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It is sometimes true that when women complain about their household chores, they may still be generally happy with their life. However, flip side - do you ever see John wishing he could drop his job and be stuck at home cleaning and looking at kids? I can't even image it.

Face it - house cleaning and watching kids is more often than not a thankless task, and its a real shame that after all years it still mainly falls upon women. A man at his work gets recognition, and often he feels the money he earned is his. Women, despite how hard they work at home, are still not seen to have really worked because they didn't actually earn any pay. A child often loves his father just as much, sometimes more, even if that father never had to do the cleaning up after them.

Li-Anne, Toronto, ON, Canada

To KC of KC, MO: Yes, John does work hard every day to provide for his family and allow Ellie the opportunity to stay at home with the kids. And Ellie works just as hard at keeping the household running smoothly. John works week days, and then when he comes home, his job is done. Ellie might sometimes be able to meet Annie for coffee during the day, but she works most of the day and into the evening, and doesn't get weekends or holidays off. If Ellie were to document the hours that she spent cooking, cleaning, dealing with kids, and other mundane but essential tasks, and not include her daytime coffee dates or other diversions, John would find that her work hours far surpass his own.

Ellie knows that there is value, joy, and satisfaction in her line of work. I think the hurt comes when each feels under appreciated by the other. Appreciation can be expressed verbally, but it is also expressed by action as each shows respect for the other's work. If Ellie goes on a frivolous spending spree, she is not respecting her husband's role as breadwinner. And if John carelessly tracks mud across a clean floor or leaves his personal effects strewn about, he is not respecting Ellie's role as homemaker. KC, if your wife never complains about housework, then either she has a lot of help from you, or you are generous in your show of appreciation. Or she should be nominated for sainthood.

Jolein V, Oregon City, OR, USA

In response to the commenter who wondered why "we" didn't praise Anthony for his willingness to do household chores and stay at home. It was made very clear in the strip that Anthony doing so was not normal, and was only a result of his wife wanting to work and not be a housewife. Other characters reacted to Anthony's situation in a way that made it seen as though a man staying home was strange, indeed. Even Liz and her friends (who, as women my age, should have been a bit more open minded about gender roles) seemed shocked and confused by this http://www.fborfw.com/strip_fix/archives/001293.php In addition, Liz's friends gossip about this situation on New Years, and say that this role reversal is proof that their marriage isn't working.

Kristin, Seattle, WA

When the Liz-Anthony story arc was moving to its conclusion I don't recall even one poster who praised Anthony for cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and learning to sew....or even congratulated Liz on finding such a "helpful" mate. I wonder why?

Many of us never forgave him for http://www.fborfw.com/strip_fix/archives/001335.php or this http://www.fborfw.com/strip_fix/archives/001336.php He was asking Liz to wait out his marriage to Thérèse a mere five months after Françoise was born.

Katje B, Albany, NY, USA

When the Liz-Anthony story arc was moving to its conclusion I don't recall even one poster who praised Anthony for cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and learning to sew....or even congratulated Liz on finding such a "helpful" mate. I wonder why?

Praising Anthony Caine for cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry when he is a single parent is like praising someone for making their child support payments. It’s what you are supposed to do. There is nothing there to distinguish Anthony from any other responsible single father.

As for his true character, Anthony Caine asked his ex-girlfriend to replace his wife and the mother of his 5-month-old child in anticipation of his marriage ending. He made this request of his ex-girlfriend right after she had nearly been raped. There are no congratulations to Liz for marrying such a man as this.

Paul S, Oro Valley, AZ, USA

I laughed to myself (didn't want to wake my sleeping fiancee!) about this morning's comment:"Girls are a lot smarter than they look!" why thank you michael! (i think!) ;-) Yes we are! :-)

People, I think it's OK to take some of these strips seriously, but to read way into what seems to be a "simple" strip seems unnecessary to me. That's my 2 cents for this morning.Keep up the good work, Lynn J. I don't think you get that compliment enough. More complaints and criticism than compliments. If you criticize something too much, why are you still reading this strip? There must be SOMETHING about it you like. Try to find out what it is, and tell Lynn J. about that,instead! Try and focus on the positive!

Have a great morning guys.

Meg, ME, USA

As an Ontario native I love the "Canadianisms" and esp. the "Ontarisms" like the reference to milk in bags. Keep it up please!!

Martha, IL, USA