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I would just like to thank you for all your time and effort and heart creating these comics. My grandmother, mother and I (plus my grandma's girlfriend and my dad when they feel like it) all read fborfw, and each christmas/birthday mom and I get a stack of fborfw comics to share with our presents. Despite the ocean separating us (grandma lives in the US and we live in Norway) we have this simple tie. I think it's fun to think of how three generations of women in our family read your comic, and very appropriate seeing as it's all about the Pattersons through the years. Lots of thanks from Dandelion, 17 going on 18:)

Dandelion C, Norway

When my brother outgrew his crib, he was allowed to choose his bed, and he chose bunkbeds. He always slept on the bottom, and the top got filled with toys. He'd climb up a ladder and get the toys down though, and then put them back up on the second bunk. If someone in the family were staying over like a cousin or someone we'd make space for them in another room or we'd clear off the bunk bed top and they'd stay up there, if the kid was older than 6 and wanted to sleep in the bunk bed.

I didn't want a bunk bed in my room, I wanted one of those "Princess" beds with an awning over top. My mother made one for me and even attached stuff to the ceiling to hold the awning up- no poles for this bed- since I was using a bed/mattress my mother slept on as a teenager.

Lara B, Santa Ana

Are Mike's kids supposed to be total brats? I have two kids of my own (not too far apart from Robin and Meredith) so I understand that kids are not sweet and polite all the time, and can be a handful. But it seems like if Robin and Meredith aren't screaming, fighting, whining, or throwing things, then they are being mouthy and disrespectful, Meredith especially. Anthony's daughter is written to be a lot calmer and more well-behaved, so I know you are capable of realistically portraying kids. Maybe Mike and Dee need to learn how to discipline instead of just standing around looking overwhelmed all the time. I don't like reading FBorFW when the strips revolve around Mike, Dee, their bratty kids, and their put-upon facial expressions when the kids do bratty things. I'm not the biggest fan of Anthony and Elizabeth, but at least that's an interesting, dynamic story, instead of this same-old obnoxious kids stuff that ever other strip in the paper does.

Amy F-K, Vancouver BC

Dear Lynn,

I have been reading your comics since I was a little girl. For a long time it was one of the only things I really read. My mother bought a couple of your books and as I have dyslexia reading was well, not my favorite but reading your comis was always a pleasure. I have bought most of your books and my daughter is reading them. My daughter is 11 and finds April wonderful. My daughter plays the violin and she really relate to what April goes through. It is wonderful to hear my daughter ask if I have bought any more of your books. I bring them out for special occations like when she is sick and has nothing to do. Your books keep her enthralled for hours.
I realize that one day you will stop your strip. But in my own selfish thoughts I hope you never stop.
thanks for much for all your books and wonderful insights to family life.

Amy L, Brockville ON

Like several people have stated, I always thought soaps were stupid. Your strip hooked me. I can't miss a day. It is almost like having another family to keep track of!! God bless you for your use of your talent.

Kenneth D, California

Have always loved your strip and still do. I started reading around the same time as your flashback strips were originally published. I love all of the story lines including the flashbacks. I gather from some of the other comments that some have trouble telling the "old" from the "new" or current, but I guess since I was reading from the beginning I can instantly tell the difference. Just like family & friends you see everyday, Elly & John slowly aged before our eyes & don't really realize it until we see a flashback. Please continue what you've always been doing.

Debbie H, NC

I could help but go "aw" today when I read the comic. I find Robin to be a cute kid and his moment with the crib was sweet. I'm a little sad when I see Robin getting picked on by his big sister and I wished that he would get the last laugh in the end more often. I don't want them to hurt each other but I want to see Robin manage to outwit Meredith one of these days.
Thanks for listening!

Gabriela V, California

Although I was enamored of Paul Wright, it makes sense for Elizabeth to re-connect with Anthony. In their history, they became close during their awkward stages, and found one another again later.

Elizabeth wanted excitement in her life, first through Eric, and then with Paul, whom she loved, but she did not want to totally "convert" to First Nations life forever. Anthony also wanted the excitement and glamour that Therese offered. Liz was confronted with her part in the breakup with Paul through her principal in Mtigwaki. I'm assuming this year we'll hear more about Anthony's part in his breakup with Therese, how he fueled her jealousies.

Men react similarly to women when they feel they've been abandoned. We all want someone to confide in, so I don't look at Anthony as being spineless.

