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"Child abuse"?! Good grief! What parent hasn't blown their stack, hauled off & grabbed their kid by the collar, & sent him to bed without supper for being a snarly mouthed, sassy little pain in the rump?!!

I'll tell you which parents- the ones raising all the kids today who have no discipline, no boundaries, & have never been told "no" or denied a thing because "his self esteem will be crushed". (Gag me!)

Those are the kids who are "running the zoo" today because most moms (& dads) have lost their backbone, are too wimpy, & allow the kids to call the shots. They have turned the job of parenting over to video games, television, & everyone else (teachers, babysitters, neighbours, etc.). But heaven help us if we say one critical word ("Hey, Mrs. Smith, your precious little Holy Terror just set fire to my cat's tail!), because then we are the bad guys!

Those of us who still believe that kids need discipline & threats (of lost privileges) carried out, are considered the abusers, while those who let their kids run amok (creating tomorrow's junior felon) are living in a world of denial. But for them, that's OK, because when the kid is too much for them to handle, they just pack him off to school with a handful of "control meds" & let the teachers (& eventually the law!) deal with it.

When did personal responsibility & accountability become such a bad thing?! Sigh...

Lynn, your strip has always been one of the very best. I have saved the personal email that you sent to me a few years back regarding the strip from the early 80's when Lizzie cut her foot on broken glass at a lake, & the impact that Ellie's wisdom had on me, as a young mother, at the time. My daughter, who was a baby at the time of that "episode", is now the mother of a beautiful 1 year old boy. That particular strip, from 1983, is as vital & meaningful today, as it was 25 years ago. That's one for the "re-run", but it doesn't need any re-work!!)

Thank you so very much for all the laughs, tears, wisdom, & strength you have imparted to all of us.We are all here for you, sister!

Catharine, Florida

O my goodness I was just reading the cofee talk! You can buy an apron with a For Better Worse comic strip on it! I will certainly have to order one of those! This is great news thank you to the nice lady who told the story of the wonderfull arpon I will be sure to buy one soon indeed.

The coffee talk people are very nice and most have wonderfull things to say. Some are a little persnikty but I think deep down they are probably just that way because they are so hoping for a new comic in the morning paper to give us all joy!

Thanks for letting me into the "coffee talk famly" so far it is a little like the Patterson famly only its real people! Well the Pattersons are quite real for a comic strip drawing family! I feel like I know some of you so well now! Thanks for the wonderfull comments on the BEST comic family of all time the PATTERSONS who are truley in it for Better Or For Worse!

Joan in Peoria

Life is beautiful, but not always pretty, and the bumps along the way are what make us grow. The Pattersons aren't perfect. Like us, they try to do what's right, and it doesn't always work. The magic that keeps us reading is that no matter what, the Pattersons have each other's backs. Somehow, whether in a panel sequence or behind the scenes, they forgive one another the mistakes along the way, without melodrama or intervention, and they keep trying.

Polished, morally and emotionally perfect characters are impossible to write and boring besides. I think it would be more irresponsible of such an eloquent, observant people-watcher as Ms. Johnston not to use her talents to shine a light on painful truths as well as delightful ones, and thereby let her characters be seen resolving them.

Let's not cave in to this litigious age, and propagate the fear of what other, less evolved, less patriotic neighbours might think or do if given half a chance. They had a word for that, back in the day.

Mishka, Vancouver

For a child to miss a meal - unless there are mitigating medical factors - is not child abuse. If it happened every day, every meal, that would be an entirely different scenario. It didn't. Children need boundaries - and discipline re-enforces where those boundaries are. I think Elly is/was right on target.

Mary, Belleville IL

I just checked in for my daily Strip Fix and am somewhat disappponted that there is no 'Canada Day' reference in today's strip. I don't mind the reruns butsurely an exception could have been made for Canada Day??

Jackie, Ontario

I LOVE todays strip! It may be an "old one ", but its a good one.

Thanks for all the great work that you and your staff have done.

Sandy S, Hudson NH

I have twin 4-year old boys and I am happy to take discipline lessons from Elly!! As most parents know, there are days when selling them to the local zoo sounds like a good idea (and perhaps some days the zoo would argue that point).

It would be great to get Therese's reaction to Liz and Anthony's engagement. Let's all remember that she left him - OK folks?

Jenn M, Bellingham MA

Are we going to have yet another week of Michael acting like a little boy and Elly yelling at him?

We're begging you. Can the flashbacks. Please. Stick to the present.

