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Recently a strip featured April and Gerald talking about their plans for the future, beyond high school. Gerald admits to wanting to pursue a music career outside school, rather than going to University, and refers to it as "following his dreams." College-minded April walks away with her nose in the air and states that she doesn't want to "follow", she wants to "LEAD."

When I was their age, and about to graduate high school, I faced a very difficult situation: I couldn't afford college, my family couldn't afford college, and frankly I didn't have time for it. If I wanted to survive, I had to jump into the workforce after high school graduation.

I struggled for many years, teaching myself important job skills, honing my artistic talents, and finding a niche for myself in the corporate world. It has been an uphill battle all the way: even when I knew more and had stronger skills and talents than my college-educated coworkers, I had to work three times as hard to prove my worth, and was often passed over for no other reason than that I didn't have a college education.

Now that I'm older, established in my field, and successful, I still wouldn't have had it any other way. I still watch people fresh from college who have no idea what they're doing, and who lack both practical and basic business and life skills, but consider themselves "above" those who were hard at work in the real world while they were mired in study.

I find the attitude that those who go to college are bound to be "followers", and those who attend will be "leaders", highly offensive, and rife with the same ignorance that I had to fight against for years.

Good for April, for knowing what she wants to do... and good for Gerald, for knowing, as well. There is nothing more noble than pursuing your dreams, and no shame in whatever path you take to get there.

Shame on Lynn for advertising such an attitude of haughty ignorance and social snobbery.

Autumn, Philadelphia PA

I had to laugh this morning when I saw the strip...my daughter is in this "pickle" now...and her friends' parents are always commenting on how she has it all together...LOL Way to hit this one on the head!

Mel, Kentucky

No...no...no!!! I cannot hold it much longer! I am BEGGING you!!! Please give Liz a different wedding gown! Looking at past strips of Deanna, Shawna-Marie and yes, even Therese- they all look GORGEOUS with these beautiful modern gowns. And then there's Liz's frumpy handmedown. I understand the significance behind the dress...but maybe (with Gpa Jim & Elly's blessing) have in altered? Liz deserves the chance to be the princess.

Jill, Minnesota

Well todays comic reminds me of what I felt going to high school. I sorta had an idea of what I wanted to do, and was willing to do anything that I needed. The out of the blue life got in the way, and I had to put things on hold. But I digress. I think it's okay not to know what you want to do in life, but when you do, make sure you make a difference.

Ron L, WInnipeg MN

Well, April's response to Eva's question, while somewhat incoherent, was certainly enlightening, wasn't it? It revealed, that unlike Gerald who knows what he wants and how to get it, she's so focused on the process of being on the same educational conveyor belt as her siblings that she, like they, has lost sight of what she wants. It also highlights the fact that she shouldn't being calling anyone immature.

Anonymous, Southern NB

Re: 4/22/08 strip, last panel

To be grammatically correct, the dialogue should read, "I wish I were...", unless the character is intentionally using poor grammar?

Charlotte P, Monrovia CA

Wow! I loved today's strip! I teach college students, and often feel they are pushed into a career before they find out what they want. You really "got it" as you portrayed the indecision of the teens, and I hope people realize this is totally normal.

Michelle, Cincinnatti

WOW today april and eva sounded alot like what me and some of my friends sound like right now. We all want to pick the rigth job snd go to the right school,and just get it all right.So i know where apil and eva are coming from.It's hard to be really sure of what your doing and its hard to figure out how your going to get there.It's really one of the frist choose you have to make on your own,and it can be a hard one.

i forgot now does ontario still have a grade 13 or not?
can't wait for more awesome work lynn keep it up:)

Bridget Q, New Glasgow NS

Bridget - nope, Ontario got rid of Grade 13 (aka OAC) a few years ago.

My husband says "that it was you and me before the kids and it will be you and me after the kids". He would never let any of the kids be rude to me... If he thought I was off or wrong he would tell me away from the kids. Support of a partner is important.

SS S, Sunrise Florida

I've been following your comic strip for 20 years now and the situations sounds like my family. I know your family experiences gives you your creativity but it seems we're in a parallel universe, something like Bizarro. Keep up the great work and it's fun to see the Pattersons grow up and out.

Aloha from the Parallel universe Hawaii, Delwyn

It's deeply disturbing how many people around here seem to think it's suitable behavior to beat a child for wanting to do her homework.

