Recent Comments

1. about 7 hours ago on Luann

   Before people have children, they think they’ll be able to do everything much better than their parents or other parents around them. But truly, a child brought up by Toni and Brad from birth probably would be a lot easier to be around than Shannon, who has responded to six years of abandonment and flakiness.

2. 2 days ago on Luann

   Toni’s imagining a child who’s a lot like her — organized and responsible. Although Toni was probably older when she lost her parents, she probably stepped up to take care of herself.

3. 2 days ago on Luann

   When has Bernice ever helped the DeGroots with their housework? Made a meal, organized anything? We only see her eating what’s presumably their food and hanging out around their house. Dream Shannon is Toni’s idealized version of herself that the fantasizes about passing down to a child.

4. 4 days ago on Luann

   And Bernice is not particularly helpful around the DeGroots’ house, nor does she manage her time to get involved in a lot of activities other than studying for school.

5. 4 days ago on Luann

   It’s a humorously exaggerated fantasy version about what the superior child raised by Toni and Brad would be like — with the money and parental motivation to direct her energy into activities and growing up with the expectation of civilized behavior (helping to clean up rather than being destructive). Real Shannon’s just sort of a tumbleweed who goes where her whims and anxieties take her.

6. 4 days ago on Luann

   I don’t see it as servile. This version of Shannon is adult-like, a polite, contributing member of the household. It’s a humorous fantasy, just as Shannon in the kitchen sink is an exaggerated version of the messes she makes that Brad and Toni never see coming until it’s too late. If they had their own child, it would be the offspring of a married couple who live together and wouldn’t abandon him or her…big difference.

7. 7 days ago on Luann

   She’s analytic, a planner; while Brad is emotional and easy-going. And ultimately, it’s Toni’s life that would change most from pregnancy and child-rearing. Brad knows that and takes it for granted that she’d be up to the challenge…the question is whether she wants to try.

8. 7 days ago on Luann

   Shannon is extroverted, maybe creative…but she needs a lot of attention to make up for a missing mother and often-absent father. In real life, a child in this situation would probably be pretty messed-up and in need of therapy. All Toni and Brad can do is try to hold her down to a dull roar and minimize the property damage.

9. 7 days ago on Luann

   It’s not their place; she’s not their child. It won’t work if there’s one set of rules for Aunt Toni’s house every once in a while, but a different (or practically nonexistent) set for home with her father.

10. 8 days ago on Luann

    It’s too bad Shannon’s still a little too young for most sleepaway summer camps, or Jonah, Brad and Toni and Brad’s parents could chip in for a month away (or whatever it takes to care for Shannon until school starts again in their world).