In a July 4, 1982 interview with OSV Newsweekly, he said the point of his cartoons was "elevating" families and give "a normality to the pandemonium that exists in some homes."
"It makes people realize that their kids are normal; their homes are normal. The message to the parents is enjoy it, enjoy it while they're young. Smile with the kids, laugh with them, love with them. That's the real philosophy behind Family Circus," he said.
And check out this cover from that issue:
