miss landers
03-05-2005, 07:43 PM
... and goes immediately to his room where he stays until dinner. After dinner he goes back to his room and stays there until bedtime. So how come? What's going on ?????
When I was Beaver's age (8-9 years old), I came home from school and played outdoors until dinner! I played hide-and-seek with neighbor kids, raked leaves, built snowmen, and a million other things. After dinner I cleared the dinner table, did homework, read, played board games with siblings and parents or watched a little TV, and then went to bed at 8 PM.
How come Beaver spent so much time in his room? He never seemed to be doing anything remarkable in his bedroom during those times - he didn't do homework, he didn't read, he didn't play, he didn't watch TV ... he just "hung out" doing nothing. He could have helped his mother in the kitchen or set the table before dinner. And he could have helped her after dinner by clearing the table, wiping the dishes or taking the trash out. But he went straight to his room after dinner.
In the episode about the Trash Man's kids Beaver comes home from school, hangs around in the living room for a minute or two, and is then told to go to his room by Ward. I felt sorry for Beaver at that moment because Ward seemed to EXPECT Beaver not to "bother" his parents with his juvenile company after school.
So how come Beaver spent so much time after school and in the evenings confined to his bedroom doing absolutely nothing? Was this typical of kids in the late 50s or typical of 8 year old kids? Did you stay in your bedroom after school and after dinner? So how come he didn't play outside after school? So how come he didn't build models, or read, or play board games in the evening after dinner? So how come he didn't set the dinner table or take the trash out? Did you do absolutely nothing after school and after dinner? What did you do after school and after dinner on a "school night" when you were 8 years old?
Below: (Ward has just told Wally and Beaver to go to their bedroom.)
Wally: "Gee, Dad. We spend all our time there! I feel like a prisoner. Can't we stay downstairs with you and mom for a little while? Can't we tell stories together, or watch TV together, or play Chutes and Ladders together?"
Ward: "Absolutely not. Go to your room at once."
Beaver: "But ... Gee, Dad! We didn't do anything bad. I got an "A" in spelling, I did my homework right after school, I washed my face and hands before dinner and I put on a clean shirt, too! So how come I have to stay in my room all the time? You make me feel like I'm one of the leopards in the Bible that people didn't want around."
Ward: "Leper, Beaver ... not leopard, leper. And we're not going to discuss it further. Your mother and I need time alone together. Time alone together is normal among adults. Go to your room at once, Beaver. And you too, Wally. Close the door and I'll be up later to say goodnight."
Wally and Beaver: (Sadly) "Yes, sir. Yes, sir."
When I was Beaver's age (8-9 years old), I came home from school and played outdoors until dinner! I played hide-and-seek with neighbor kids, raked leaves, built snowmen, and a million other things. After dinner I cleared the dinner table, did homework, read, played board games with siblings and parents or watched a little TV, and then went to bed at 8 PM.
How come Beaver spent so much time in his room? He never seemed to be doing anything remarkable in his bedroom during those times - he didn't do homework, he didn't read, he didn't play, he didn't watch TV ... he just "hung out" doing nothing. He could have helped his mother in the kitchen or set the table before dinner. And he could have helped her after dinner by clearing the table, wiping the dishes or taking the trash out. But he went straight to his room after dinner.
In the episode about the Trash Man's kids Beaver comes home from school, hangs around in the living room for a minute or two, and is then told to go to his room by Ward. I felt sorry for Beaver at that moment because Ward seemed to EXPECT Beaver not to "bother" his parents with his juvenile company after school.
So how come Beaver spent so much time after school and in the evenings confined to his bedroom doing absolutely nothing? Was this typical of kids in the late 50s or typical of 8 year old kids? Did you stay in your bedroom after school and after dinner? So how come he didn't play outside after school? So how come he didn't build models, or read, or play board games in the evening after dinner? So how come he didn't set the dinner table or take the trash out? Did you do absolutely nothing after school and after dinner? What did you do after school and after dinner on a "school night" when you were 8 years old?
Below: (Ward has just told Wally and Beaver to go to their bedroom.)
Wally: "Gee, Dad. We spend all our time there! I feel like a prisoner. Can't we stay downstairs with you and mom for a little while? Can't we tell stories together, or watch TV together, or play Chutes and Ladders together?"
Ward: "Absolutely not. Go to your room at once."
Beaver: "But ... Gee, Dad! We didn't do anything bad. I got an "A" in spelling, I did my homework right after school, I washed my face and hands before dinner and I put on a clean shirt, too! So how come I have to stay in my room all the time? You make me feel like I'm one of the leopards in the Bible that people didn't want around."
Ward: "Leper, Beaver ... not leopard, leper. And we're not going to discuss it further. Your mother and I need time alone together. Time alone together is normal among adults. Go to your room at once, Beaver. And you too, Wally. Close the door and I'll be up later to say goodnight."
Wally and Beaver: (Sadly) "Yes, sir. Yes, sir."