June 26th – Family Circus: School’s Out!

Hi everyone,

Today’s comic is Family Circus.

Comic Breakdown

The teacher is happy that the school year is finished. 

“School’s out!” – Billy

“Home till September!” – Dolly

Mom feels stressed with having all her children at home all day every day for two months.

What is going on?

The school year is finished.  Every child loves summer because they get two months off from school. 

Teachers love summer because they get a break from work and time to prepare for the next school year. 

Parents get stressed about the summer holiday.  If both parents work, they are stressed about the cost of child care and summer activities. 

If they stay at home, they are stressed about having their children at home all day because it becomes harder for them to get their work done.

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, here, and here. 

June 21st – Family Circus: Father’s Day

Hi everyone,

Today is Father’s Day!

Comic Breakdown

“We voted and on Father’s Day, Daddy gets to play with us ALL DAY!” – Billy and his younger siblings to their Mother

What is going on?

It is Father’s Day.  This is an annual holiday in North America to honour fathers.  This event always takes place on the third Sunday of every June. 

Many children struggle to find a good gift for their father for Father’s Day.  The first official Father’s Day celebrations took place on the third Sunday of June in 1910 in Spokane, Washington, USA.  The holiday was started by Sonora Smart Dodd with the support of local church leaders.  She started the holiday to honour her father, William Jackson Smart, a widower who raised six children on his own.  Dodd and others were inspired in by Mother’s Day to create a day for fathers.

What is the meaning of this comic?

When asked, most fathers say that the best present that they can get on Father’s Day is time with their family and children.

Billy, Dolly, Jeffy, and PJ have planned the perfect gift for their father. 

They will spend the day together playing and doing lots of fun things together like colouring.  They left their Father’s Day card black and white so that their daddy could colour it with them.

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, here, and here.

June 10th – Mimi & Eunice: Speechless

Hi everyone,

Today’s comic is Mimi & Eunice.

 Comic Breakdown

“I’m speechless.  I don’t know what to say.  There are no words…” – Mimi to Eunice

“Shut up!” – Eunice to Mimi

Speechless

When someone says that they are speechless, it means they cannot talk. 

People say they are speechless because they are in shock.  

It can be a happy shock.

  

Or a surprised shock.

Or a confused shock.

Or an angry shock.

What is going on?

This comic is funny because it shows how the expression “speechless” gets used too much. 

Many people say they are “speechless” when they are upset or surprised by something.  However, they are not truly speechless because they keep on talking and talking. 

This Mimi and Eunice comic is the perfect example of someone who talks non-stop despite claiming they are speechless. 

Eunice is so annoyed that she tells Mimi to, “shut up!” which is a rude way of telling Mimi to stop talking.   It means that Eunice has heard enough and understands that Mimi is shocked about something.

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

June 4th – Mimi & Eunice: Black & White Thinking

Hi everyone,

Today’s comic is Mimi & Eunice.

Comic Breakdown

“I’ve given up my black and white thinking.  The shades between black and white aren’t gray.  They’re the full color spectrum!” – Mimi to Eunice

What is going on?

Mimi is saying that she does not see the world as black and white. 

Black & White

The term “black and white” is a figurative expression to mean “right or wrong” or “yes or no” or “good or evil”.  There is no other choice.  People with this view are considered either very simple or harsh in thinking.

Gray

Another way of thinking is “gray”.  This means that things are not so clear.  Many things in life are not simply right or wrong or bad or good.  Gray thinkers are not as extreme in their views and opinions.  Right and wrong or good and bad depends on every single situation. 

The Full Colour Spectrum

This means that one sees the world with an open mind.    People with an open mind are very positive and non-judgemental.  They are open to all possibilities. 

What Does Mimi See?

Mimi sees the full color spectrum which means she believes in a world of opportunities before her.  The full color spectrum means that anything is possible. 

Today’s images are from here, here, here, here, and here.