For Better or For Worse

Michael sees Elizabeth going through the mail and asks if she received a Valentine. She says it's none of his business.

Michael asks if she has a mad, passionate romance happening. Is Lizardbreath in love??? He tries to convince her to tell him.

When she doesn't respond, he calls her "Sistwirp" and says, "Ok, be like that!!"

She takes the letter to her room and reads it. It's a "dear occupant" piece of junk mail.

Liz probably wouldn't tell her brother--even if it was a mad, passionate love letter!

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw #valentine #valentinesday

John must have a lot on his mind. Maybe he needs a personal assistant. What do you think? 💘

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw #valentinesday #valentine

John looks in the window of a flower shop while thinking about getting Elly flowers for Valentine's Day. Elizabeth and April think he should say it with chocolate instead.

What's your favourite thing to give for Valentine's Day?

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw #valentine #chocolate

Valentine's Day is coming! Are you a baker, or would you rather get a bag of cinnamon hearts from the store and call it a day? 💗

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw #valentinesday #valentine

Anthony tries to tell Elizabeth he never read a note that said she had a crush on him.

He claims Dawn is just a friend and Elizabeth wants to know why he's telling her that.

Anthony confesses Liz is the person he really has the crush on but she doesn't believe him.

He kisses her to prove it. Kissing is believing!

Remember when Anthony and Elizabeth first got together? Here's a little throwback to the start of their romance.

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw #valentine #valentinesday

A man watches a small child reading an Animal ABC book. She says, "birdie! tat! goggie! effant! arrafe!" and then says hippopotamus perfectly.

Here's a throwback to Lynn's single-panel parenting books from before For Better or For Worse. Did you ever read these comics?

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #hippopotamus

Michael tells Lawrence to attack him to see if Farley comes to his rescue.

Lawrence tackles Michael and Farley says, "Whurf?"

Farley starts to bark loudly.

Farley just stands there on top of Michael's chest looking confused. Michael yells, "Get off me, you dummy!!"

What a great guard dog...

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw

Elly thinks the best way to find a house is through a real estate agent.

Connie doesn't know...she wants to take her time and doesn't want anyone telling her what to do.

Elly asks how much time she has, and Connie says she has a week.

Elly points at a chair in the realtor's office and barks at Connie to sit!!!

When was the last time you moved? Do you have any interesting stories about it?

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw #realtor #realestateagent #movinghouse

Michael writes, "Let it snow" on the fog of the living room window.

How are you feeling about the snow (if you're living in the northern hemisphere)? Love it or hate it?

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw

Elly asks whose filthy, wet, snowy boots were left on the hall floor?!!

Michael says they're his boots, and Elly says she knows they're his.

Michael wonders how come Elly had to ask whose boots they were, then?

Elly hauls Michael and his boots toward the back door to clean up, and thinks, "...and they wonder what starts the aging process!"

Michael is lucky he survived to adulthood!

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw

Duncan and April stomp in a mud puddle together, while Elly runs up to try to stop them.

Today is national "Stomp in a Puddle and Splash Your Friends" day. If you're in a colder part of the world, may we suggest a snowball fight?

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw

John sits back in a hot bath and reads the comics section of the newspaper.

It is definitely hot bath season. What's your favourite thing to read in the tub?

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #bathtub #comicstrip #fborfw

Connie asks Elly how the new puppy is settling into their family. She says he's fine.

Connie found homes for Sera's other three puppies, but she hated to see them go. Elly wishes she could have kept all of them.

Connie explains that their mothering instincts kick in when they see a tiny struggling youngster.

Elly agrees and thinks it's a pain.

Do you enjoy rescuing little, helpless creatures?

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw

Lynn talks about the best thing that ever happened to her as an author because of FBorFW.

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw

An alien spaceship hovers over the robot planet of the Alottabotz.

Today is National Science Fiction day! What's your favourite sci-fi show, film, or book? For kids who are into it, we recommend Lynn's Alottabotz books. They're for kids aged 3-6 and feature robots on an alien planet who fly around in UFOs!

www.alottabotz.com

#alottabotz #robots #robotstories

Elizabeth looks at the new calendar on the wall and thinks it's history that hasn't happened yet.

We hope your year ahead is one to remember! Happy New Year!

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2026!

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw

April Patterson bundled up in an enormous snowsuit.

We hope you're staying warm!

Elizabeth brushes Farley and pulls heaps of fur off of his coat.

She keeps brushing him: more fur flies.

More brushing and more fur!

Elizabeth finishes up and walks away,. leaving the comb, brush, and heaps of fur on the floor. She says to Elly, "if there's anything else I can do for you, mom...just ask!!!"

It's so nice when the kids want to pitch in! Can you remember a time when yours were more hindrance than help?

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw

May your Christmas be peaceful! #funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw #christmas

Are you eager for Christmas to arrive, or would you like more time to get everything done?

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw #christmas

The quiet, colourfully-lit Patterson house on Christmas night.

Our studio is now closed for the holidays! We wish you all Merry Christmas and Happy New Year; we'll return on January 5th and will answer any emails and customer service requests then.

All the best from us to you.

How's your Christmas preparation going? What's your favourite part of the process?

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw #christmas

The cover of the book, Conversations with Lynn Johnston.

Out today: Conversations with Lynn Johnston by Jeff McLaughlin.

This book offers a collection of interviews with Johnston. Many of the early interviews were published in Canada and are presented to US readers for the first time.

Find the book here: www.amazon.com/Conversation...

A very merry Christmas and happy holidays from Lynn Johnston and her studio crew.

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #christmas #comicstrip #fborfw

We have two workshops happening on Sat., Dec. 13: Cartooning for Kids aimed at young creators and Cartooning for the Whole Family for the entire crew. Both are fun, laid back, and instructive. Visit cartoonart.org/calendar for more info on these and other programs. #diy #create #art #workshop

Michael goes up to Elizabeth with a green grape stuck up his nose and asks, "Hey, kid! Hab you got a haggerchief?" Elizabeth screams that he's being gross.

Elizabeth goes to tattle to Elly about Michael, and Elly says she doesn't want to hear about it.

Elly says Elizabeth is a big girl now and she can find something else to do if Michael is bothering her.

Elizabeth thinks tattling is not as much fun as it used to be.

Ah, brothers. What do your siblings do to annoy you, and vice versa?

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #momlife #comicstrip #fborfw

We wish you a Merry Christmas! Do you still send holiday cards?

#funnycomic #lynnjohnston #cartoonist #christmas #comicstrip #fborfw

A screenshot of an old, animated Kmart commercial featuring the Pattersons at Christmas. They're wrapping a present together, and Farley gets startled by a jack-in-the-box.

Here's a blast from the past; an animated Kmart commercial featuring the Pattersons. Kmart is a department store that used to be all over the U.S. and Canada. There are still a few around the US, but sadly, they have closed all Canadian stores.

youtu.be/bKJKqQNf8LE?...

Lynn Johnston's Alottabotz series is now available as read-along digital downloads!

You can see them on our YouTube channel for free, or buy your own digital copies in our shop. www.youtube.com/@LynnJohnsto... or www.fborfwshop.com/collections/...