Author Archives: stripfix

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Lynn's Comments: One of the most useful bits of psychology I learned in my mom and toddler classes was to use "I messages". When you tell a kid how their inappropriate behaviour affects you, the exchange becomes a discussion and not an accusation. When you reword "Your whining drives me crazy! Why are you whining so much?!" and say: "I don't understand why you're upset. It makes me unhappy to hear you whining. What can I do to help?" You're more likely to get a better response. This is all very nice when you have your wits about you and can think of the right thing to say. Unfortunately "Oh for heaven's sake, cut the crap and get ready for school, already!" can easily spill out. The thing to remember is: a hug will always save the day!

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Lynn's Comments: The truth is- I felt no guilt in taking Katie and Aaron to day care. They both thrived on the company of other children and enjoyed the change of scene. I too, needed a break - which, in turn, made me a happier mom. Happy moms make happy kids. For us, it was all good.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Lynn's Comments: Katie had no problem going to day care and Aaron adjusted to it immediately, too. This scenario was based on tales I heard from friends who lived in the city. Some children felt abandoned, some moms felt guilty, and it was a difficult time all-round. I thought it was great material for the strip.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Lynn's Comments: The biggest obstacle to going anywhere in Lynn Lake was going outside. So much of the year was dangerously cold and just going across the street meant struggling into heavy snowsuits, hats, mittens and clunky boots, which made walking a misery for even the most capable toddler. Kate's objection to day care was more about putting on the clothing than leaving me. After putting it all on, she had a 2 minute walk, and then had to take it all off again!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Lynn's Comments: This is another glimpse from my childhood. My dad was the kind of guy who loved to build go-karts and tree houses and water slides on the lawn. Even though it wasn't cool to do stuff with your parents, a day with Dad always ended with a trophy of some kind: something built or found or eaten. When we weren't building stuff, we were hitting the dump or scrounging in the workshop and after that, we'd go to the Dairy Queen. The BIG cone cost a quarter and was almost too big to eat. It was when we had grown up a bit that we stopped hanging out with Dad. We'd give him excuses for why we weren't into making stuff or going out and it hurt him to see us change. I do remember him taking the neighbour's kid out for an ice cream cone and wondering, "Why isn't he taking me?" - knowing full well that I'd cut him out of my circle of friends. I just wanted him to be a dad. What I didn't know was that he was being a dad and - he was exceptional!

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Lynn's Comments: I think I was right on target, here. Joan was (and is) a beautiful girl. My husband commented often on how lucky Alan was to have met her and what a "find" she was. When I said I thought he had met his intellectual equal and that looks weren't everything... the reply was (as I recall) "Yeah, but a good purchase needs great packaging!"

Friday, November 11, 2011

Lynn's Comments: Joan (aka "Georgia") came into my brother's life when my kids were in elementary school. Because we were living in such a remote area, they didn't see a lot of Uncle Al, and didn't have the opportunity to observe his relationships. I did! Knowing he would read all the strips which alluded to him, I openly needled him, hoping he would spill the beans and let me in on his plans for the future. He didn't...until he was prepared to see it in the paper!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Lynn's Comments: As this strip was going to press, my brother Alan had started to go out with a lovely lady named Joan. I had been so close to guessing details about his relationships in the strip that when he saw this, he asked me not to have Phil and Georgia get married until after he married Joan!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Lynn's Comments: Every house on Eldon Road in Lynn Lake was close to the road, and folks could easily see into the windows. We had sheers over ours both for privacy and for the luxury of watching while not being seen.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Lynn's Comments: I couldn't quite remember the short story Aaron planned to submit, but it did go something like this. After some discussion about creativity, responsibility and pride, I left my stubborn charge to face the wrath of his teacher. He returned home with an "F" on his paper...and was told it meant "Funny". "Next time," Sheena Baker told me, "I'll tell them how many words they have to write!" Aaron did well in Sheena's class. She was direct and honest and had a wonderful sense of humour.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Lynn's Comments: I confess. As a busy mom, I went for looks. If things looked tidy, I was content. Likewise, if something looked clean, I left actual fumigation until it was really necessary. After an orange juice disaster that rendered every surface of my kitchen tacky with residue, Aaron (who thought the saying "cleanliness is next to Godliness" meant "invisible forces did the laundry") suggested I wash the kitchen table when his cheek stuck to the surface. I took this as an opportunity for a learning experience...and asked him to wash it himself.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Lynn's Comments: Kate and Aaron both slept with one stuffed toy. It was me who filled my bed with stuffed animals and slept around them when I was a kid. My favourite was a koala bear that my grandmother brought back from Tasmania for me. It was real kangaroo hide and I loved him until his fur was almost gone. My brother stole him away from me once, insisted on sleeping with him, and then wet his bed. Mom couldn't wash my koala because he was leather, so her advice was to let him sit on the windowsill and air out: "In time he will be less 'whiffy'" she said. But he stank for years, so "Whiffy" was what I called him. I still have old "Whiff" in my china cabinet. He's sweeter smelling, now, and still well loved.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Lynn's Comments: As much as I wanted my children to learn about cooking, cleaning, organizing and how to talk on the phone, It was easier if they simply played at my feet and just let me do these things myself. Some of our most treasured moments, however, were when they did help, and these mundane household accomplishments were as rewarding as a good grade in school. It takes time and patience to let children do ordinary things- but when we do, we're giving them lessons for life!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Lynn's Comments: This little one liner I used once before in a single panel cartoon, which I submitted to the Dundas Valley Journal. It was the first cartoon I had published in a newspaper.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Lynn's Comments: The yard I drew here was the yard in front of our house on Tally Ho Road in Dundas. We had a number of big leafy trees and the amount of raking to be done in the fall was overwhelming. The good thing was that they created a wonderful playground. We could bury Aaron and each other in the leaves. We rolled in them, used the leaf bags as beanbag chairs and enjoyed the crackle, the colour, and the smell.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Lynn's Comments: As I write this, it's the first of October and already Christmas stuff is on the shelves. *Sigh* I remember hearing about how the show "South Park" got started. Apparently, the artists did a Christmas spoof using cut-out images of Jesus fighting Santa Claus in an effort to gain Yuletide supremacy. What a funny idea...and right on target. As soon as Hallowe'en is o'er, we'll be immersed in the commerce of Christmas. ...and like everyone else, I'll be right in there, buying my stash. I often wonder what Jesus himself would have thought of all this!

