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Why are Anthony his Francie spending Christmas with the Pattersons? What about Anthony's parents? They've been a big help for him the last few years, and his mom took care of Francie quite a bit when Anthony went back to work. Don't they get to have Christmas dinner with their son and granddaughter? And what about Therese's parents, the ones who pressured her into having a child in the first place--don't you think they'd want to spend the way with their granddaughter?

Why does Liz get to monopolize them on such a major holiday? I'm not even sure how serious their relationship is; a few months ago, Liz was still insisting that they were "just friends." It hardly seems fair that Anthony has to ignore his own family on a big holiday just to be with Liz and her family.

Kristen S, Seattle WA

I am really glad Liz and Anthony are getting back together. After everything they have been through and have found their way back to each other, it's obvious they belong together. Nobody can take the place of a childs mother but, Francie hasn't really had a mother. Maybe Liz can be there for her and for Anthony,

Martha, Orlando FL

Very complicated situation here-- maybe Therese thinks that it would be good for Francie to get emotional affection from Anthony and Elizabeth, while she gives her daughter materialistic attention.
I was never in a position like that; so, I can't relate to it. However I can identify with the "Santa blackmail" issue. Many parents do it because they think it is manipulating their children in the right way. But, keep in mind, if children [believe] there is no Santa Claus; they may begin doubting the existence of their family's religious deity.

Wesley M, Minneapolis MN

I really like the big cartoon that is on the home page and how it changes with the season, holiday, etc. The current one with the young Michael and Liz coming upon the Christmas presents is priceless, especially the message: One of the joys of Christmas is remembering the joys of Christmases past! I lost my mother this year and I will be thinking a lot of the past Christmases and Mom's part in them.
Thank you, Lynn and team, for the values of family and friends that you show through the strip.

Kay S, Chicago IL

I guess these past strips with Therese echo real life for some unfortunate children. I work with some children whose parents drop in and out of their lives, too. It breaks my heart when I hear kids taunt each other with "you don't know who your daddy is" or "your mommy left you because you're ugly." Seriously, I hear these things all the time. I try to reassure the children, but I know in the backs of their minds, they believe the taunting words. Most hurtful of all are the parents who avoid their children, then accidentally encounter them somewhere, like Therese and Francie in the mall. I hear of lot of the tears and sorrows that come from parents ignoring their own children and acting like they didn't see them at all. At least Therese spoke to her child, and spent a tiny amount of time with her. Would be surprised how many non-custodial parents simply walk on by like they don't know the child at all.

It would be great if, because of this encounter, Therese could be moved to be more active in Francie's life. It would make good drama, too. It would echo the real dilemma of parents and children who don't know whether to hope for a return or to move on with a new life without the parent.

Anyway, keep writing, and keep bring the past strips back to us. They are fantastic!

Judith

Therese will never grow up. She will never stop thinking of herself as the center of the universe. She is the poster person of one who should never have kids. She can live her life married or single, same effect. Age will pase her by, no regreats, she did it all. Too bad it's not a fun life.

Ron V, So Cal

I've been so excited to see Anthony and Liz storyline again. I love the added bonus of Theresa showing up.

It is like a book that I can't stop reading.

Candace, Elmhurst IL

'meany!' --- oh thank you, my older children have been teaching this to their two year old sister, and she screams it at the top of her lungs! -- lol

Dawn, Indiana

Lynn, I have been reading your stories since they have been published.....and have been living along with all your characters....especially Elizabeth. Yours is the only comic strip I read every day because it feels so much like family. Your latest story line with Elizabeth has left me in tears. I hope you decide she will have a good life and a ready made family.Francoise really needs her:)Bless your talented heart.

Karina, Whitby ON

I've read some of the pro and con comments on the mall meeting and have a kind of middle of the road opinion, having been a step-mother myself. Just because Terese choses to send gifts instead of seeing her daughter doesn't mean she's a bad mother or that she doesn't particularly care. Sometimes in situations like these the absent parent feels it's easier on the child if they make themselves scarce for a while. Whether that way is right or wrong, it's still coming from a caring position. lol well thinking kindly.

MY first thought on seeing today's comic was WOW Terese actually apologized to Elizabeth! I was expecting a sneer or a conflict of some sort. This makes me feel more kindly towards Terese.

