The (failed) domestication of John.

One of the recurring themes in the strip is John's traditionally minded refusal to get involved with matters domestic. Today's strip is an example. His wife is obviously either sick or sleeping off last night's party or something. Whatever the reason, she can't perform her 'magic' meaning that Mike would be late for kindergarten and Lizzie would be sitting in her own filth. You'd think that he'd do the smart and thoughtful thing and get Mike rerady and change Liz. You'd be wrong. He never really shook the notion that avoiding having to lower himself by doing that sort of thing was why he got married. Granted, he did do the occasional bit of housework. Too bad it was simply to avoid being hollered at instead of having real empathy for her problems. Heck, if I were him, I'd pitch in so I could get the chores done the way I wanted'em. This is why she should have been a lot firmer on his silly model train hobby. A stronger woman would have insisted on no choo-choo unless he does his share of the work and, what's more, made it stick. Not that Elly had any really force of personality. All she's got is volume.