The Hot Mess Housewife: Journey to SuperMom, or Death by The Wiggles?

Let's all imagine a simpler time, when June Cleaver was the ideal mother and housewife. She was the voice of concern and reason for her children. She was comfort and support to her husband. She was magical. Every single problem life threw at her or her family was solved within a half hour with a smile, kind word and a cookie.

June does not exist. She was a TV Mom. She was fictional. She was fabulous, but still not real. She was also from many decades ago, and boy, how the times have changed.

What WOULD June do if she was thrust into parenting and marriage in 2012? The problems our children and families face today are much more severe than in 1960. How would June handle Wally's highschool being locked down because of a student gunman? How would she teach The Beav about protecting himself from the predator living next door? Why does Eddie Haskell have two Moms and no Dad? How would she react to Ward being fired and their house facing forclosure?

I'd like to think that June Cleaver would have adapted well to this era. She just didn't wear pearls around her neck, she administered pearls of wisdom. She exuded such qualities as kindness, fairness, unconditional love, ethics, and hard work. She raised her children to be good people and to do the right thing.

Our lives are fast paced. We thrive on instant gratification. We have iPods, Androids, Computers and cell phones attached to us at all times. We live in an age where parents blame teachers for their childrens' failures, yet ignore those very children when they get home. Obesity rules the lives of many Americans because McDonald's is easier than prepping and cooking a healthy meal. Jobs become 80+ hours a week instead of 40 because money talks and success is key. I'm not saying that we need to abandon our modern lives, but we definately need to take a step back and remember the foundations that we should live by.

June had that in the bag. I have no doubt that she would be a mess, fearing for Wally's safety if he was in danger at school. She would have taken every precaution to teach The Beav about Stranger Dangers. Mrs. Cleaver would be accepting and supportive of Eddie's Moms. She would get two jobs if Ward and the house needed it. Even for today's standards, June would teach her family the same values she did so many years ago.

I teach my children to address adults as "Mr." or Mrs.", not Bob and Mary. "Please" and "Thank you" are still magic words. I may get my kids a Happy Meal from time to time, but I don't rely on the ketchup packets to fulfill their dietary needs as a vegetable. I do not accept back talk. My children aren't paid an allowance. Chores build character and responsibilty for the care of their toys and home. You eat what I make for dinner. There is no menu.

I'm no June Cleaver, but I like to think that I am an example of what our favorite TV Mom stood for.