Beverly: Overprotective mother.

[Trekker4747]

God, Beverly! Shut the hell up!

Seriously, this woman is so over protective of Wesley it's almost a caricature of motherhood.

Let us first consider that it's the 24th Century. We've seen evidence -Jake Sisko aside- that children int he 24th Century are not analagous to their 20th (or 21st, rather) century counterparts. We've seen children young enough to still be in primary/"grade" school doing calculus -a form of math that makes 20 year old college students throw things across the room-, it's also been shown that those in their mid teens can go into the academy. Hell, Wesley was exceptional enough that he was driving the Federation flagship at the age of 16!!!

So, obviously, a teenager living in 2364 is a lot different than a teenager living in 2009.

So why was Beverly so goddam over protective of Wesley?! I offer the following evidence:

1. Early TNG Season One episode. Wesley does something that warrants his respect in Picard's eyes making Wesley "Acting Ensign." Wes is invited to sit on the bridge to view operations. Picard wonders if Wesley wants to inform his mother -this implies that even Picard knows how protective Beverly is and knows that she may freak out over Wesley sitting on the bridge and having the position of Acting Ensign.

2. Season 2's "The Child." Wesley pisses his pants all episode on whether or not his mom will freak out over him deciding to stay on the ship to continue his duties/training rather than following her to Starfleet Medical -at this age Wesley is old enough to be in the academy and out on his own by the societal standards.

3. Season 3's "Evolution." This is the big one. Beverly is back on the ship and making her stomach lining consume itself because Wesley *gasp* has responsibilites and duties as Acting Ensign on the ship. She frets over him studying and working too much to the point of pestering him over the com when he's out working. Then at the end of the episode she flips out because "GASP!" a girl is showing great interest in her eighteen-year-old son!!!

4. "The Offspring." Beverly pages Crusher to remind him to get goddamn haircut! *MY* mom stopped pestering me to get a haircut once I got my DL and could drive myself there.

5. "Journey's End." Sigh. I hate this episode so much because it rapes Wesley who I think grew to a fine character starting with Season 2 as he was treated as less "gee-whiz wonder kid" and more like "exceptional fast-track-training potential Starfleet officer." This episode makes Wesley a mopey, angsty, pissy little bastard who shirks his ambitions and desires to go have ride on rainbows in cloud cars with the creepy "Traveler" in other planes of exsistance. However, before he sets off his mom brings her twenty-something old son a friggin' coat to wear as he goes off on these other planes.

6. Talking with her mentor in "Remember Me" gets her all weapy and worry-y and she goes to pester her son while he is at work. -Doing this gets almost forever lost in a static warp bubble.

These are five that come off from memory but I'm sure there are other examples of Beverly acting over-reactive as mother of a teenaged son in the 2360s.

(There are two times where she acts extreme but in cases where it may be forgivable considering circumstances. In both "Justice" and "First Duty" she's a little over-reactive but both were in dire circumstances where one dealt with the possible execution of her son and the other his near-death in a training exercise.)

 

[kes7]

She lost her husband. Wesley is all she has. I think it's a pretty typical reaction for a mom in that situation (especially a mother of an only child) to be overprotective and clingy.

 

[Danny99]

Well they had to give Beverly something to do besides pine over Picard.

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

She's afraid he'll be raped by a space-going tentacled amoeba. I'd be overprotective too, if it were after my children.

 

[Captan_Picard]

God, Beverly! Shut the hell up!

Seriously, this woman is so over protective of Wesley it's almost a caricature of motherhood.

Let us first consider that it's the 24th Century. We've seen evidence -Jake Sisko aside- that children int he 24th Century are not analagous to their 20th (or 21st, rather) century counterparts. We've seen children young enough to still be in primary/"grade" school doing calculus -a form of math that makes 20 year old college students throw things across the room-, it's also been shown that those in their mid teens can go into the academy. Hell, Wesley was exceptional enough that he was driving the Federation flagship at the age of 16!!!

So, obviously, a teenager living in 2364 is a lot different than a teenager living in 2009.

So why was Beverly so goddam over protective of Wesley?! I offer the following evidence:

1. Early TNG Season One episode. Wesley does something that warrants his respect in Picard's eyes making Wesley "Acting Ensign." Wes is invited to sit on the bridge to view operations. Picard wonders if Wesley wants to inform his mother -this implies that even Picard knows how protective Beverly is and knows that she may freak out over Wesley sitting on the bridge and having the position of Acting Ensign.

2. Season 2's "The Child." Wesley pisses his pants all episode on whether or not his mom will freak out over him deciding to stay on the ship to continue his duties/training rather than following her to Starfleet Medical -at this age Wesley is old enough to be in the academy and out on his own by the societal standards.