Chris P, Boston MA

Why is everyone jumping all over Elly and John over how they reacted to April's yelling at her mom? C'mon people, they're human (ooops...well they "seem" human to me!) and let's face it, none of us who are parents act the way we "should" all the time! Parenting teenagers - even the good ones - is hard work! Lynn, as I've said many times before, I salute you. FBOFW is fabulous, even with the characters' warts and foibles. No one - not even cartoon characters - is perfect. (Except maybe Snoopy!):-)

Carla C, Missouri City TX

It was fun to read the reader's comments concerning the "dinner is ready, teenager" scenario. I'm sure 98.5% of all readers could relate to that, whether they are parents or adolescents. It is a perfect example of those family situations where things can go from routine to dramatic in a matter of seconds. It's the household way of making mountains out of molehills...
Thanks for a dose of reality-- but, I'm sure nothing of the kind ever happened in Connie's perfect household!

Wesley M, Minneapolis

Having worked as a reporter and writer, I have been finding my self getting very bored with the story lines. I was in hopes that the Patterson's story would continue with them as aging boomers and what they are facing as they grow old, retire and deal with their children aging. However, it is becoming a comic strip for the young and there is little left for me in the strip.
I am a middle of life person with aging parents and a family of my own just going off to lives of their own. But, Life does not stop there, it continues on for me while I am caring for two other generations, my parents and children and I fell you are loosing John and Elly's story. I no longer find myself eager to read the strip each morning. Often, now I only read it on Saturday's and often stop in the middle of the strips as I have lost all interest in them. I have never felt that way until recently and I am afraid that you have lost me as a reader. I was someone who really loved the idea of a family in real time comic strip and that is no longer happening.

I know I will miss not having my fix of For Better or For Worse, but it is no longer interesting.

Electa

Can somebody please explain the odd clown-looking character in today's FBOFW? Is April being stalked by the Killer Klowns From Outer Space?

Frank. Minehana Ainrofilac, Boof, Norway

Way to go April. While I do agree with the other posters, that the pun was a stretch, I think it is about time that she realized who Gerald truly was. Her comment about the oxymoron was not just relating to his decision to peruse other paths other than college- she was talking about who his is as a person. April was crazy about him, and then he and she got a little too close for April's ethics, and then he spread nasty rumors about her. She- being the air headed teen that we all were at some time, forgave him, only to see him doing stupid things more and more often. She finally was able to open her eyes and see him outside of her infatuation stage.
I am proud of her. I do not think she is a brat, or a snob. I currently teach 11th and 12th grade, and I would LOVE if some of my students realized that this person that they are crazy about is not as amazing as he or she might seem through the fog of love.

Michelle S, Oakdale LA

Okay, whoa. Now Gearld's getting bashed behind his back by April? (April 21st, 2008 strip) What's with that? Just because he doesn't want to go to university like she is? And what makes her so different than him? She's 'following' a dream of becoming a vet, and he's 'following' a dream of being a drummer. So what the heck is her problem? I hope she doesn't turn into a snob because she's going to college and others aren't. I thought she had more respect for people than that. She respected Shannon, so why shouldn't she respect the differences between her and Gerald?
April, grow up, seriously. I'm disappointed in you. You used to be my favorite character because you kept your individuality while still being kind to others. Now you're being mean to Gerald, for the stupidest thing, and I don't know what to think, except that I'm VERY disappointed.

Becky B, Braeside ON

Hello Lynn and FBorFW staff,
I enjoy your comic very much.(I've been reading it since I was 9 years old.) I recently gave up reading the comics every day, because it was taking up to much of my time.
However, missing out on FBorFW everyday was driving me crazy; it was as if I had lost contact with a old friend. (I know that seems a litttle weird, after all these are not "real" people... but they are real life situations, and I missed reading about them.) Since I could not live without FBorFW, I now read the strip on the web everyday. It's great to be connected with my old friend again.

Holly B, Tacoma WA

Well, I've read all the comments about how upset fans are with April's, Elly's and John's behaviors in that scene. I think the is a point missed in the whole arc. April is working hard at her school work and she's stressed out. Elly is trying to be the good mother, and does feel rejected when April tells her Mom to back off. That's also why John needs to be direct and literally enforce that April needs to stop her work immediately. I do not believe a kind "please stop and let's talk" will work because April did not stop to obey her mother, be with her parents, to even eat, and didn't notice Elly was upset. John took the appropriate measure on pulling April away from the computer.

Through all this, the point of Ms Johnston's story arc was having frustration that disappears because Elly will miss her little girl. Love for her family created the frustration, but at the same time Love instantly dissolved Elly's frustration because April will be going away. And ultimately, we fans can criticize and blame what happened, but it doesn't matter. Love dissolves all those frustrating matters. So apply that lesson, and lighten up on Elly, John and April. I'm sure the Pattersons have already done so.

WC, Berkeley California

Loved how Deanna trimmed Robin's hair when he was asleep. Used to do that to my son when he was little, along with trimming his finger and toe nails. LOL, my son used to have a toy miner's helmet with a little flashlight on the front that I wore so I didn't have to turn on the "big" light. Sometimes you have to do whatever it takes to get the job done!

Elizabeth, Weaverville NC