As promised in our Sunday Lifestyle centerpiece about fictional mothers (available for viewing by following the Lifestyle link at right) here are some thoughts on other mothers who couldn’t fit into the newspaper story.
Gertrude, Hamlet’s mom: What, she couldn’t even wait for her husband’s body to get cold before marrying his brother? Way to watch out for your son’s feelings there, queen.
Marion Cunningham, “Happy Days”: She nagged a bit at times, but only when pushed to her limits, such as when the family preferred watching the Packers game to setting the table for Thanksgiving dinner. Very caring, as she took in The Fonz like a son despite his hoodlum status in parts of town.
June Cleaver, “Leave it to Beaver”: Just a bit too perfect for my taste. I can’t even keep my dining room table clean with one child, and she kept an immaculate home while preparing perfect dinners and having all the laundry folded for two children and a dad who did nothing to help around the house? She’s either a robot or Superwoman, there’s really no in between.
Charlie Brown’s mother: She needed to speak more clearly, for starters. Then she should really have had some kind of impact on his life. Where was she all those times Lucy kept pulling the football away, or after he gave up the game-winning home run? That’s where most of his self-esteem issues stem from, her lack of support. That probably led to his premature baldness, as well.
