Yes, John. When your father tells you that you were just like your daughter, “miserable and uncooperative and surly as they come. You complained and sulked.” Not very comforting and kind of insulting.
Remember that old saying: “Grey hair is hereditary, you get it from your kids.” Well, we now have three granddaughters and a grandson. Personally, I can’t wait until they’re all in their teens – it’s gonna be sweet to watch!
There’s a time in all our lives that are parents didn’t know anything. Then miraculously they become wise and smart when you join them in adulthood. Now I just miss them and speak to them in my dreams.
Interesting, I just finished watching an episode of The Crown where Prince Harry attends a masquerade in a World War 2 uniform with a swastika armband. Some partygoers whip out their cellphones and take pictures of him and sell those to the newspapers. The reactions of the family, from Queen Elizabeth to Prince Charles and the others is varied. Some are angry, while others are like “he was just a teen”.
I never got to experience ‘normal’ so when my kids went through it I was overwhelmed and when I reached out to my parents all I got was blame and more abuse.
Ah yes, one of the great pleasures of being a grandparent. You can laugh at your kids for what they did when they were young and you can give your grandkids a pixie-stick (otherwise knows as diabetes in a straw) right before bedtime.
Good thing Michael is working at Megafood; now Will got his social security. Taxes collected today go right to OHIP, the Canada Pension Program, and welfare. Michael is paying for the OAPs and the dopes!
John’s Father: Why you were as surly as miserable as they come. We couldn’t take you anywhere.
John’s Grandfather: Well, you were as surly as miserable as they come. We were worried that we would have to leave you if the Germans invaded.
John’s Great-Grandfather: Well, you were as surly as miserable as they come. We were worried that it would have been easier to have the Confederates annex Canada than deal with you!
John’s Great-Great Grandfather: Well, you were as surly as miserable as they come. When America got her independence, we almost figured it easier to leave you then rather than run away to Canada when we had to flee for being Tories.
My son has complained more than a few times about his daughter, resulting in me just staring at him until he goes pink when he realises that she’s doing exactly the sort of things he used to do.
Ironically, I just read Harry Potter which took the exact opposite view of this strip, specifically where Harry posthumously loses respect for his father when he finds out his father was a bully who tormented a kid who became one of Harry’s professors. While the character was unlikeable in many regards, Harry felt that such an attitude on behalf of his father was despicable, and takes it out on Sirius Black, who was also a participant in the bullying.
Sirius Black: You have to understand, we were only 15.
Harry Potter: I am 15! I never treated my classmates like that.
Sirus Black: You are right. Being a teenager was a quick, easy excuse to hide behind. I am sorry.
Harry Potter: Glad you understand that, but I am not the one you need to be apologizing to. You need to say that to the one you tormented.
snsurone76 about 1 month ago
It’s called “Parents’ Revenge”, John.
Salinasong about 1 month ago
You’ll be able to laugh once your kids have surly teenagers of their own.
Enter.Name.Here about 1 month ago
Son, someday you will be able to look back and laugh at the whole darn thing.
Meanwhile, right now it’s MY turn! HAHAhaahahahaHAHAH
j_m_kuehl about 1 month ago
You get what you gave
howtheduck about 1 month ago
Yes, John. When your father tells you that you were just like your daughter, “miserable and uncooperative and surly as they come. You complained and sulked.” Not very comforting and kind of insulting.
Argythree about 1 month ago
Funny how nobody remembers their own teen moods. John looks so surprised…
a sage about 1 month ago
We call it the mother’s (or father’s) curse—to have children as bad as you were.
Robert Nowall Premium Member about 1 month ago
“Grandchildren are the best revenge.”
eced52 about 1 month ago
Grandpa is a poop.
More Coffee Please! Premium Member about 1 month ago
Remember that old saying: “Grey hair is hereditary, you get it from your kids.” Well, we now have three granddaughters and a grandson. Personally, I can’t wait until they’re all in their teens – it’s gonna be sweet to watch!
rhpii about 1 month ago
There’s a time in all our lives that are parents didn’t know anything. Then miraculously they become wise and smart when you join them in adulthood. Now I just miss them and speak to them in my dreams.
French Persons Premium Member about 1 month ago
Oh yes, I saw it with my sister and my niece, now with my niece and her four young boys!
