The strip chronicles the lives of a Canadian family and their friends. The father, John Patterson, a dentist whose hobby is model railroading, appears less often than the mother, Elly, a housewife turned store-owner. The happy couple have three children: Michael, married to pharmacist Deanna (they have a daughter named Meredith); Elizabeth, a college student; and April, the youngest daughter. The characters age in real time; fans have been known to express surprise and dismay at passing time in the story, such as "Michael is married?! He can't be that old!" The comic was based upon Johnston's real family and closely emulates them. Her son, unhappy at being constantly portrayed in the comic, is now alienated from her.