If Zits comics aren’t cut out and affixed to your refrigerator yet, it’s only because your kids are still young. Otherwise, you couldn’t resist. That’s why I’m glad a reader sent in this one to stick on the collective Free-Range Kids Fridge. For more Zits, click here!
Ah, logic!
we are still putting baby blues on our refrigerator. but this is so funny. only a few short years and I’m sure this will be replacing it.
I get both Baby Blues and Zits delivered to my emailbox on a daily basis. They crack me up so hard… even though I swear the Baby Blues artist has a camera planted in my house. One of these days, I’ll find that camera….
Yes, I read that one this morning. Bwua ha ha ha!
I laughed out loud. Do as I say not as I did, that’s my philosophy! LOL
My son started putting Zits on our fridge about a month before her turned 13. Subtle hint from him to “let go”? Methinks!
Ha, I totally did that trip when I was 18… drove from Sarnia, Ontario (near Detroit) to Denver and back over a couple of weeks… greatest trip I’ve ever done in a car!
Even my wife (who never had to deal with small children or teenagers) likes Zits. I would say to the kid, “Yes, you can go on a road trip–WHEN your room is removed from the Superfund toxic waste site list.”
Several years ago, the story line was about the boy’s favorite band and how Dad drove him to a show, and wound up helping the musicians set up their gear (not sure of the details–I think the “roadie” flaked out). Dad saw they needed a hand, so he got to hang out with the band and received an official guitar pick as a memento. The son was “over the moon” when Dad gave the souvenir to him and the story went of from there. (a little “off topic” but I’m an “honorary roadie” for a local band)
I’m having a problem that this comic touches on. I try to be as rational and scientific as I possibly can and try to correctly interpret risks. I usually compare any risk to traffic accidents (“Well, you’re much more likely to be involved in a traffic accident…”). As a result of doing that, I think I may over-estimate the traffic risks so I think I freak out a little too much when my kids are on the road. My daughter just started college about 4 hours away and my son is 15 and just got his learner’s permit. My nerves can barely handle it whenever she drives from here to school and back. I usually trust them and their friends to do pretty much whatever they want as long as I’m informed, but road trips make me exceptionally nervous (even though, of course, I participated in several when I was their age).
A rational and scientific approach to teen driving is to realize that, statistically speaking, teenagers are inexperienced drivers who get in more accidents. So worrying about them is not unrealistic.
Statistically speaking, most accidents (by anyone) happen within 5 to 10 miles of the home (http://www.carinsurance.com/Articles/content31.aspx).
Besides, what better way for an inexperienced driver to become more experienced than by driving?
Chris, and others…. this particular comic comes about a month (give or take) after Jeremy – the teen – got his driver’s license. If you have the time, go back and read the comics for the last couple of months – the time leading up to the test, the actual test itself, and then some of the adventures that ensue after. They’re hilarious. And make me thank GOD every day that my little one is still six years old!!
@Gord: What’s this? Another Sarnian? Astounding! Ever work in the plants?
Lenore, here’s another great comic strip (from the webcomic Wondermark) that every parent should read: http://wondermark.com/567/
I love Zits! And Baby Blues. They both rock.
This comic is really more about parents being more worried about their children than they are about themselves, which emotion doesn’t necessarily lead to hypervigilant over-paranoia by any means.
My sons will not be doing (hopefully ) what their father did when he was 19 – hitchhike across country with no money.
I laughed when I saw that one too. We’ll see if I’m still laughing when my kids start driving in 10 years or so.
The statistic about most accidents happening close to home has nothing to do with it being more dangerous to drive closer to home. People do more driving closer to home. The number of accidents reflects the frequency of trips close to home.
My teenage road trip was a fantastic experience despite the vehicle breakdown…or maybe because of the vehicle breakdown. I was helped out by a long-haired, pot smoking, burned out Viet Nam vet who fixed my car for the price of parts and sent me on my way.
@Leonard Ewy: Thy post is by far the best post; and thy experience has been most broadening for thee. Keep at it and encourage the young ‘uns in thy care.
I expected the punchline to be “I didn’t ask [my parents] for permission.”
What’s the opposite of a double-negative? I’d ask my mother if it was OK to do something and she’d say “Go ask your father.” He’d tell me “It’s fine with me if it’s OK with your mother.”
That’s two tacit “yes” votes in my book. Off I’d go.
After the fact, they’d both go through the roof over whatever it was I’d done “without permission.”
But neither of them ever stepped up and flat-out told me “no” the next time I’d ask, either. (Or “yes” for that matter.)