Random Christmas Thoughts
Judging from today’s For Better or For Worse strip, I was correct in my predictions about the 14 people who are going to make up the Patterson Christmas Dinner. As I said yesterday, I am excited about the possibilities of finally seeing the Mira Sobinski’s reaction to Deanna’s new place, and the Patterson’s reaction to her reaction.
In today’s strip, Meredith and Deanna have a conversation, where we get to see that Meredith is portrayed as a present-hungry child. She’s a little over 5 years old, so that seems appropriate to me. I remember my daughter’s first birthday, where she was oblivious about what was going on. Then there was her second birthday, where she was quite content to let her older brother and other older kids help her open her birthday presents. Then there was her third birthday, where she let out a wail if anyone of those other kids tried to touch one of her presents. Based on that experience, Meredith doesn’t seem out of line for her age.
The sad part of the strip is the look on little Meredith’s face in the final panel, where she seems to realize, once again, that the adults in her family would rather make a joke than give her a straight answer to her questions. That sad face almost caused me to overlook what appears to be an attempt to age Meredith a little. Her face in Panel 4, in particular, looks longer and a lot less like her usual Becky McGuire kind of look. It makes me wonder if Lynn Johnston is trying to push her to be a little older-looking to contrast Meredith with the younger Frànçoise, when they go for the Patterson family photo shoot.
In today’s strip, Meredith and Deanna have a conversation, where we get to see that Meredith is portrayed as a present-hungry child. She’s a little over 5 years old, so that seems appropriate to me. I remember my daughter’s first birthday, where she was oblivious about what was going on. Then there was her second birthday, where she was quite content to let her older brother and other older kids help her open her birthday presents. Then there was her third birthday, where she let out a wail if anyone of those other kids tried to touch one of her presents. Based on that experience, Meredith doesn’t seem out of line for her age.
The sad part of the strip is the look on little Meredith’s face in the final panel, where she seems to realize, once again, that the adults in her family would rather make a joke than give her a straight answer to her questions. That sad face almost caused me to overlook what appears to be an attempt to age Meredith a little. Her face in Panel 4, in particular, looks longer and a lot less like her usual Becky McGuire kind of look. It makes me wonder if Lynn Johnston is trying to push her to be a little older-looking to contrast Meredith with the younger Frànçoise, when they go for the Patterson family photo shoot.
posted by howard at 11:37 PM
8 Comments:
howtheduck, continuing from yesterday--I have no problem with your use of the monthly letters in your write-up; I just misplaced my memory of the 2005 Christmas.
And I agree--poor Merrie, no straight answer from the designated grown up. :(
If they intend raising children who don't trust other people, they're certainly going the right way about it. They may think they're being cute and whimsical but what they're doing is sending out the clear message that they think the child is too stupid to deserve the truth. Children who spend their developing years getting a patronizing smirk when they deserve an age-appropriate answer end up growing cynical and bitter. Maiking heroes out of condescending meatbags like the Foobs and demonizing Thérèse for treating Françoise like a human being is one of the things that makes me love to hate this strip.
Meredith's own grandparents skipping out on giving her a Christmas present; both sets even! I could see it from Elly and John, but I expected better from Mira and . . . Wilf? I can't be bothered to remember his name.
Dee is truly a Foob now.
Meredith: Is anyone bringing me a Christmas present?
Dee: Nope. But you can be sure I'm getting some. Suck on that!
LOL, I think it's more a case of Dee neglecting to answer Meredith's question. In all likelihood, she'll get presents.
DreadedCandiru2,
Children who spend their developing years getting a patronizing smirk when they deserve an age-appropriate answer end up growing cynical and bitter.
Supposedly Lynn’s mother liked wordplay, so one other aspect of being raised in that kind of environment would be that you could turn out like Lynn and make a living out of final panel puns.
James
I could see it from Elly and John, but I expected better from Mira and . . . Wilf? I can't be bothered to remember his name.
The Who’s Who section on the www.fborfw.com website is good for name-remembering.
Meredith's own grandparents skipping out on giving her a Christmas present; both sets even!
I agree with aprilp_katje. The kids will get presents. Robin got one just last Sunday.
Great. What a thing to look forward to, eh? I'm suddenly praying for a case of ramaging senility some time in the early 2030s.
dreadedcandiru2,
There’s no need to worry. After all, did you see how the quality of The Family Circus improved when the younger Keanes took over?
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