Concept and words by John Philipp. Drawings by Phil Frank.
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Comments: 75
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Additionally, all my humor articles are now posted to John's Humor.
For those who haven't read these:
An article I wrote saying Goodbye to Phil
A Life I'd Jump at
And the final The San Francisco Chronicle article (Tuesday 1/1/08) about their long time cartoonist.
Bidding final farewell to cartoonist Phil Frank
I didn't know that about Phil Frank. I used to love reading the Elderberries and especially Farley when I used to have time to read the funnies.
Even Mayor Willie Brown was in the strip often.
Who needs it?
Might I suggest you grow up just like yourself? (I think you already have).
Of course, your daughters are a different matter. They should grow up exactly like you. ;)
That's an interesting comment — "truest" would imply relative degrees of truth.
Hmmm.
In this case, we are also talking of living "down" to expectations.
And that isn't weirdness, that's you.
Sweetbeth, that's often true if we mean by that grow-up "right."
A lot of research recently indicates parents may be much less of a factor in a child's personality development than was thought. Peers and teachers are more so.
So, I would treat "parents" here as an example of a broader of influencers.
(OK, do we have any volunteers?)
Maybe your mom just expected you and that's what she got.
Sounds like a great life to me. Keep it up.
I'm going to run and then have breakfast.
When I return I expect those diapers to be changed!
A larger question though is, do our parents really know who we are? Can they really make us what we could be, or steer us in the "right" direction? Wouldn't it be great if all us had Tiger Wood's Dad and Mom? What if all of us were able to achieve our deepest passions, moved along by the people who mean so much to us? That question was the crux of Gene Roddenberry's vision in creating the Star Trek universe.
There is an additional level to this Byte (always multiple levels) that deals with parents working out their own issues through their view of their child.
It is a good thing to let our kids know what we expect of them, but don't set such lofty goals that they can't reach them, and feel like a failure because of it. But then don't set your expectations so low that the child doesn't have to try. Be careful, too, what you say to them. If you tell them they are a 'dummy' or are 'stupid,' they'll certainly live up to it.
Better than a footful, Antoine.
I've been known to do that as well.
They made us white out the cigarette and the beer.
That's why parents should always be on their best behavior. Their kids are watching.
I think what should be expected of kids is that they can succeed at anything they chose to do.
"You're stupid" is one of the few things I hear that gets my anger going.
Thanks, John, for reminding me of some things they said, and things they expected.
Have a great time off.
I'm just glad they didn't put pressure on me to live up to their expectations.