(Strip Number 7159, Original Publication Date, 13 May 1984)
Panel 1: We find Elly, Connie, and Anne having coffee and discussing the difficulties of being wives and mothers. Anne leads off by telling Connie that Steve had promised to pull his weight as regards dealing with the children at night and does so in his fashion.
Panel 2: Steve's contribution is to get up on one elbow and nudge her so that she can attend to the baby.
Panel 3: Annie talks about how every day, it's the same thing in that her children fight over the stupidest things; Elly wonders if they have to wait until the kids are grown before they get along. (That sounds about right because after they're twenty, Mike is no longer Liz's primary caregiver.)
Panel 4: Connie says that she doesn't mind laundry but hates ironing; Elly counters with a statement about how if God had wanted her to iron, he wouldn't have invented permanent press.
Panel 5: We switch to an external shot as Elly complains bitterly about the irony of how no one praises her for her gore-may cooking but if she heats chili from a can, she's the next Julia Child; Connie and Annie agree that that bites.
Panel 6: Connie then discusses a crude comment Ted made about how he's baffled that she doesn't look anything like the girl in a commercial when she gets up. Elly and Annie both agree that that's grounds for murder.
Panel 7: Connie and Elly talk about the desirability of having an apartment of their own where they don't have to pick up after unappreciative men and children.
Panel 8: More conversation in much the same vein is indicated by unsound effects.
Panel 9: Elly smiles and thought-bubbles that everyone needs a support group.
Summary: I think it's fairly safe to say that we're in for a master-work of mommy-jacking this time out. We could even have her comment about how her children are only now finally realizing what their mother (i.e. Ruth) did for them. Also, where are the children? I remember one time about eighteen years ago where this question became really, really important and want an answer that isn't "You got me" from the brains trust we see here.