Monday, October 31, 2011

Lynn's Comments: When I was a little kid, I was deathly afraid of witches. At the time, there seemed to be no end to the movies and bedtime stories that featured the scariest of these. When I saw "Snow White" was terrified. "Hansel and Gretel" had me pulling the covers over my head for weeks. I was even chilled by Witch Hazel in "Little Lulu". It was a long time before I overcame this fear of witches - and as I recall, it was about the same time, I began to stand up to my mother!

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Lynn's Comments: The town of Lynn Lake was small enough that kids could be out on their own and you knew they wouldn't be much more than a block away. Even so, one of us always accompanied the trick or treaters - as much for the social interaction as for their safety. Aaron resented having Kate along - he didn't like to be slowed down. So this didn't happen. This was another "what if" moment. What if Lizzie's appearance resulted in more loot?

Friday, October 28, 2011

Lynn's Comments: What you see here is the exact costume with the dilemma of having to shorten the wings so our hero could get out through the door. This was one time when I was able to give a real glimpse into our private lives and the family didn't mind a bit.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Lynn's Comments: We discovered why toy aircraft have such short wings. If you try to be somewhat true to the actual shape of the craft...you run into problems!

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Lynn's Comments: One Halloween, we did make Aaron an airplane costume. It was an ambitious project, as it had to fit over his snowsuit and be easy to walk around in.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Lynn's Comments: I bought a set of goggles and a flight helmet at a flea market in Winnipeg, thinking we might have a use for them some day. I bought a lot of crazy things like this which eventually filled a sizable trunk (which we still have to this day.) When Aaron discovered these two items, he wanted to be a flying ace for Hallowe'en and together, we made him a costume to remember.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Lynn's Comments: Fall in northern Manitoba was short and the few deciduous trees we had shed their leaves into the wind and blew them away. We didn't have to rake the yard in October, but we did need other things done. Our son was a big, healthy kid who could handle a rake or a broom, but putting such implements into willing hands was...challenging. Trying to convince Aaron that chores could be rewarding and fun was a chore in itself. No amount of coercion, reasoning or threat would move our boy into action. Money, however, talked. Each chore had a value. He would figure out how much he needed for a toy or game and accept the work that brought him closest to his goal. One Saturday morning when he was bored and looking for something to do, I suggested he vacuum the rug in the rec room. He thought for a minute, then said; "nah...I don't need anything right now." I had to admit; he might be lazy... but he was practical!

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Lynn's Comments: Katie and Aaron made their own Monopoly rules when the ones that came with the game didn't suit them. This is a shortened version of their game including "Va-Boogah!" which, was best shouted through a mouthful of Cheezies. These were the days before interactive video games and I often wonder if this was more fun.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Lynn's Comments: I thought I had my hands full with one child- but two were a challenge! Like many other moms, I was the main caregiver, teacher and disciplinarian. I was so lucky to have been able to work from my home!

Friday, October 21, 2011

Lynn's Comments: We tried to prepare Aaron for the arrival of his new sibling by telling him his position in the family would be elevated to "Big Brother" status. This didn't go down nearly as well as the promise that when the new kid arrived, there'd be gifts for him, too!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Lynn's Comments: Even though you prepare your first child for months before a new baby comes by including them as much as possible and telling them that their status as "the oldest" makes them more important than ever, you still can't avoid the pain of jealousy. The absolute dependency of baby unavoidably pushes the older child aside. This is when partnership in parenting matters so much. The more hands and hugs and "I love you"s, the better!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Lynn's Comments: It's true. I have no idea how to handle a newborn now. I have friends who automatically rip into the mother role; they know how to pick up, turn over, bathe, feed, and bundle a tiny baby, while I just sit by helplessly and watch. Strange... I had no problem handling my own children. I had no trouble changing them either. I guess when they're yours, it's different. At least it was for me!

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Lynn's Comments: When my second child came along, I was living a different life, enjoying the company of new friends and helpful neighbours. They all got together and filled my freezer with great meals which could be easily thawed and served. Even when you're exhausted from pushing a kid out of your nether parts, sleep deprived, and sore enough to want serious drugs, you're still expected to create in the kitchen.