Why was June so strick over Brussel Sprouts? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

nerrad · 03-17-2006, 02:34 PM

I never liked brussel sprouts. My family had brussel sprouts on a couple of ocassions, but they made me eat them. However I did love other veggies, even spinach. I buy that everytime I go shopping.

Also, did you notice how everyone was staring at them in that restaurant? They weren't talking all that loud.

howilu · 03-17-2006, 05:47 PM

Yes, people were staring at them over a big deal June made about Beaver eating Brussel Sprouts. i felt she was being too strict in that episode.

frani · 03-17-2006, 06:24 PM

You know, i'm from that era and i remember it was very typical for parents to make their kids eat their vegetables even if it meant letting the kid sit alone at the table after aftereveryone left. I don't know where it came from but the idea of a vegetable power play was quite common. A scenario like the one on the show would have been very normal. Man, things have changed.

tdr · 03-18-2006, 08:24 PM

From what I've been told from a few sources, things have changed too much from being strict about kids eating their vegetables. These 'sources' are people who have had kids come stay with their own kids or those who do childcare, and they say that they serve vegetables to certain kids and they not only won't eat them, but sometimes their parents will admit they have never eaten them. They have been brought up eating cold cereal, doughnuts, and fast food "kid's meals," and nothing else.

Sure, June was overly strict about the Brussels sprouts in this ep, but it may be in her defense that she said "It's the same thing every time we have a green vegetable." It was 'time to make a stand,' as she thought. Actually, I remember reading a Barbara Billilngsley interview in which she said she hated June's actions in this ep. I don't have kids, and probably won't now, but I think the way to go about this is primarily to see that they're introduced to a wide variety of vegetables as early as they are able to eat them; then later let them have a reasonable number of choices. No one is going to like every food. But it's really deplorable that some parents just take the easy way and raise kids on surgary cereal and chicken strips and fries.

Waterston_Fan · 08-04-2007, 04:32 PM

Yeah, I saw the episode recently too... Didn't care for it but I think maybe Beaver just assumed he didn't like it.

The fact this old woman tells the Cleavers that she wouldn't let her kids not eat what they want to eat.

But then again, what if they want to eat surgary stuff, that's not good old woman!!

Did Billingsley ever have children?

Madame X · 08-05-2007, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frani

You know, i'm from that era and i remember it was very typical for parents to make their kids eat their vegetables even if it meant letting the kid sit alone at the table after aftereveryone left. I don't know where it came from but the idea of a vegetable power play was quite common. A scenario like the one on the show would have been very normal. Man, things have changed.

Yep! I grew up in a house like that. I can remember my brothers sitting alone in the kitchen staring at a clean plate except for cold vegetables. It was never a problem with me; I was more likely to be grossed out by meat.

The biggest issue I saw in this LITB episode is the fact that there was a scene and Beaver was humiliated in public. The parents should have let it slide in the restaurant and thought up something else for later. Punishments are bad enough, but they can be traumatic experiences when inforced in public.

Jack1000 · 08-10-2007, 12:55 AM

I'm not surprised at June's reactions,

In those days, parents would often be strict about making kids eat what they didn't want. Perhaps June would have (and should have) had a different reaction if she had known Beaver got sick from them or had a bad reaction to them, such as an allergy. For instance, I can not eat green peas, even the smell of them makes me very ill. But as there was no evidence that Beaver had tried them in the past, perhaps that was way she was so insistent.

This is also the Martha Bronson side of her kicking in. (A woman that always got under my skin) I believe that Aunt Martha would do the same thing to Beaver and we learn early on that June's Aunt Martha was very involved in June's childhood. June attended an all-girls boarding school, so with that "tradition" embedded in her upbringing, I could see her making a federal case about Brussels Sprouts!

This is one of the few times where June shows backbone and for once, she doesn't go to Ward for advice on what to do or how to discipline Beaver. Maybe that is why in real life, Barbara was not happy about this episode. It is well documented that she mothered Jerry and Tony on the set as if they were her own children. She was very prime and proper, but was also very kind and loving according to many sources.

I actually like this episode!

Jack

OH Nuts! · 08-13-2007, 10:51 PM

Yecch! I don't like brussel sprouts either.

