Ward and June Cleaver's Legacy Lives On

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — Barbara Billingsley, who gained the title supermom for her gentle portrayal of June Cleaver, the warm, supportive mother of a pair of precocious boys in "Leave it to Beaver," has died. She was 94. 

Spokeswoman Judy Twersky says Billingsley died early Saturday at her home in Santa Monica. She had suffered from a rheumatoid disease.

She acted in a number of roles in movies from the mid-1940s to the mid-1950s, but it wasn't until "Leave it to Beaver" that she became a star.

When the show debuted in 1957, Jerry Mathers, who played Beaver, was 9, and Tony Dow, who portrayed Wally, was 12. Billingsley's character, the perfect stay-at-home 1950s mom, was always there to gently but firmly nurture both through the ups and downs of childhood.  Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press  Oct. 16,2010

It seems like everyone knows June Cleaver.  The character that was portrayed by Billingsley has become an icon.  Can you name any other character Billingsley played during her acting career.  I can’t.  For better or worse, June Cleaver is an American ideal.

June was the perfect mother and wife.  June was always up before anyone else, impeccably dressed with her pearls and heels on, making breakfast, no cereal for her family.  A nice dinner was always ready when Ward got home from work.  She was always available to help Wally, Beaver and their friends with homework and life dilemmas.  

June Cleaver was the mom every mom wanted to be and the mom every kid wanted.  She was, and sometimes still is, the wife every man wants.  But, is the ideal wife and mother an attainable or even realistic goal?  

I remember watching the show when I was a kid and thinking that I wanted that life.  Mom at home, nice house, all problems solved with a 10 minute talk.  I grew up with seven siblings on a farm.  We had livestock to take care of everyday and a huge garden added to our list of chores in the summer.  My mom wore blue jeans and tennis shoes.  She had a job before she started having kids and went back to work after the last kid was born.  We older kids had to take on more responsibility.  I was a little resentful.

Of course, looking back now, I know Mom was doing what she had to do because of her life choices.  Dad always helped take care of us and he was an excellent cook.  One of my favorite memories is Dad brushing and fixing my hair for school every morning.  

The June Cleaver persona put a lot of pressure on women.  Women were, and sometimes still are, expected  to be that kind of mom but couldn’t and still can’t for financial reasons.  Even in the 21st century, moms are sometimes looked down upon if they work.  I’m able to stay at home.  My kids like me being home when they get home from school but they don’t understand that I miss grownup interaction; that I want and need a life outside of the home.  

I can understand why men want a June Cleaver wife even if the wife works. Husband goes to work, comes home to drinks, dinner ready, ten minute disciplinary talk with kids; he’s made his contribution to the family. The wife cleans the house, does the laundry, goes shopping for the house, takes care of the kids. She does all this even if she has a job. The husband has a pretty sweet life.

Barbara Billingsley was once divorced before she played June Cleaver on TV. Wonder what happened in that marriage to cause a divorce when divorce at that time in history was frowned upon? Of course, TV in the late Fifties was not going to show real life; everything had to be perfect. People watching TV want that perfect life (who doesn’t) but then are extremely disappointed when it doesn’t happen for them. Now you have a whole lot of unhappy people constantly searching for the perfect life and never finding it. It’s a lot easier to write a perfect life than live a realistic life.

I think one major point people always miss when talking about Leave it to Beaver is that Ward always treated June, Wally and Beaver with respect and common courtesy. There wasn’t any name calling, cursing or hitting. Respect and common courtesy go a long way in helping create an atmosphere where a happy marriage and family can thrive. Find those qualities in yourself and you will make a happy and harmonious life. It may not be a Ward and June 1950 something type of life but it will be good.