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Ah, Stereotypes! Will we ever get rid of them? Good to see John getting more "time" though....

When I was growing up, Marriage (to a "Nice Man") was the carrot dangled in front of little girls as their reward for being neat, helpful and obedient. But it was also the "stick" used to bring little boys into line, invariably presented to them as a minefield of endless Responsibilty, which the Lecturee "had better start learning to handle -- RIGHT NOW!" (No wonder so many young men were/are afraid of "Committment"!!

Have we really become more "liberated" in our views, though? I notice many people are uncomfortable when introduced to a couple in a "Reverse Role" Marriage --ie, Breadwinner Mom, Househusband Dad --.unless "Dad", like Michael, is making really good money working from "Home"...

Anna M, Winnipeg

where did the idea of John and Elly having another baby come from? my parents are retired and my dad is being "careful careful" with their money to make sure they don't go wild with their "spending". keep up the great work with your comic strips. i love the new and old ones. alot of great laughs.

Lise C, Lakeville NB

Who are these people? For 3 days now I'm having to really concentrate on the women to figure out who they are. Bah humbug. I miss my morning cartoon.

Sharan, Texas

I used to watch the paper every morning on the edge of my seat for the latest on the Patterson family. Over the past year or so, the pace has slowed considerably and the interweaving of the old comics is dragging the pace down even more.

Let's get moving!!! Drop the old reruns and let them get on with their lives and make it more exciting and fun for the readers!!

GF, Slidell LA

Lynn, I've read your strip since my children were small-their ages mirror those of Michael and Elizabeth. I find the strip very entertaining.

I believe that everone has the right to their opinion, but I cannot understand the fuss that people make over the characters and the criticisms that they level toward you.

Donna P., Plainfield IL

really enjoyed todays strip.it seems to me that almost every job out there has a joke that comes with it.For example doctors are always said to have poor writing skills,police are always said to eat dounuts and have little bellies, teachers are known to have it too easy, but just like in john's case its not true, they all just little jokes people have.

Bridget Q, New Glasgow NS

I remember my mother writing her lesson plans, or my father mowing the lawn or washing the car, and my asking if I could do... pretty much anything and get permission. When I tell my boyfriend something important ("We're having lunch with so-and-so, you have an interview tomorrow, graduation rehearsal is at such-and-such a time, call your mother), I have to be careful to do it when he is at a point in his work that he can listen. I test it, saying, "Hey, are you busy?" If I get a grunt or anything less then a "No, what's up?" I tend to wait ten minutes and try again.

It's just life and work. There was no neglecting the five-year-old (and how many times have I been in an adult conversation and "ignored" my two-year-old cousin when she asks me if she can watch a movie or retrieve her crayons from underneath a chair?) in the strip, just a father too busy to pay attention to "snacks." As for his saving his laptop over his family, he made sure that Deanna and the kids were out of the apartment before going back in ALONE. No endangering the family there. Give a working parent some credit, people. No one is perfect, and that's what the strip is about: laughing over the imperfections that you find funny after the fact. "Remember when our kids ate all the cookies...?"

Adriana A, California

Hi! I have said before, I really enjoy this comic strip. I always thought it was so unique in how the characters age in real time. I am enjoying the blend of old and new strips. I have all of Lynn's books, but now and then a strip from time past shows up and I have not seen it before! So, even though it'd old, for me, it's still new! One of the stories I enjoy re-reading, is the canoe trip that John and Phil went on. I remember one strip that had Elly asking Georgia, "I wonder how the boys are doing on their canoe trip," and Georgia replied, "Oh, they're probably sitting around a campfire somewhere roasting pickerel," and in reality, the guys were drying their wet clothes over a fire. I have wanted to ask this question for years: What in the world is pickerel?? I couldn't find this question in the Q and Eh section, so, please, could someone tell me what this item is? I've even looked a couple of times in a dictionary, with no luck! As for the women's hair i!
n the strip, as long as Lynn keeps me laughing, I don't care too much about it. And as far as Elizabeth and Anthony are concerned, I can't wait for the day when I "hear" her say, "I do!"

Kim E, California

Kim - A pickerel (go here for the Wikipedia entry) is a fish that's common in our area of Ontario. They're a challenge to catch and are really good pan-fried over a fire. They're more often called "walleye".

Hey, Lynn,
I recently noticed something wonderful: That in this time of election competition and political noise invading every waking hour in the media, you have omitted the subject completely, and I am eternally grateful to you for that! Go Lynn!

