My Three Sons

For those who are too young to remember, My Three Sons was an American sitcom that originally aired in the 1960’s. It was about a widower with three sons still at home. The father’s retired uncle moved in with him after his wife died to help keep the house and to look after the boys while he was at work. I watched the show in syndication in the 70’s and early 80’s, and I remember one episode in which authorities were concerned by the fact the boys didn’t have a female role model. Of course the boys, their father, and Uncle Charlie were insulted by the insinuation that there was something wrong with their family. They felt they were doing okay. Then they realized that the boys did have a feminine role model: Uncle Charlie. This was funny because Uncle Charlie was a bit rough and grumpy, but he did everything that a mother was expected to do during that era. He was home when the boys’ father was at work, he cleaned the house, washed the clothes, did the shopping, cooked, and, when needed, offered sage advice. The authorities were won over; Uncle Charlie was a fine mother figure.

Obviously Uncle Charlie and his nephew weren’t married, but they were raising three boys together, and everyone in America knew that even though the situation was unusual, Rob, Chip and Ernie were not being deprived of anything, certainly not a stable and nurturing home environment. It’s too bad that some still have a hard time accepting that all families don’t look alike when nearly fifty years ago, a sitcom proved in one half hour episode that what kids really need is love and someone to look after them.