Life with Beaver

I watched an episode of "Leave It to Beaver" during my lunch break today. I still love that show! There's a simplicity to it that just can't be beat by most of today's so-called family programs (I just went back and re-read that sentence -- man, I sound old!).

In this particular episode, Beaver's friend Richard heads to the Laundromat with a sack full of his family's dirty clothes and Beaver in tow. Along the way Richard realizes he's lost the money his mom gave him (three whole dollars). He fears what will happen when he returns home with the clothes still dirty and no money ("Dad's in a hitting mood today." Cue the laugh-track). So Richard convinces Beaver to let him use the Cleaver family's washing machine.

If you've ever watched a TV sitcom, you can imagine what happened next. The boys use far too much soap (not to mention starch) and wind up filling the kitchen with suds.

Wally and Eddie Haskel help the younger boys clean up the mess (Eddie protested, but he owed Wally a favor) and Wally even loans Richard $3 out of his own pocket to go to the Laundromat and get the clothes cleaned properly.

When Ward and June get home they're dumbfounded at how clean the kitchen looks. They have a hard time believing the boys' story that they decided to clean it all on their own out of the goodness of their hearts. Eventually the parents figure out what happened, but decide to keep it to themselves since the boys did such a good job of solving their own problem.

You've got to love the Cleavers - the ideal TV family of a bygone era. Beaver and Wally are always worried their antics will result in their parents yelling at them or worse. However, I can't recall a single episode where Ward or June ever raised their voices. That's no small feat!

I used to watch "Leave It to Beaver" with Nolan when he was really small. The show came up in conversation the other day while I was waiting with Nolan for his bus and he didn't remember watching it. I'd love to introduce the show to the boys again. Imagine how great life would be if we all acted a little more like the Cleavers.