Lucia A, Kalispell, MT

I was catching up on the strips for the past week. I am more like Michael now that I am helping to train live in grandchildren. I do things for them I wouldn't do for my own children. So what if they have roll ups/cookies before dinner. Creating memories to share later is important as well.If we are honest with ourselves, we all have those minutes where we don't always pay attention.

Joan, Blowing Rock NC

I'm an avid fan. The daily strip is one of my homepages along with Doonesbury and Pearls Before Swine--- this odd combination will tell you a lot about my sense & sensibilities!

I just read the pdf-s about Lynn's latest plans for the strip, and I say BRAVO for trying something different! Of course, I hate change and would love to go on exploring the new lives of "the kids" forever, but who knows what will develop here. And life goes on. I'd like to think that as I get closer to "retirement" age, we've dumped the idea of being chained to a desk full time, cranking it out and then only being released to croak or worse: sit in Florida!

Best wishes & good luck!

Margaret S, Kingston ON

In Monday's strip Elly was wearing her hair tied back with a ribbon and had sleeves on her dress. Today her hair is in a pony tail and she is wearing a sleeveless dress. Is she at a different party? Did I miss something?

No matter what she wears, keep up the strip. I enjoy the oldies.

Elsie M, Lethbridge AB

I am so exited! I am so happy that Liz and Anthony are FINALLY getting married! It's the most amazing thing, he was her first love and her first highschool boyfriend and now they are finally together again! I was so upset when he married the other woman, because I think he has always belonged with Liz, but I think it's really great how Liz can come in and be a part of the Daughter's life in such a special way. I have always been close to Liz and she has always been my favorite character in the strip. What I love even more is that Liz will be wearing her Grandmother, Marian's, wedding dress! That was special to me because I have grown up with the old strips and I loved her as a Grandma.GREAT TIMING Lyn! I hope the wedding is soon and Liz and Anthony are happy forever!

Emily S, St.Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada

Ah, an old standard. Why do people expect you to not feel offended by an offending statement simply by saying no offense.

Stephanie H, Pittsburg CA

I feel that Anthony is the guy Elizabeth wants to want. She is so glad they can finally be together, she doesn't want to see how much he has changed. It's not too late Lynn!

Katie

Dear Lynn, I first started reading your strip as a teen when Michael was a teen in high school and feel like i have grown up as a part of your comic family. I got married and had children alongside he and Diana and then found myself in the midst of a surprise pregnancy just as April was being born. We have cared for my mother in law after her stroke, been friends with single moms and now i have teenagers in my home like Elly as well as toddlers like Mike and Deanna! Everyday I am amazed at how you take the emotions, laughs, frustrations and thoughts i have in my head and put them down on paper. It is a gift and a blessing to me everyday and reminds me to treasure this life but also not to take myself quite so seriously. Thank you for being part of our family now as my sons read your books all the time and bring their favorite strips to me to laugh at with them! They have a better understanding of how i feel as a parent by reading the situations your characters deal with. You and your staff are priceless to us.I pray that God will fill you with peace and blessings!

Lynette McM

I am a senior citizen who thoroughly enjoys your strip. However just when I find myself caught up in a story line, you skip to flashbacks. I find this very annoying. Also, I don't like the drawing on the flashbacks and usually just skip reading the strip when they appear.

Joanne R, Fort Myers FL

I certainly have enjoyed FBorFW since it first came out, and have really missed it when I didnt get the chance to read it. No matter what happens in the strip, it is always something to look forward to. But I sure wish I could find a real live dentist that is like John, then I wouldn't have to go through the whole "dreaded terror" feeling everytime I know I have to bite the bullet and sit in "that" chair!! Thanks for being there!!!

Paula, Center Line Michigan

Looking at today's strip and some of the newer strips (eg Aoril 29) where John and Elly are shown standing side-by-side I notice that Elly seems to have gotten taller relative to John. I think that reflects the fact that Elly is a much more self confident person than she used to be so her presence is depicted as larger.

Linda, Vernon BC

I really enjoy reading the earlier strips. I'm 23, and I really only started reading them when I was 12, so there's a LOT I've missed! I hope the strip continues to run it's "reruns". (Kind of like what "Peanuts" is still doing.) It's really a treat for me to see what Elly and John were like when they were younger. I've always seen them as the "parental figures" of the strip, but seeing them in their old light shows me they are the STARS of the comic! Thanks Lynn!

Becky, Slidell LA