Pam S, Oshawa ON

There are really parents like Francie's mother. My father did the same thing, except no gifts, just plain ole rejection. This is real life. Some people just don't want to be parents, thus Therese. Having a parent who doesn't care is difficult, If you have a step-parent who does care, the love of that parent can help you deal with the rejection you will never understand. Hang in there, Liz!

Sandy R, Breckenridge CO

This last weeks story arch was heartbreaking.
I had a similar situation with my father when I was 3, except when I yelled out at him, he kept walking away. He was in and out of my life, I didn't really see him until I was 7. He never acknowledged that incident. I'd see him once or twice a year, until he up and moved to Toronto when I was 13. I found out from a third party 4 months later. The next time he contacted me was to inform me he was dying of cancer, and he was gone 5 months later. I was 16.
For those that say Francoise is being portrayed too mature, in a way I agree, I don't know of many 2-3 year olds that communicate like that, but they are aware of the non-commital parent. I remember how it felt to have my Dad push me away, to brush me off. I didn't understand why, but I remember how it felt.
Sadly, this story arch is all too real for many families, and while the portrayal of Anthony's little girl may be a bit too mature, the story itself is very honest.
Thank-you Lynn, for once again, having the courage to portray real life, no matter how painful.

Kyla D, Vancouver Island

May I thank Ms.Lynn from the bottom of my heart for her great comic strip. The recent strips on the love between Elizabeth and her boy friend, and her caring for Francoise, have been marvelous. The pictures have expressed a loving relationship so perfectly they have moved me almost to tears. Their body language has been so filled with love. Thanks to her!

Laurence M, New Jersey

Your strip is always the first I want to check every morning and have for years. I love the Liz Anthony love story and to me Francie's mother is like a lot of parents-- male or female who get pregnant before they are ready-- if they ever are ready-- to be a parent. She didn't want her daughter and she could have aborted her but didn't. That is to her credit. Perhaps she hoped she could find that maternal love but it wasn't there and she admitted it before she did more damage to her daughter. I don't see her as a villain but rather just a different sort of woman.

Rain T, Oregon

Lynn,

I have a real problem with this most recent story line between Francoise, Therese, and Elizabeth.

Francoise appears to be much older than she actually is. At just under three years old, a toddler, she is not going to recognize her mother from across a crowded mall if she hasn't seen her in a long time. Also, a toddler is not going to have any concept of who sent her gifts in the mail. The only thing she would understand at that age is that she received gifts.

I suppose your intent is to show how cold, distant, shallow, and unloving Therese is supposed to be, in some attempt to force Francoise (as well as your readers) into accepting Elizabeth as her new (inevitable) mother.

This approach may work with some Pollyannaish readers who are "thrilled, excited, so happy, etc" to see Liz and Anthony together again. But it doesn't work for those of us who accept the reality that things just don't always work out the way we want them to.

It seems to me that when Therese saw Francoise at the mall with Elizabeth, at that instant, Therese's jealousy over Liz became completely justified and her suspicions of Anthony's emotional affair with Elizabeth were then affirmed.

Over the last few years, you have attempted to draw Anthony as a good person and Therese as a bad person. However, in the final analysis, it is clear that Anthony is a manipulative creep and we STILL have not heard Therese's side of the story from her own lips.

Until we see a fair portrayal of Therese, until you spend some time delving into Therese's character, until we get to hear Therese's version of the events from her own lips, then my judgment of Anthony will stand.

Joe, West Virginia

I have known many people that sired or gave birth to children that they had no interest in.

Therese is the kindest example I have ever seen. She uses empathetic body language, gets down to the eye level of the child. She maintains contact with the child, even if only with gifts.

Rosie B, Seattle

The strips this week have touched the keart of a grandma of two kids with separated or divorced parents. This morning -Saturday - my heart broke, and I spilled tears into the orange juice. "Crying over a COMIC STRIP?" said Grandad. Hey, the Pattersons are our Canadian family! Thanks Lyn, for keeping the story going on. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year.

Barbara W, Lutz FL

It's very fascinating to see how this angle is playing out. Originally when Elizabeth and Anthony started seeing each other, Frannie was pretty much all over it. And like most children in a situation where there is 1 parent and that individual starts dating; a phase of jealousy emerges. This strip's storyline these past 2 weeks was handled tastefully and kudos to Lynn on how she "gently" inserted Therese back into the picture;albeit just enough to show the readers yet again that she never deserved to even be in Anthony's world. I'm rooting for "Lizthony" all the way!

Lisa, New Jersey