After Steve (Fred MacMurray) leaves on one of his frequent work-related trips, Chip (Stanley Livingston) and Ernie (Barry Livingston) turn to Uncle Charley (William Demarest) for permission and advice. Barbara tells her mother (Eleanor Audley) that Charley runs a "tight ship" and is in charge of the Douglas household. While Barbara considers it normal the boys don't think of her as their mother, she's clearly upset by the fact. Chip is particularly excited about having cute Janis Oliver (as Sally Crane) come over, after school, to study. He hopes studying with Ms. Oliver will get his grades up. It works too well and Chip is accused of cheating. Also a teacher, Barbara tells little Dodie (Dawn Lyn) to say "May I?" instead of "Can I?" More importantly, Barbara gets a chance to help solve a problem for one her new teenage sons...
This episode may be most notable for including a respected teacher who is clearly wrong about something (teachers were generally respected in 1970, anyway). Sit-com teachers were generally correct about most things, but Dolores Quinton (as Joan Terry) could have ruined someone's life, if she'd performed similarly at a college level. It's also strange to see Barbara's teaching past downplayed. Having her play a working high school teacher might have been a good move for the series. Rob (Don Grady) and Katie (Tina Cole) do appear, offering advice as Barbara's suggestions are ignored. According to the IMDb credits, this is Eleanor Audley's last appearance as Barbara's mother. Not missed, the character seemed to become someone for Beverley Garland's character to talk to when Fred MacMurray wasn't available.
**** Guest in the House (1970-02-14) Frederick De Cordova ~ Beverly Garland, Stanley Livingston, William Demarest, Barry Livingston