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I love this strip and consider it more as a continuing story than a comic strip. That is not to say that I don't appreciate the incredible talent you display in the drawings and plot lines. I've been following this strip as long as I can remember (many, many years) and I will miss it sorely when it comes to a close. Of course, I wish Lynn, whom I feel that I "know" the very best.

Geri, NYC

I think all new parents should be warned that the most important rule of parenting is, "Choose your battles." Then they should be warned that they're bound to break it at some point. And of course, Rule #2 would have to be, "Never make empty threats; always follow through." Which is just as easy to break, but much more detrimental if you do. =)This has always been one of my favorite strips--one every young parent can relate to--painfully so!

Angela, Pennsylvania

I'm concerned at the name of the daily strip archive,
"Strip Fix". It's similar to Doonesbury's "Daily Dose," as in, something that must be consumed regularly in order to avoid distressing symptoms, but "Fix" has a whole drug-culture connotation. I work with recovering addicts, and I can tell you that the daily cravings for a "fix," the compulsion to go back to the addiction, are nothing to laugh about. I am dismayed that such a wholesome family comic strip as yours would choose to promote illegal drugs.

S.C.T, Philadelphia

Wow. As I read the latest comics about Liz's Grandpa, I can't stop thinking about my own grandparents. My grandfather missed my wedding by more than a year and never saw his grandkids. My grandmother was fortunate enough to see 4 out of 6. My grandfather died many years ago, after battling with life after a stroke. My grandmother died 2 years ago peacefully. I can't help but tear up so much as I read those comics.

They are beautiful.

Erica, BC

ENOUGH ENOUGH ENOUGH!!!!!!! I agree with Susan from Ottowa. Your old strips are almost guaranteed to give some parents the idea that it's ok to choke a child, withhold food, or keep them in their room for hours. We have abused children aplenty in our society, STOP MAKING ABUSE LOOK OK. I don't care if it was not thought of as abuse 25 years ago, it is abuse now. CUT IT OUT. I also don't care if Elly relents and gives Michael dinner. She still grabbed his collar and lost her cool big time, and confined him excessively. Give us a break please.

Shawn D, Portland OR

Everyday when I pick up the newspaper the first thing I do is read FBorFW and marvel at your incredible talent. I admire you greatly for your art but sometimes your storytelling ability astounds me. First, I can't believe how much you understand human behavior, and second I marvel at the emotions that you are able to bring forth in that comic strip almost everyday.

I understand that all good things must come to and end, but I will miss the strip with its humor, drama, love, and the little slice of life that it brings to my mornings. I am grateful that you are planing to start from the beginning again and rerun the old strips. I have read the early strips in your books, but having them again in the morning with my coffee will be like going through pictures of my old friends and reliving our time together.

I do wish that in a few years, after you have rested and enjoyed a wonderful retirement, you would create one more graphic novel, and tell us about the family when they are older and little about what has occurred along the way.

Sincerely, and with the very best wishes for a happy retirement.

Dottie F, Santa Cruz

I'm not really happy that Liz is marrying Anthony. I don't like rushing the wedding. I know the comic is winding down and there's no time to introduce a new character and develope him but I just don't feel that their was a relationship that was meant to be. I'd like her to go off again, somewhere exciting to teach....overseas, like England, Paris or even a third world country with an internation charity group. I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with getting married and having kids. Have enjoyed the the Pattersons over the years. Many times the things they went through mirrored what was going on in my own life. The issues are real.

Suzy, Winnipeg

In regards to running the older strips - maybe you need some extra time to finish the storylines before August 30th! Take all the time you want and keep extending the finish date out as far as you can!!!

I will miss my daily FBorFW strip fix. The old strips are OK but I probably won't read them very much. Part of the allure of your strip is the continuing story that follows each one of us through our own life stories. I can get old if Ellie gets old too. My husband can retire because John retires. I don't want them to freeze and have me move on without them.

Please, please reconsider your decision. Don't you have a dedicated staff member that would take on the honor of continuing the strip?? I know there must be someone out there that can continue on if even it was only Michael and family with occasional glimpses of the others.

In any case, thank you for listening.

Pat M, Franklin NC

It is hard for me to read these "flashback" strips. The parenting skills displayed make me feel very sad because I want our media to model effective ways of being with children. Today's strip is a good example. Is Mom giving her child a wedgie? There are so many ways to "discipline" kids that don't involve hitting or punishing.

I wish there were comics that were brave enough to show ways of parenting different from the norm. For any reader that's interested, I'd suggest googling Attachment Parenting or Nonviolent Communication to find other alternatives that when are displayed in these strips.

Dave, San Diego

So, Elizabeth gets a birthday mention, but April doesn't? That's messed up!

Debby Kelly

[April had her own special homepage on our website on April 1st; we try to acknowledge all the birthdays somehow!]

Dear Lynn,

I discovered Elly's Coffee Talk a couple of months ago, and I have to say congratulations! You have thicker skin than I to be able to invite and read the sometimes harsh criticism that you receive here. At least you know that your readers are invested in and passionate about your work.

