I'm glad that June Bronson Cleaver wasn't my mother. Too many rules and manners. She just didn't get boys, and I think if she had her ways the two wouldn't have grown up so boyish. Thankfully Ward intervened, and if you stop and think for a moment, you'll see my argument. June was a whiner-the shoes are dirty, Beaver's shirt is untucked, and why would boys want to play ball when they can read a book? Ward-do something! Before they turn out normal! Maybe it was too much Aunt Martha in her, and not enough Uncle Billy-remember the lady who thought Beaver should wear short pants to school? Or send Wally away to boarding school? Double beds on a honeymoon. Thankfully they turned out more Cleaverish than Bronsonish, I don't think "Then Came Bronson" came from her side of the family. Well, hang in there.
Now I am not anti-milk and cookies, or manners either, but June was not prepared for boys who will be boys. Or boys who would be bikers. And when you listen to Ward's responses to many of her statements, you wonder who was raising who! And why didn't you ever see any motorcycles at the Cleavers? Could you imagine Eddie saying, "my what a nice tattoo you have Mrs. Cleaver, it goes with Mr. Cleavers new Panhead." When he really married a Knucklehead.
There was a reason the show was called Father Knows Best, because Margaret Anderson didn't. Who would name their kids Princess and Kitten-at least they were girls. And at least Bud rides motorcycles! Maybe he knew best. Could you see Donna Stone, whose husband was a doctor letting Jeff ride? Just for your knowledge, one of Mary's friends was TV Tommy Ivo, drag racer, so at least speed snuck in the backdoor. Just not on two wheels. And after his homework was done. And never on a school night. Could you see Harriet Nelson not having Ozzie? By the way, what did he do for a living? Almost like raising three boys, true Americana all the way down to the eagle on the mantle. But somehow Ricky got involved in rock and roll-I still believe motorcycles are safer. What do you think Oz?
The closest TV mother I can relate too may have been Lassie's mom, Timmy's mother. She lived on a farm, and was used to birthing piglets, mending fences, and sending Lassie out for help, while keeping the kitchen clean and baking pies in between tornadoes and mending quilts for poorer ladies in the valley. And they had a truck to haul bikes in, was it just me or did that one ton Dodge's wheels always seem to rotate the wrong way? I could see her cow trailing, maybe on an old Triumph Cub, and sending Lassie to get help when the bike wouldn't start 50 miles from home. Cool mom. I just don't see her and June at the bridge club. Or at the feed store either. Somehow the smell of fresh baked cookies mixed with the smell of two-stroke oil was forbidden in June's kitchen. "Ward, you didn't tell me milk came from those dirty cows! The milkman always brought it from the Martin's Farm. Timmy and Lassie's? But it always looked so clean, what am I going to put on my oatmeal?" And the drama continues, never at a loss for a new storyline.
Another mom you may know was only about 15 when she gave birth. A very famous mother, who the Catholics worship, the Beatles sang about, and has lent her name to millions of Latin women. Of course I am talking about Mary, the mother of Jesus. And I think she was a great mom. But of course, she had a great son. But what made her great, was when God told her she would have a son, and still be a virgin, and He would save the people from their sins, the Bible says "Mary pondered these things in her heart." She meditated on them, and sought God in the situation. She didn't lean on her own understanding, and although the son she would have was perfect, and without sin, she knew she wasn't, and that He was born to die-that He was the Savior God had promised. And always lived with that thought, that someday He would die. And at the cross, she was there-loving her son no matter the consequences, while others including most of the men were absent. Mary drew her love from God, and I don't think anything would have fazed her. I can only imagine the talks she and Jesus must have had. And because of Jesus' real father, this may have been the best version of "Father Knows Best" ever made.
So be patient with your mother today. Somehow she has the style of June, the medical connections of Donna, the soul of a rock and roll Harriet, and the toughness of Ruth Martin, baked in an apple pie. And patience, that she learned from having you. But she also has the love for you of Mary, a special love only a mother can have. A gift God has given her for her children. A love not found on Hallmark Days, but everyday. So let today be a special day and love on your mom. Ride carefully, and maybe take her along. Be more of a Cleaver than a Bronson. And when you are confronted by those aren't, tell them, "Well, hang in there." "Then Came Beaver" still sounds better than "Leave it to Bronson." June Bronson that is.
But Mary's way of pondering the things of God is still best. Not the perfect mother, she just had the perfect son. A wish for all those sons and daughters out there, from the mothers who love us. Now that's something to think about.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com