But I do like broccoli which is just as good for you or even better. Broccoli is nature's one a day vitamin. It has 20% more calcium volume per volume than milk and 16% more Vit C vol. per vol. than oranges. And it has strong cancer fighting properties too...so...pleeeez let me have broccoli instead.

kooky12 · 04-09-2010, 10:31 AM

At the end of this episode, when they are in the restaurant, at the table behind them - is that Miss Landers sitting there as a customer ?

Hughsgirl · 04-09-2010, 11:37 AM

I for one love Brussel Sprouts, but in this episode I feel June was over the top about it. I recall in an episode I think it was the "Beaver's Newspaper" where Larry was staying for dinner and June made a different vegetable for him because he didn't like Broccoli. Why couldn't she hold Larry to the same standards about being polite and eating anything he's served when visiting? She mentioned that rule to the boys everytime they were invited to a dinner at a friend's house! I was forced to eat liver and sat at the table for two whole hours before my dad whipped my hind end and sennt me to bed so I would never force a kid to eat what they didn't like, however I wouldn't become a short order cook either so I guess they would have to eat what was so served if I couldn't find a quick enough replacement or go hungry.

MickeyMac · 04-09-2010, 04:30 PM

I have to admit I always thought this episode was one of the weaker ones of the whole series.

catlover79 · 04-09-2010, 11:26 PM

Brussels sprouts =

catlover79 · 04-09-2010, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterston_Fan

Yeah, I saw the episode recently too... Didn't care for it but I think maybe Beaver just assumed he didn't like it.

The fact this old woman tells the Cleavers that she wouldn't let her kids not eat what they want to eat.

But then again, what if they want to eat surgary stuff, that's not good old woman!!

Did Billingsley ever have children?

Just like June, Ms. Billingsley has two sons - with her first husband Glenn Billingsley. Their names are Glenn Jr. and Drew.

Marvo301 · 04-10-2010, 12:22 AM

I'm sure Ward and June's attitudes in this episode were at least partly shaped by the fact that they were old enough to have lived through the depression and WWII. They would have known what it's like to have a scarcity of food and would be quite adverse to seeing food going to waste. Especially for a reason as silly as a child refusing to eat it. I've witnessed this same attitude in my parents who also lived through those difficult times.

ponytail · 04-12-2010, 06:32 AM

Back then we were told to eat everything on our plate and I still do. And if we were at someone else's house we ate what they served, no ifs ands or buts.

03-17-2006, 02:34 PM	#1
nerrad Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 06, 2003 Location: pfunkytown Posts: 1,253	Why was June so strick over Brussel Sprouts? I never liked brussel sprouts. My family had brussel sprouts on a couple of ocassions, but they made me eat them. However I did love other veggies, even spinach. I buy that everytime I go shopping. Also, did you notice how everyone was staring at them in that restaurant? They weren't talking all that loud.

04-09-2010, 11:26 PM	#12
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Brussels sprouts =
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

04-10-2010, 12:22 AM	#14
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	I'm sure Ward and June's attitudes in this episode were at least partly shaped by the fact that they were old enough to have lived through the depression and WWII. They would have known what it's like to have a scarcity of food and would be quite adverse to seeing food going to waste. Especially for a reason as silly as a child refusing to eat it. I've witnessed this same attitude in my parents who also lived through those difficult times.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

03-17-2006, 05:47 PM	#2
howilu Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 20, 2003 Location: St. Louis Park, MN Posts: 1,962	Yes, people were staring at them over a big deal June made about Beaver eating Brussel Sprouts. i felt she was being too strict in that episode.

03-17-2006, 06:24 PM	#3
frani Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 09, 2002 Location: New York City Posts: 445	You know, i'm from that era and i remember it was very typical for parents to make their kids eat their vegetables even if it meant letting the kid sit alone at the table after aftereveryone left. I don't know where it came from but the idea of a vegetable power play was quite common. A scenario like the one on the show would have been very normal. Man, things have changed.