I've been an on-again, off-again reader of FBoFW over the years. The off-agains were mostly dictated by lack of access to a newspaper before the internet existed. I've caught up using the archives on this website and have bought several of your older anthologies. Like so many others, I'm going to miss the new strips when you retire.

I'm not going to enter the who-should-Liz-marry or the how-she-should-wear-her-hair debates. :-) I just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed your strip, particularly the ones when April was a little girl. What an imp she was! So full of life and curiosity. You must have had such fun thinking of new mischief for her to get into.

I hope you have a wonderful retirement, and know that we'll all miss you.

Kristina, Peterborough ON

My goodness that Micheal was a sassy little scamp wasnt he! Its amazing that he turned out to be such a wondefull man and successfull auther and writer! What a tribune to the wonderfull mothering of Ellie to do that to him and bring out two wonderfull chilldren Micheal and Elizabeth as fully grown adults with families and chilldren of their own! Wow! Congradulations to all.
And to me as well as my earlier comments were published on the internet website! Ha-ha thanks maybe this one will make the cut as well! Keep up the awesome work and funny comic.

Joan from Peoria

My husband recently had a stroke and I credit "For Better or For Worse" for helping me recognize the symptons early and getting immediate medical help.

Grandpa's inability to formulate words gave me the information I needed to recognize my husband's symptom.

Who'd a thought a comic strip could be so important?!?!

Linda, Oakland CA

I've been reading this strip for a long time and enjoyed watching the kids grow up. I personally am not a fan of the reruns, though. I've already watched the kids grow and am interested in knowing about their adventures as adults. Since new stories will end soon, maybe you can wait until Fall to resume the reruns.

PJ, CA

Oh, Lynn, poor Elly. I know just how she feels. My oldest daughter is EXACTLY the same as Michael was. I can only hope that she will grow up as successful and happy. (side bar to Joan, .. um.. you thought that mustache was sexy?????)

Sue, Barrie

Dear Lynn
I've been a loyal fan ever since you start drawing. I even have a couple of your books autographed. They were my Mom's but I inherited them. There were times I swear you were living in our house.I'm thinking about Farley and the dog pound. Your humour got me through some rough times including cancer.

Shelley G, North Bay ON

Happy Birthday to Elizabeth Patterson! She has grown up to be a fine young lady! Wishing her & Anthony all the best on their upcoming wedding!

Michele, Ingersoll ON

Hiya, Folks,
As someone who lives on the southern side of the CanAm border, I am looking forward to a big celebration for our July Fourth Holiday. I am wondering if the Patterson clan and friends, being Canadian, will have any mention of it. Just a thought... Happy Independence Day, everyone!

Lucia, Kalispell MT

Lynn, I just wanted you to know that as a degreed marriage educator, I spotted your comicstrip years ago and have enjoyed every frame! Thank you for making it real, enjoyable, applicable, and endearing! Your Pattersons have been so like a family to me that I have had to check in every day like checking on loved ones. You have created a phenomenon. Congratulations for all your success. Let us know what's next!

Maria-Lisa, Santa Fe NM

The Pattersons and their friends and families might not be real people, but they portray REAL people; that is why FBOFW has lasted so long and been so popular. There is no family on earth without mistakes, who hasn't argued, done something gross, and so on. Who in the world would want to read about a perfect family who does everything right, where nothing bad, silly, disgusting, or out-of-the-ordinary happens? We'd be bored to death after the first week!

Sue, Maryland

Oh gosh! Here we go again with how 'harsh' discipline was 'back in the day' comments just because Michael got in trouble with Elly.

As a substitute teacher, who watches discipline get more and more lax each year in our school systems, it distresses me that 'discipline' is getting such a black eye, yet you turn on the local news, and for the first 10-15 minutes, you hear nothing but murders and crime that happened in the last 24 hours.

It's a shame 'retro discipline' won't come back... maybe all the intense crime will go down because of it!

Tracey B, Denham Springs LA

*sigh* Michael was a bratty kid...I get it. Now can we get back to the storylines at hand?

Jimmy

My all-time favorite FBOFW was many years ago and it was a Sunday strip. Ellie and Elizabeth were out Christmas shopping and passed a cold, wet, miserable-looking sidewalk Santa. Elizabeth tugged on Ellie's arm, whispered something and they brought him a hot drink. I tear up just thinking about it (I am right now). It spoke volumes about the character of Elizabeth and about the true spirit of Christmas and kindness.

Susan T, Tustin CA

Just to wish Elizabeth (or as Michael use to say "Liz Breath") a very happy birthday!

John S, Dundalk MD

Happy Birthday, Elizabeth! I'm wondering, are you gonna show what Therese thinks of Anthony and Elizabeth getting married? I'd like to see that. I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE WEDDING!!!
Wait.
We ARE gonna get to see the wedding before August 30, right? And after the wedding it would be kinda exciting if Liz got pregnant with a little girl.....

Jessie, Trenton ON

Hi Lynn,

I am actually enjoying the old strips. It's a pleasure to see Elly back when she was pretty.

Cheryl L, Forest City NC