It made me wonder... What kind of mom would I have been like in the 1950s? When there were no computers, cell phones, color TVS, DVR, etc. Would I be a better mom then I am today?
Would I be a June Cleaver?
Description of June found from Wikipedia
June is dedicated to her family; her interests outside the home are social events like weddings or school events like meetings and plays. She has ladylike pastimes: needlepoint, cake decorating, and arranging tea roses. She reads glossy but high-toned, tasteful women's magazines. Her kitchen is immaculate. Like most TV middle class sitcom families of the era, the Cleavers eat breakfast and lunch in the kitchen while their dinners are full scale affairs in the dining room. June is ladylike and slightly formal in personal appearance, always seen with perfectly coiffed hair and tasteful facial makeup. She is notorious among the show's fans for consistently being dressed as a party hostess, even when doing her housework or relaxing around the house. She wears stylish slacks about the house in a few early episodes, but for most of the series her wardrobe consists of simple but elegant dresses, suits, or skirts paired with blouses or sweaters and high-heeled pumps for shoes. Many of her most attractive house frocks were worn throughout the series' run. She wears a pearl necklace in almost every scene, even when gardening.
I wonder if June would have had a blog? Would she have Facebook? DVR? Twitter? Would she tweet pictures of Wally and the Beave? Or would she ignore all the social networking and just be a good old fashion mom? Would June ever be caught wearing her pjs all day? Or taking her child to a gym daycare? Would she put the Beave in a Mothers Day out?
Would I be like Mrs C?
Information on Mrs. C from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1422244/believable_tv_moms.html?cat=25
Then there is Marion Cunningham, played by Marion Ross on Happy Days was a believable mom to Joanie, Ritchie, and seldom seen oldest child Chuck who was always away at college. Mrs. C was the mom we all wanted; she was a stay at home mom who always let friends visit. She had a happy and believable marriage with hubby Mr. C. This was one woman who made rising teenagers seem so easy.
I wonder what kind of mom she would be today?? With all the social networking and media outlets??
I strive to be the best mom possible to Cate. I hope that she never feels "cheated," because of my time on the phone, twitter, Facebook, blogging.... I don't feel like I am on any of the above too often, just sometimes I wonder.....
What kind of mom would I have been back then? A better one then I am now??
What do you think?
7 comments:
Funny you post this....I have just been thinking the same thing lately. I have been making a huge effort to put my computer and phone down when Mason is awake! So far so good! But I am sure you are the best momma to Cate with or without the computer and phone!
This was such an interesting post! I think, even without technology, June Cleaver had distractions too (I mean, needlepoint, cake decorating, arranging tea roses and reading glossy but high-toned, tasteful women's magazines all take time...and imagine the time she put into creating those masterpiece meals for her family). You obviously give Cate so much love and attention - she is so happy in her photos and videos. AND I think part of being a good mom includes doing some things for you too. You are an awesome Momma to Cate - I think you are doing things just right!
Very interesting perspective. I feel like I put a tremendous amount of pressure on myself to be a good mom, sounds like you feel the same. When Kirsten was a tiny newborn I felt bad if she was in her swing too much or sitting in her bouncy seat for awhile. Now, I sometimes catch myself feeling guilty spending half an hour after work making dinner. It's easy to be stressed about, but I try and just remind myself I'm doing the best I can to be the best momma to her! I think you're doing a wonderful job too, and when I am home all day (which I so so so wish I was all the time) I find Twitter and blogging to be such an outlet to kind of "talk" to adults who are going through the same thing!
this is something i battle with every single day. i battle big time guilt if i look at the phone or the computer while she's awake, but sometimes i just get bored! i feel like those women had it all together in a sense. but then i see it like this.. needlework and such, was their social media. this is what we have. that's what they had. we can't place so much pressure on ourselves. we are awesome moms. and just the mom these little girls need.
i think we need to set up a skype date soon and let these little ones chat.
You are a great momma!! Computer, phone or not! I know sometimes I just need my own downtime and I will log on to see what the rest of the world is doing :) But, I feel the same...glad to know others do too! Love you!
Em, you are a fantastic mother, and it shows in everything you do! Cate is so very blessed to call you "mommy". the fact that you even think about things like this show how important your role as a mom is to you.
but i do feel the same way sometimes! we are human, and are doing our best. :)
this was an interesting post, so much so that i will probably think of it the next time i sit down to blog or fb when kate and hamp are around. i'm glad you posted it.
:-)
so interesting!! I don't feel like I can relate to any of the women in the 50s. There are definitely moments when I wanna be June but I could really care less about sewing or if my kitchen/house is clean.
My pseudo mom in law joked with me the other day that I reminded her of the parents on the commercials that are texting while their children are staring at them or whatever and I just thought to myself that if I only text'd or fb'd while alone then I would never do it!
It seems like these days, it's all about balancing it together.
Post a Comment