Frank_Lecanto about 1 month ago
In one week - many years ago, after having kids of their own - two of my kids called up and apologized…
BJDucer about 1 month ago
Well, I can certainly see the family resemblance in the last panel between the two!
ajr58(1) about 1 month ago
Grandchildren. Or, as we say, “The instruments of our revenge.”
The_Great_Black President about 1 month ago
Screaming at Elizabeth for a couple of hours about her attitude should solve that problem.
jango about 1 month ago
What goes around comes around
ctolson about 1 month ago
Parent’s revenge takes many forms when they become grandparents.
rebelstrike0 about 1 month ago
Interesting, I just finished watching an episode of The Crown where Prince Harry attends a masquerade in a World War 2 uniform with a swastika armband. Some partygoers whip out their cellphones and take pictures of him and sell those to the newspapers. The reactions of the family, from Queen Elizabeth to Prince Charles and the others is varied. Some are angry, while others are like “he was just a teen”.
llosik about 1 month ago
Grandchildren are your rewards for not killing your teenagers!
CultofFarley about 1 month ago
Ooga Farley!
Booga Farley!
Googa Farley!
Rooga Farley!
The_Great_Black President about 1 month ago
Fifty years ago today, Nixon resigned.
waynemadison about 1 month ago
I thought she was older than 14…
mindjob about 1 month ago
You’ll be able to go over to your kid’s house and jump on their furniture
[Unnamed Reader - 14b4ce] about 1 month ago
Don’t you hate grandparents with extra-keen memories?
tammyspeakslife Premium Member about 1 month ago
I never got to experience ‘normal’ so when my kids went through it I was overwhelmed and when I reached out to my parents all I got was blame and more abuse.
The_Great_Black President about 1 month ago
Attitude Elizabeth should have:
“Yes please, Mom”
“No thank you, Dad”
“I want to be part of this family”
“I will do anything you ask of me, Mistress Elly and Massa John”
Daltongang Premium Member about 1 month ago
Ah yes, one of the great pleasures of being a grandparent. You can laugh at your kids for what they did when they were young and you can give your grandkids a pixie-stick (otherwise knows as diabetes in a straw) right before bedtime.
Billy Yank about 1 month ago
Insanity is hereditary, you get it from your kids.
kamoolah about 1 month ago
Good thing Michael is working at Megafood; now Will got his social security. Taxes collected today go right to OHIP, the Canada Pension Program, and welfare. Michael is paying for the OAPs and the dopes!
rebelstrike0 about 1 month ago
Or this for a strip:
John’s Father: Why you were as surly as miserable as they come. We couldn’t take you anywhere.
John’s Grandfather: Well, you were as surly as miserable as they come. We were worried that we would have to leave you if the Germans invaded.
John’s Great-Grandfather: Well, you were as surly as miserable as they come. We were worried that it would have been easier to have the Confederates annex Canada than deal with you!
John’s Great-Great Grandfather: Well, you were as surly as miserable as they come. When America got her independence, we almost figured it easier to leave you then rather than run away to Canada when we had to flee for being Tories.
Hamady Sack Premium Member about 1 month ago
Best served cold.
markkahler52 about 1 month ago
Teach them to meditate, and less likely to happen…
sincavage05 about 1 month ago
Karma is a beautiful thing.
BlitzMcD about 1 month ago
An inconvenient truth. Many think it, but few will actually express it.
Strawberry King about 1 month ago
“She’s supposed to be negative.”
Not necessarily.
marauderdeuce about 1 month ago
My son has complained more than a few times about his daughter, resulting in me just staring at him until he goes pink when he realises that she’s doing exactly the sort of things he used to do.
USN1977 about 1 month ago
Ironically, I just read Harry Potter which took the exact opposite view of this strip, specifically where Harry posthumously loses respect for his father when he finds out his father was a bully who tormented a kid who became one of Harry’s professors. While the character was unlikeable in many regards, Harry felt that such an attitude on behalf of his father was despicable, and takes it out on Sirius Black, who was also a participant in the bullying.
Sirius Black: You have to understand, we were only 15.
Harry Potter: I am 15! I never treated my classmates like that.
Sirus Black: You are right. Being a teenager was a quick, easy excuse to hide behind. I am sorry.
Harry Potter: Glad you understand that, but I am not the one you need to be apologizing to. You need to say that to the one you tormented.