Joe, Michigan

I'm not as long time as many of your other fans, But I really wanted to throw in my two cents. The reason I started following this comic strip was because the people in it were and are growing with me at the same time, unlike the peanuts I grew up with who never got old and most ofany other comics. Going through old comics like this is sort of like looking throw old memories. I do it every once in a while but not that often, I always try to look to the future and in a way it keeps me young and fresh. I hope to see them all grow older and yes just like farley, they too will die some day. The great thing about the strip is everyone is getting older. The story lines are expanding and I know some day they all will all grow old and die just like us. All though it sounds negative, I also hope that maybe someone will be able to continue the strip in Lynns place some day. I know it's a hard thing to imagine, but some day I hope to be 70 (I'm 43 now) and still reading about!
the newest Pattersons. Maybe it's unrealistic maybe not, it's just something I hope. I don't read the peanuts anymore because most of them I remember from growing up and there is nothing new and fresh about it. If it is reasonable please keep it going, even if you have to wean in a new writer Nothing against you at all Lynn, you're the best.

Stephen W, Plano TX

Lynn i was just thinking that you should have mike wirte a book about his faimly shareing some of the best times and worst,then you should make the book real and have some of your favorite strips for the past in it.

Bridget Q, New Glasgow NS

I have been a long-time reader of this comic strip, and not only because it's brilliantly funny. As crazy as it sounds, it nearly parallels my own life. I'm two years younger than Elizabeth, but since she attended Grade 13, our life experiences with college and school were only a year apart. It kind of gave me an idea of where I was headed :) Also, I have a younger sister, who was due April 1 1990 but ended up being born March 20 of that year. Everything about their relationship is so wonderfully true - I've experienced most of it firsthand, from the annoyances to the wonderful relationship we now share. Unfortunately, I've shared some of the bad things in life with the Pattersons, as well. A few years after Elly lost her mom, so did mine. I had a major relationship fall apart the same time Elizabeth did. I hate ending on a sad note, so I saved the best part of reading for last: I'm getting married this September, to my highschool sweetheart who I've always loved, just like Elizabeth is! It's been wonderful to know that someone knows how I'm feeling and has been through the same situations I have, even if they exist mainly in ink. Thanks Mrs. Johnston - it's been wonderful.

Corina C, New York

I don't remember seeing one rerun strip in which Elly looks happy.

I haven't seen one new strip in months where Liz looks happy either. Stunned, or manic, or vengeful, or floating off somewhere else, yes -- but not happy.

I guess daughters do turn into their mothers.

Kate, California

I am enjoying reliving the baby years with the Pattersons, remembering my own babies, and I love the heartwarming and heartbreaking reality of dealing with elderly parents, remembering my own beloved parents. I would be so grateful if you would now share the part of life that no one really touches - the "empty nest" years when, one by one, the kids leave home, you and your husband face the changes that retirement brings, the wonderful continuation of life with grandchildren, and the reality of your own aging and mortality. You have beautifully touched us with every other period of life and living - please don't neglect this one. Your strip is a slice of life, complete with tears and lifted with laughter. I don't know what I would do without it.

Linda D, Winston-Salem NC

I think Liz and Anthony have not shown any heat ,because the first time they do poor Lynn will be flooded with emails from uptight readers or old prunellas telling her off for allowing to not yet married people to act in such a manner. They will try to impose their beliefs and scold her for setting a bad example for the younger generation. Poor Lynn. Lynn whatever you choose to do with your creation I will love it. Always have everyday for years. I will miss you. God bless you and yours.

Meredith, Memphis TN

Bravo, Lynn! You've summed it all up in just a few paragraphs what it takes to put together the world you've created. I dread August 30 now, and look forward to it as well. You've worked hard, you deserve some time to yourself. Thanks a million and more!

Wendy, Central Pennsylvania

I love the story of the Patterson family and its ok with me whatever Lynn does....I think she should just do as she likes with the story lines.....as it goes....you can please some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time.
I read Lynns comments carefully and say LYNN do your own thing....!! As many others have said, sometimes I think Lynn was peeking in my window as a ton of the things that happened in the Patterson family happened in mine...what a hoot seeing the same situations in a comic strip......

Linda, Toronto

Hi Lynn,

There is a Sunday strip that I wish you would rerun soon. It is the one where John and Elly are driving in their car with Michael and Liz in the back. Elly and John begin to notice that other drivers are giving them dirty looks. One guys actually sticks his tongue out at them as he passes their car. John and Elly look at each other in total bewilderment. Meanwhile, Michael and Liz are making faces at other drivers from the rear window! It's hilarious and it stuck in my memory for years. Please run this strip again. This time I will definitely cut it out!

Cheryl L, Forest City