socializing
Explanation
The Joke
A parent explains their approach to socializing their child: "I want my kids to go to school so they can be properly socialized." When asked what kind of school, they say "By high school." The other person agrees, "Yes, naturally." A time skip labeled "High school" shows silhouettes of teenagers, and a narration box reveals: "I don't like my hair. She's too tall. He's being mean at home. She has OK but she doesn't do it right. She can't say anything because she's anxious. I'm not sure that I hate her."
The parent's confident declaration that school provides "proper socialization" is immediately undercut by the reality of what high school socialization actually looks like: a swamp of insecurities, petty judgments, social anxiety, and superficial cruelties. The final panel shows the parent looking at their now-grown child and saying "You've grown up so beautifully," completely oblivious to the social nightmare they sent their kid into.
The Humor
The joke plays on the common parental justification for traditional schooling -- "socialization" -- by contrasting the idealized concept with the ugly reality. Parents use "socialization" as though it is an unqualified good, but the comic points out that the actual social environment of high school is often toxic, shallow, and anxiety-inducing. The parent's blissful ignorance in the final panel, admiring the end result without any awareness of the process, adds an extra layer of irony. It is a pointed commentary on how adults romanticize childhood social experiences they have conveniently forgotten.