Why is it so terrible for Liz to deal with a stepdaughter? That's life for many of us today. My daughter does not choose to have children, yet she took upon the care of her 3-year old stepdaughter 14 years ago. Now they are very close and she's a great role model for Brooke, whose own natural mother doesn't relate well to her. It doesn't hurt any of us to extend ourselves beyond our comfort zone. There are great rewards for unselfish love.

P.H., Utah

Regarding comments about Liz and Anthony, I am favor of them getting married and having the life that is intended for them to have. I have been in a loveless marriage which is not easy, and I have no sympathy for Therese. She chose to be envious of Liz, she also chose to have Anthony raise their daughter by himself, then she has an affair and leaves them so that she can be happy? That is so unfair! When you make a vow in marriage, you make it to each other and God. It is not to be taken lightly. Which is what she did. Then at Christmas she tells Elizabeth that she didn't want to see her own daughter and made her a promise she will never keep. I am now raising my eight year old by myself and his dad doesn't want to be in the picture. I hope Therese doesn't come back and Anthony and Liz can raise Francios and show her what a loving family is supposed to be like!

Cathy R, Locust NC

Your recent strips, both new and flashbacks, show that no matter how much things change, they remain the same. The antics of Meredith and Robin are repeats of Mike and Liz as children. My four children tormented each other, as did my brothers & I, and as my grandchildren now do. Others have commented that it is Mike's lack parenting skills that allow Merrie to pick on her brother, but I beg to differ. Children of certain ages behave in the manner appropriate for those ages. Older children will pick on their siblings for no reason other than to upset the baby. They constantly have to prove they are bigger and smarter than the younger ones when in reality, they are only older. Just because we don't always see Mike administer the discipline, doesn't mean it doesn't occur. Often the final panel illustrates the irony of the child doing or saying the same thing as the parent did at that age. I agree with Deanna when she said that as a single young woman, she knew all there was to know about raising children, then she became a mother and learned the truth. Children don't understand that their parents were once children. Hopefully, adults will remember what each period was like and have learned from those experiences to better relate to their children. How many of us have vowed to raise our children differently (better) than we were raised, only to hear our parents words coming out of our mouths when we talk to our children?

I really enjoy your skills as an artist and story teller. You have captured my life and my family as no other. It is such a wonderful legacy to have touched so many lives with characters that are alive.

Sherry L, Florida via Michigan

I am so tired of watching week after week of Elly complaining about being old and Mike's bad parenting of his two little brats. When are we going to get back to the REAL story that has yet to be resolved: Liz and Anthony--? I can't imagine why their story has been virtually ignored. Compare it to the courtship of Mike and Dee, which was told in much greater detail. We even got more detail about Liz's relationships with Eric and Paul! Why is this one being conducted in secret while boring issues take the forefront?

Lana L, Des Moines

I am truly enjoying the flashbacks. I'm 22, and I've only been reading FBoFW for a couple of years now. So, it's very interesting to see how the flashbacks tie in with every day life. I wasn't really shocked at what happened, a little afraid it had ended, but I enjoyed it immensely when I realized how well the stories tied in with each other.

It's fantastic. I love this strip so much that if I miss out on it, I have to go online just to read it or my day isn't complete!

Kate, New York

Dear Ms. Johnston,

I've been enjoying your comic strip ever since I could read. In fact, chronologically, Michael and I are about the same age (I'm 35, born late 1972). Like him, I have two children as well, a boy and a girl (5.5 and 2.5, respectively). One of the many, and perhaps best, charms of For Better or for Worse is the fact that your characters grew up, grew older, and grew wiser. Although the effects cannot yet be felt as it is too soon to feel those effects, I believe your comic strip will be diminished by not allowing your characters to age as they have been.

Take, for instance, in the current storyline of Robin and Merrie getting their own rooms and beds. You won't be able to go much farther than that if they do not age. Or, should Anthony and Liz marry, how will they not age if they have children? Will they forever NOT have children? Or will they simply never marry?

I've been enjoying your new format (though at first I thought I would hate it, the correlations between the younger Pattersons and my family are so uncanny I can't help but really enjoy the reminiscing strips). Perhaps, because of the new format, you might slow the aging, but PLEASE, don't just keep them static. Eventually, it'll get old and the comic may lose its charm, a charm that has been nearly unique to your strip for decades.

All the best,

Barak B-T, Cleveland

Thank you Lynn,
Just when you think you cant tear up any more Robin goes and hugs his crib. OH MY GAWD!
isnt that the most touching thing to see. keep up the great work and i will keep tissues at my desk for any incomming emotions.sniff sniff

Cindy, Michigan