3. Season 3's "Evolution." This is the big one. Beverly is back on the ship and making her stomach lining consume itself because Wesley *gasp* has responsibilites and duties as Acting Ensign on the ship. She frets over him studying and working too much to the point of pestering him over the com when he's out working. Then at the end of the episode she flips out because "GASP!" a girl is showing great interest in her eighteen-year-old son!!!

4. "The Offspring." Beverly pages Crusher to remind him to get goddamn haircut! *MY* mom stopped pestering me to get a haircut once I got my DL and could drive myself there.

5. "Journey's End." Sigh. I hate this episode so much because it rapes Wesley who I think grew to a fine character starting with Season 2 as he was treated as less "gee-whiz wonder kid" and more like "exceptional fast-track-training potential Starfleet officer." This episode makes Wesley a mopey, angsty, pissy little bastard who shirks his ambitions and desires to go have ride on rainbows in cloud cars with the creepy "Traveler" in other planes of exsistance. However, before he sets off his mom brings her twenty-something old son a friggin' coat to wear as he goes off on these other planes.

6. Talking with her mentor in "Remember Me" gets her all weapy and worry-y and she goes to pester her son while he is at work. -Doing this gets almost forever lost in a static warp bubble.

These are five that come off from memory but I'm sure there are other examples of Beverly acting over-reactive as mother of a teenaged son in the 2360s.

(There are two times where she acts extreme but in cases where it may be forgivable considering circumstances. In both "Justice" and "First Duty" she's a little over-reactive but both were in dire circumstances where one dealt with the possible execution of her son and the other his near-death in a training exercise.)

Yep. That is why our weasley was annoying as he was and screwed up. she NEVER let him experience the world and to learn. She allowed him to experience the fruits, but when the ship was in danger she puts him 2 sleep. So he doesn't have to face death. She raised a robot. not a person.

That is why he screwed around in the acadamy and got his bum thrown out.

 

[Trekker4747]

IIRC, Wes wasn't thrown out of the academy he quit.

 

[Trilliam]

Trekker 4747, do you have children?

1) I always though that having Primary aged kids supposedly doing advanced maths was bs to start with. Re: telling Mum about being made acting ensign on the bridge? Do your boss or your teacher tell your parents about your achievements/promotions, or do you give your parents/family the exciting news?

In season 2 - I would have thought a pretty common "quandry" for children/adolescents making these types of decisions - especially if it's different to parental expectations

Mum fretting over sons' work/study/play balance - pretty normal, I would have thought at least in my experience.

I still tell my 24yo, 22.5yo and 21 yo sons to get haircuts.

Journey's End - saw that whiole thing entirely differently too. Oh, yeah - I also mkake sure my kids have all their stuff, especially IF they're going to ba away for long time.

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

I still tell my 24yo, 22.5yo and 21 yo sons to get haircuts.

Do you decide what haircut they'll get too, or are they of the kind that rather not have a haircut more then once every 10 years?

 

[Trilliam]

I still tell my 24yo, 22.5yo and 21 yo sons to get haircuts.

Do you decide what haircut they'll get too, or are they of the kind that rather not have a haircut more then once every 10 years?

Not at all, Possum. And to be truthful, none of them like their hair too long. Probably comes from going to schools from age 5 that had hair length/cut regulation. Once their fringes get into their eyes or the back starts brushing their shirt collars - they tend to pop up to the barber before I say anything

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

I still tell my 24yo, 22.5yo and 21 yo sons to get haircuts.

Do you decide what haircut they'll get too, or are they of the kind that rather not have a haircut more then once every 10 years?

Not at all, Possum. And to be truthful, none of them like their hair too long. Probably comes from going to schools from age 5 that had hair length/cut regulation. Once their fringes get into their eyes or the back starts brushing their shirt collars - they tend to pop up to the barber before I say anything

Then why do you tell them to get haircuts, if they do it themselves before you get the chance?

 

[Trilliam]

Do you decide what haircut they'll get too, or are they of the kind that rather not have a haircut more then once every 10 years?

Not at all, Possum. And to be truthful, none of them like their hair too long. Probably comes from going to schools from age 5 that had hair length/cut regulation. Once their fringes get into their eyes or the back starts brushing their shirt collars - they tend to pop up to the barber before I say anything

Then why do you tell them to get haircuts, if they do it themselves before you get the chance?

They don't always go without a gentle reminder - sometimes, they'll let it slip a bit longer. If they let get so that they look like you could use them as floor mops - that's when I'll say something, offer to braid it for them, threaten to dye it purple while they sleep.

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

Not at all, Possum. And to be truthful, none of them like their hair too long. Probably comes from going to schools from age 5 that had hair length/cut regulation. Once their fringes get into their eyes or the back starts brushing their shirt collars - they tend to pop up to the barber before I say anything

Then why do you tell them to get haircuts, if they do it themselves before you get the chance?