03-18-2006, 08:24 PM	#4
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	From what I've been told from a few sources, things have changed too much from being strict about kids eating their vegetables. These 'sources' are people who have had kids come stay with their own kids or those who do childcare, and they say that they serve vegetables to certain kids and they not only won't eat them, but sometimes their parents will admit they have never eaten them. They have been brought up eating cold cereal, doughnuts, and fast food "kid's meals," and nothing else. Sure, June was overly strict about the Brussels sprouts in this ep, but it may be in her defense that she said "It's the same thing every time we have a green vegetable." It was 'time to make a stand,' as she thought. Actually, I remember reading a Barbara Billilngsley interview in which she said she hated June's actions in this ep. I don't have kids, and probably won't now, but I think the way to go about this is primarily to see that they're introduced to a wide variety of vegetables as early as they are able to eat them; then later let them have a reasonable number of choices. No one is going to like every food. But it's really deplorable that some parents just take the easy way and raise kids on surgary cereal and chicken strips and fries.

08-04-2007, 04:32 PM	#5
Waterston_Fan Eternal Member Eternal Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 26, 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 3,195	Yeah, I saw the episode recently too... Didn't care for it but I think maybe Beaver just assumed he didn't like it. The fact this old woman tells the Cleavers that she wouldn't let her kids not eat what they want to eat. But then again, what if they want to eat surgary stuff, that's not good old woman!! Did Billingsley ever have children?

08-10-2007, 12:55 AM	#7
Jack1000 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 05, 2001 Posts: 2,055	I'm not surprised at June's reactions, In those days, parents would often be strict about making kids eat what they didn't want. Perhaps June would have (and should have) had a different reaction if she had known Beaver got sick from them or had a bad reaction to them, such as an allergy. For instance, I can not eat green peas, even the smell of them makes me very ill. But as there was no evidence that Beaver had tried them in the past, perhaps that was way she was so insistent. This is also the Martha Bronson side of her kicking in. (A woman that always got under my skin) I believe that Aunt Martha would do the same thing to Beaver and we learn early on that June's Aunt Martha was very involved in June's childhood. June attended an all-girls boarding school, so with that "tradition" embedded in her upbringing, I could see her making a federal case about Brussels Sprouts! This is one of the few times where June shows backbone and for once, she doesn't go to Ward for advice on what to do or how to discipline Beaver. Maybe that is why in real life, Barbara was not happy about this episode. It is well documented that she mothered Jerry and Tony on the set as if they were her own children. She was very prime and proper, but was also very kind and loving according to many sources. I actually like this episode! Jack

08-13-2007, 10:51 PM	#8
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	Yecch! I don't like brussel sprouts either. But I do like broccoli which is just as good for you or even better. Broccoli is nature's one a day vitamin. It has 20% more calcium volume per volume than milk and 16% more Vit C vol. per vol. than oranges. And it has strong cancer fighting properties too...so...pleeeez let me have broccoli instead.

04-09-2010, 10:31 AM	#9
kooky12 Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 06, 2005 Posts: 2,022	At the end of this episode, when they are in the restaurant, at the table behind them - is that Miss Landers sitting there as a customer ?

04-09-2010, 11:37 AM	#10
Hughsgirl Member Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 22, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 804	I for one love Brussel Sprouts, but in this episode I feel June was over the top about it. I recall in an episode I think it was the "Beaver's Newspaper" where Larry was staying for dinner and June made a different vegetable for him because he didn't like Broccoli. Why couldn't she hold Larry to the same standards about being polite and eating anything he's served when visiting? She mentioned that rule to the boys everytime they were invited to a dinner at a friend's house! I was forced to eat liver and sat at the table for two whole hours before my dad whipped my hind end and sennt me to bed so I would never force a kid to eat what they didn't like, however I wouldn't become a short order cook either so I guess they would have to eat what was so served if I couldn't find a quick enough replacement or go hungry.

04-09-2010, 04:30 PM	#11
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,006	I have to admit I always thought this episode was one of the weaker ones of the whole series.

04-12-2010, 06:32 AM	#15
ponytail Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 20, 2004 Location: In Happy, Healthy, Wealthyville Posts: 4,273	Back then we were told to eat everything on our plate and I still do. And if we were at someone else's house we ate what they served, no ifs ands or buts.