Erma herself was raising her children when TV idealized motherhood with such shows as Leave it to Beaver, Father Knows Best and the Donna Reed Show. Erma wrote "They looked better cleaning their houses than most of us looked at our wedding. They never lost their temper, gained weight, spent more money than their husbands made, or gave viewers any reason not to believe they were living out their lives in celibacy."

Erma described herself as a not ready for prime time mother. ."I never wore hose around the house all day, nor did I know anyone personally who did. My kids were the ones the prime-time mothers forbade their kids to play with or else they could get into trouble."

"I never ironed my husband’s pajamas. And if I raised my hand to wipe the hair out of my children’s eyes, they’d flinch and call their attorney."

Please Click on the links below for a couple of my all time favorite Erma Bombeck columns