Gaslighting

Happy early Birthday to my brother who gave me the idea for this comic! I think the appliances version of this comic works best, but I originally wrote it as people since that's my default mode. Please note that gaslighting is not a nice thing and you shouldn't do it. 

Explanation: Gaslighting is a form of manipulation, but also it's a type of stovetop (as opposed to electric). 

Text:
F: You're bad at gaslighting.
S: No I'm not - you're crazy!

Spin Doctor Junior

 

So yeah potty training is quite the journey. My preschooler likes to emphasize "it's OK! it HAPPENS!" rather forcefully for all sorts of things, some things that truly are fine and some things that really shouldn't happen. It is a good mindset for the many things that truly are ok and happen. 

Text:
R: Mommyyyyyyyyyy!
L: What's up, my girl?
R: My shirt is dry!
L: That's good to hear.
R: My shorts are a liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiittle bit wet BUT! It's ok! It happens!!!
L: ...Anything else to report? 
R: *deep inhale* Ineednewundies. (translation: I need new undies)

DOTA2 Feasting on Enough

 

Happy Birthday to my Grandpa!
The character Zeus has a phrase in DOTA2 which is what he's quoting here and it makes me think. Is enough really as good as a feast? I feel like if you make exactly enough food for people, then either nobody wants to eat the last pieces so people don't actually get enough, or all the food is eaten and you're left wondering if anyone was still hungry. Maybe on an individual level, if you eat enough then it doesn't matter if you were at a feast with extra or finished off all of what you had. Hmmm...

Text:
Title: DOTA2: A Day in the Life - Zeus
Enchantress: You barely brought enough food for everyone!
Zeus: Enough is as good as a feast.

Muffet Crossover

 

It's constantly surprising what a preschooler will say or fixate on. My kiddo likes Spider-Man despite never having seen a show with him. She has seen him on clothing and in books, and she really likes him. For those unaware, the Little Miss Muffet (not Muppet, that's a different crossover) rhyme reads "Along came a spider and sat down beside her."

Text:
Title: Little Miss Muffet
R: Along came Spider-Man who sat down beside her -
L: Unexpected plot twist!

DOTA2 In the Bag

 

Another DOTA2 comic! I have a few. At the beginning of the game, you can have your character exclaim that your team is going to win (it's in the bag) and each character has a phrase for that. But now I think of this when my cashier asks where he should put the receipt. 

Text:
Title: DOTA2: A Day in the Life - Dragon Knight
Storm Spirit: Where is the receipt for our questing snacks?
Dragon Knight: This, my friends, is in the bag. 

Breaching a Contract

 

Sometimes I can't decide which way lands better so I draw both ways and like both. So here are both! Also, I like all of my comics but some are definite favorites and this one is a favorite. I came up with it while playing card games with my family and I think this turn of phrase should enter the common vernacular. 

Text:
A: So what do you think?
B: Like a whale, you're breaching this contract. 

A: Why did Legal send me a whale picture?
B: Ah, you must be breaching a contract. 

Judgmental Parenting Part 1

 

Couldn't decide which version I liked better so here's both :)

I feel like this is going to be a series. Thankfully this is not a true story in that I have not gotten this unhelpful phrase thrown at me (that I recall - maybe I'm just blocking that unhelpful encounter from my memory) - but I did have the picnicking situation described happen. In my experience, other parents tend to be super helpful and understanding, and commiserating with them is a help not drain. Sometimes kids are just weird and do unexpected, unhinged things and all you can do is warn your fellow parents that this may happen to them. Also, my son really likes ducks and might just quack at you. 

Text:
J: Well, you knew what you were getting into when you decided to have kids.
L: Really?! Did I know that my kid would open up his PB&J and slap it on my leg while we were picnicking in the park with far too many ants? Did I?!?!
O: Quack! {or} *licking PB&J off my leg*

Lets Be Teetotalers

 

So this is where we are currently - it's been a rough time with this preschooler, getting her that last stretch to potty trained. Also, fun fact, I'm a big fan of tea and I don't drink alcohol. I should order more tea. Specifically, bergamot tea. 

Explanation: Teetotalers are those who don't drink alcohol - they can also be described as dry. When you're potty training a kid, you want them to keep their pants (and really everything they're wearing) dry. 

Text:
L: Not to be a teetotaler but, like, *world weary sigh* could we have at least one dry day this week???
R: Liiiiiiiittle bit wet - new undies please.

DOTA2 Dragon Waiting

 

My husband plays DOTA2 and I keep thinking up comics based on the lines I hear the characters say. In the game, the character is not waiting for his library hold to come in but I now think of this when I hear the line. The librarian is Libby, the app that many libraries use for digital access to their stacks. I recommend checking if your local library has this app - it's free and you can get all sorts of digital and audio books!

Text:
Title: DOTA2: A Day in the Life - Dragon Knight
Libby: You are fourth in line.
Dragon Knight: The dragon waits.

Pork Fried Rice Pudding

 

Happy Birthday to my Mom!
I believe the rices were Afghani, India, and Chinese. We had a bit of takeout that week, and that's not always easier than home cooking when you have toddlers. I did not end up combining them - I did not see a version where that could end well. As a side note, I had to look up if "pork fried" had a hyphen in it and it does not so now you know! Also I had to look up if that's a hyphen or a dash. So much research!

Text:
L2: I have 3 kinds of leftover rice in my fridge.
L1: Make rice pudding!
L2: ... Pork fried rice pudding?

Plebe vs Proletariat

 

The truest of stories would have these characters in a car, but that's no fun to draw. Do I know what plebeians or proletariats are? Vaguely. I do know they go together like princes and paupers. No one was injured in the running of this stop sign, but you still shouldn't run stop signs (no matter your social class).

Explanation: Saying something is for plebes (the slang for plebeians) is to say only the lowly need to do it and if you're of a higher standing then you can ignore it. Proletariats were a higher standing than plebeians in the old order.

M: There was a stop sign - why didn't he stop?!?
L: Stop signs are for plebes - he seemed more proletariat. 

Bergamot Tea

 

True story from a grocery store run. She was in a shopping car with her brother but I wasn't gonna try to draw that - even if it was a sweet two-seater car cart. Whoever thought to weld a Little Tikes car to the front of a shopping cart was a very smart person. An even smarter person made the Wegman's style car carts though - it has the kids in the regular spot of the cart cart (in grabbing range for the parent) but facing away from the parent (out of kicking range of the kid)  and has steering wheels for the kids (that do NOT steer the cart for obvious reasons). But yeah I'm not going to draw a grocery cart. 

Explanation: Earl Grey tea is a black tea with bergamot (a type of citrus fruit). Sadly, bergamot sounds like something else to a toddler.

Text:
L: We are looking for bergamot tea.
R: Booger snot?? Looking for booger snot tea!?!
L: ... Don't make me dislike the Earl. 

Raindrops Keep Falling on My Phone

I wasn't sure which way was better so here's the bonus version:

Happy September! It's the most wonderful time of the year. So this comic was sparked when we were at the Fire House Food Truck Fridays (a wonderful local tradition) and we had one of the outside tables in beautiful weather but then a light summer storm rolled through. 

Text:
L: My phone says it's raining.
M: Oh, you have weather alerts set up?
L: No, there are water droplets on the screen.
Bonus:
M: They look so real!