Can you imagine what dad would say if he was morose and sullen?
Robert Nowall Premium Member 12 months ago
“Why is this much worse?” “Because it happened to me!”
GirlGeek Premium Member 12 months ago
That is correct.
jarvisloop 12 months ago
I rarely comment about the nature of posters, but I will this time.
Please don’t give howtheduck any more dopamine hits. He’s trolling and enjoys the reactions.
I’ve seen his type before in other threads.
(Notice that I refer to him as a male. It seems that females rarely troll.)
PoodleGroomer 12 months ago
You have cute hair that will grow back that your brain doesn’t accept because it is different.
DawnQuinn1 12 months ago
John has a VERY valid argument.
OzarksJim Premium Member 12 months ago
Hair today, gone tomorrow. From the Ozzie and Harriet show.
djtenltd 12 months ago
We always complain about not having any shoes to wear until we see the person who’s paraplegic.
calliarcale 12 months ago
She took that well. Sometimes getting a little perspective is all it takes.
Daltongang Premium Member 12 months ago
Reality always ruins a good pity party.
Redd Panda 12 months ago
Adolescence throws everything out of proportion.
Luckily, I was a perfect angel and nothing bothered me.
Foob 12 months ago
Personally, I think it’s all in her head.
g04922 12 months ago
Good for Dad…. a dose of reality for Liz…
Ken Norris Premium Member 12 months ago
And in all the years since this strip first ran, nothing has gotten better…
Angry Indeed Premium Member 12 months ago
Nothing like a dad to putting it all in perspective.
Angry Indeed Premium Member 12 months ago
Panel three seems to be a universal theme of humanity, sadly.
raptor 12 months ago
My father reply would have been – are any bones broken, are you bleeding, do you need a doctor? No, then go play…
John Jorgensen 12 months ago
Here’s one strip that did not need to be updated in order to fit better with the spirit of the age.
eced52 12 months ago
Rude awakening, much?
[Unnamed Reader - 14b4ce] 12 months ago
Right between t he eyes with a sledge hammer
mindjob 12 months ago
My dad would have knocked me upside the head
The Great_Black President 12 months ago
John, this is 1994. People were being stabbed. not shot!
There should be a strip where the Pattersons are watching TV when suddenly they see a Ford Bronco being tailed by several police cars in a low-speed chase.
EnlilEnkiEa 12 months ago
Happiness is only a little perspective away.
(She’d make a delightful lead singer…)
calmom75 Premium Member 12 months ago
Because this is a retread comic from her original publications, it’ sad to realize the things John mentions are still part of our world today :-(
AZfroggie 12 months ago
It’s all about perspective.
nelsonks3646 12 months ago
While John makes some valid points about the bigger problems in the world, he trivialized his daughter’s feelings. Being upset about her hair doesn’t mean she thinks the world revolves around her. A better solution, in addition to pointing out the more serious issues in the world, would be to get her an appontment at a nice hair salon so the cut could be fine tuned to be more flattering. Her self esteem as a growing teen is important to her mental health. Maturity will come later.
raybarb44 12 months ago
Thank you for giving the perspective of her concerns for the real world concerns, but a little sympathy for her poor decision is a Dad’s obligation also……..
tammyspeakslife Premium Member 12 months ago
A girl going through this needs a parental hug and a kind word. Not “If you think that’s bad!” But something like, “I know you think that this is the worst thing ever but trust me honey, you’ll be glad one day that this is the worst that happened to you.”
brick10 12 months ago
A new perspective is often useful.
Statick 12 months ago
Nicely played, John.
kamoolah 12 months ago
Elizabeth is sullen that she lost her long hair. What was John supposed to do about it, anyway? Unless suggested a voodoo lady who will shrink Elizabeth’s head, thus making her hair long again.
CoreyTaylor1 12 months ago
And what are you doing to help all those people, John? Cleaning all their teeth for free!? Liz is the one person with a problem you COULD help, and all you do is nag at her. I thought that was your wife’s job, and you were the CARING parent!
sperry532 12 months ago
They both need to develop a tad more perspective.
comicalUser 12 months ago
This is why a large portion of the the world dislikes the Unites States of America and at the same time want to be here. We live in a our own personal bubbles and care little what other plights face so, so many throughout the world.
sjsczurek 12 months ago
Okay, Elizabeth has to get over her hair mishap. But that doesn’t mean she has a Warty Bliggens complex.
Katsuro Premium Member 12 months ago
Full disclosure: Nothing wrong with giving people a little perspective, but it needs to be done after you show some sympathy. The only thing we’ve seen John do is tell Elizabeth to “stop moping”.
ktrabbit 12 months ago
Oh, jeez…go back to the salon and have them trim up the sides…that’s all it needs. BOOM…style restored!!
Asharah 12 months ago
Check out the strip on September 26 2015, dear old dad makes fun of Elizabeth’s ponytails by calling them punytails and make her look like her head has handles. And when she gets upset he tells her she’s too young to be so sensitive.
M209T 12 months ago
I get it. Dad doesn’t. He was never a young girl with young girl problems.
beharford 11 months ago
This is a lesson that more teenagers – people in general, methinks – need to learn…or maybe it is a lesson that parents need to make a point of teaching
Back in June of 1972 I was a blooming adolescent, with critical, life-changing issues before me, things that I could never hope to overcome, and life was so terribly unjust…well, so I thought.
I was carrying on one evening about, well, something (obviously it was really important if I can’t recall what it was, LOL) and my Dad, the stalwart Englishman that he was, tired after a long day at work, evidently had had enough of my whinging and whining and carrying on. He handed me his newspaper – a day old copy of the Vancouver Sun if I recall correctly – and wordlessly directed me to the front page photo and caption of The Napalm Girl in Trảng Bàng. My Da didn’t say a word, and as immature as I may have been, I got the message and shut the #%$ up.
That image haunted me for years, (and, quite frankly, still does, despite a professionl lifetime of dealing with very similar things) and mostly kept me in check throughout my most demanding and self-centered years.
I’m sure my Dad’s actions would be considered child abuse by today’s standards, but it was one of the most valuable things he ever passed on to me.