They don't always go without a gentle reminder - sometimes, they'll let it slip a bit longer. If they let get so that they look like you could use them as floor mops - that's when I'll say something, offer to braid it for them, threaten to dye it purple while they sleep.

Of course, that's only natural. But that's why I asked if they liked it too long for your taste -- if they want to look like a floor mop, what's the point in pushing for a haircut? They might just decide to rebel in less innocent ways.

 

[Trilliam]

Once it gets the that length, they figure that , seeing as they still live at home andI do the cooking, laundry etc, that's it probably a good idea to keep Mum happy.

 

[LaBarre]

God, Beverly! Shut the hell up!

Seriously, this woman is so over protective of Wesley it's almost a caricature of motherhood.

Fairly normal mother I think.

Whether one's actions constitute over protectiveness is pretty much in the eye of the beholder.

If - as viewer - you relate primarily to Wesley then you would naturally regard Beverly's behaviour as over-the-top. If you relate to Beverly, you are quite on board with her actions.

 

[LaBarre]

God, Beverly! Shut the hell up!

And for that young man, go to your room. And I DON'T want to see you again until you are ready to apologise.

 

[RandyS]

Ah, over protective mothers are nothing new. Mine kept after me about stuff until the day she died--when I was 33.

Of course, I have cerebral palsy and she was horribly high-strung, but.....

 

[roguephoenix]

God, Beverly! Shut the hell up!

Seriously, this woman is so over protective of Wesley it's almost a caricature of motherhood.

Let us first consider that it's the 24th Century. We've seen evidence -Jake Sisko aside- that children int he 24th Century are not analagous to their 20th (or 21st, rather) century counterparts. We've seen children young enough to still be in primary/"grade" school doing calculus -a form of math that makes 20 year old college students throw things across the room-, it's also been shown that those in their mid teens can go into the academy. Hell, Wesley was exceptional enough that he was driving the Federation flagship at the age of 16!!!

So, obviously, a teenager living in 2364 is a lot different than a teenager living in 2009.

So why was Beverly so goddam over protective of Wesley?! I offer the following evidence:

1. Early TNG Season One episode. Wesley does something that warrants his respect in Picard's eyes making Wesley "Acting Ensign." Wes is invited to sit on the bridge to view operations. Picard wonders if Wesley wants to inform his mother -this implies that even Picard knows how protective Beverly is and knows that she may freak out over Wesley sitting on the bridge and having the position of Acting Ensign.

2. Season 2's "The Child." Wesley pisses his pants all episode on whether or not his mom will freak out over him deciding to stay on the ship to continue his duties/training rather than following her to Starfleet Medical -at this age Wesley is old enough to be in the academy and out on his own by the societal standards.

3. Season 3's "Evolution." This is the big one. Beverly is back on the ship and making her stomach lining consume itself because Wesley *gasp* has responsibilites and duties as Acting Ensign on the ship. She frets over him studying and working too much to the point of pestering him over the com when he's out working. Then at the end of the episode she flips out because "GASP!" a girl is showing great interest in her eighteen-year-old son!!!

4. "The Offspring." Beverly pages Crusher to remind him to get goddamn haircut! *MY* mom stopped pestering me to get a haircut once I got my DL and could drive myself there.

5. "Journey's End." Sigh. I hate this episode so much because it rapes Wesley who I think grew to a fine character starting with Season 2 as he was treated as less "gee-whiz wonder kid" and more like "exceptional fast-track-training potential Starfleet officer." This episode makes Wesley a mopey, angsty, pissy little bastard who shirks his ambitions and desires to go have ride on rainbows in cloud cars with the creepy "Traveler" in other planes of exsistance. However, before he sets off his mom brings her twenty-something old son a friggin' coat to wear as he goes off on these other planes.

6. Talking with her mentor in "Remember Me" gets her all weapy and worry-y and she goes to pester her son while he is at work. -Doing this gets almost forever lost in a static warp bubble.

These are five that come off from memory but I'm sure there are other examples of Beverly acting over-reactive as mother of a teenaged son in the 2360s.

(There are two times where she acts extreme but in cases where it may be forgivable considering circumstances. In both "Justice" and "First Duty" she's a little over-reactive but both were in dire circumstances where one dealt with the possible execution of her son and the other his near-death in a training exercise.)

yikes! guess we know who has mother issues. >_< talke to her and tell her how you feel. taking out your aggression on a fictional mother won't help in the long run.

 

[Jeri]

I just rewatched TNG:Sarek today, which is the episode where Beverly hauls off and smacks Wesley in the face.

I wonder how many high fives went up after that, even though Beverly was under an influence.

 

[roguephoenix]

I just rewatched TNG:Sarek today, which is the episode where Beverly hauls off and smacks Wesley in the face.

shhh... that might bring up another set of issues for trekker. lol

 

[Shazam!]

I'd let Beverley overprotect me anyday.