Making of "Positive Parenting"

J and I were talking about something or other when the kids interrupted us with

"He slapped me in the face!"

"He kicked me in the balls!"

J calmly replied "Sounds like you're both square then" and we continued on with our conversation.

It was a good bit, it just needed a little more to pump it up. I initially had Fran reading a parenting advice book, then the kids come in and Joel does the bit and F&J look pleased with themselves like they thought they'd followed the advice. I showed it to J but he said the funniest thing about the original encounter was how we immediately went back to our conversion, completely unphased by the kids antics.

I made the comic longer so Fran could continue with the book. I fiddled with her bubbles quite a bit, trying to get the balance right between "positive parenting speak" and making it legible to a wide audience (difficult!)

I wanted to have Joel staring forward nodding intensely. I couldn't quite remember where I'd seen the pose before, but it felt Simpsonsy -maybe Mr Burns because of the templed hands? By a stroke of luck, I was scrolling Twitter and happened across it!

I copied the pose and hands and really hoped people would get what I was going for! I didn't want Joel to look like he was being nagged. He really is listening intently, but when the kids show up his natural parenting instincts take over! (IMO correctly!) :)

I was about to draw default "Fran holding book" but had the thought to see what reference pictures might be available. I found the following and really liked how natural it was compared to me guessing at the pose!

I got bitchy at the end with the book cover. I read a few positive parenting books while I was pregnant with my first and boy did they not help! 😂