15 of the All-Time Greatest TV Parents
Television's scripted family dynamics aren't always realistic, but there are definitely lessons to be learned from the parents in our favorite TV families. Remember Cliff Huxtable's playful parenting? What about Uncle Phil's well-intentioned tough love? From The Brady Bunch's Mike and Carol to the Bravermans from Parenthood, here are 15 of the best TV-family units, plus the lessons we've learned from their parenting styles.
Boy Meets World
Parents: Alan and Amy Matthews
Parenting Style: Mr. and Mrs. Matthews were laid-back but regularly involved. Although they usually kept their distance, they always stepped in whenever Cory, Eric, or Morgan needed a bit of direction.
Lesson: Know when to run interference, when to let your kids make a mistake, and how to be there for them without encroaching on their independence.
Modern Family
Parents: Cameron Tucker and Mitchell Pritchett
Parenting Style: Cam's free-spirit sensitivity balances well with Mitchell's practicality, and both take the time to communicate with the other when they have an issue.
Lesson: Speak up when you have a problem with the way your other half behaves. Parenting as a team requires constant dialogue about what works and what doesn't, plus how to fix it.
Growing Pains
Parents: Jason and Maggie Seaver
Parenting Style: The Seavers remained consistent in their values, but they knew how to switch gears according to their kids' personalities — especially between Mike, the class clown, and Carol, the goody two-shoes.
Lesson: Recognize that your children are different from one another and try to adapt to each of your kids' needs.
Arrested Development
Parent: Michael Bluth
Parenting Style: In the midst of his own crazy family's antics, Michael tries very hard to spend quality time with his son, instill good values like responsibility, and prevent him from making rash decisions that may have consequences.
Lesson: Even if everything around you is hectic, you can be a stable source of encouragement and inspiration for your kids.
Full House
Parents: Danny Tanner, Jesse Katsopolis, and Joey Gladstone
Parenting Style: Each of the guys played to his strengths: Danny taught the girls right from wrong, Jesse dealt with the more grown-up issues, and Joey made sure that they were always entertained.
Lesson: Assess your role as a parent and discover your niche within the family to make things run as smoothly as possible.
Downton Abbey
Parents: Robert and Cora Crawley
Parenting Style: While Lord and Lady Crawley love their three daughters unconditionally, they are often caught up with their own old-fashioned ideas about propriety. Often, Lady Cora has to talk Robert into accepting "modern" aspects of their daughters' lives.
Lesson: The way your parents did it is not always the right way to raise kids — you need to adapt to a changing society and tailor your parenting accordingly.
Happy Days
Parents: Howard and Marion Cunningham
Parenting Style: The Cunninghams held traditional values, but they managed to treat their kids like adults during a time when that wasn't the norm.
Lesson: It's possible to balance traditional beliefs with contemporary communication, so learn to evolve your parenting over time.
Home Improvement
Parents: Tim and Jill Taylor
Parenting Style: Although Tim tended to play the "good cop" to Jill's "bad cop," they were able to alternate roles when the boys wrestled with different issues.
Lesson: Know that you don't have to be just the stern one or just the nice one — it's better to be both and learn when to play each role.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Parents: Phil and Vivian Banks
Parenting Style: Phil and Vivian were able to offset tough love with humor. Both of them knew when to be sensitive, when to be brutally honest, and how to treat any child like their own.
Lesson: One second you may be scolding your kids, the next you may be sharing a laugh — and that's OK. Learn to straddle the line between parent and friend when it's necessary.
Gilmore Girls
Parent: Lorelai Gilmore
Parenting Style: Lorelai and her daughter, Rory, were best friends — however, Lorelai wasn't afraid to pull the "mom card" every once in a while.
Lesson: There's nothing wrong with being your child's best friend, but it's important for them to know that you're ultimately their parent and authority figure. Give them freedoms when they earn them, but don't be afraid to take them away if they lose your trust.
The Walking Dead
Parent: Rick Grimes
Parenting Style: Pretty much all is lost in the zombie apocalypse, but Rick does his best to maintain his kids' humanity in an onslaught of death and destruction. He will do anything to protect his children.
Lesson: You can't control the world, but even in dire circumstances you can fight to give your kids the best possible life.
Step by Step
Parents: Frank and Carol Lambert
Parenting Style: Both Frank and Carol made an effort to connect with each other's kids, and it was important to them that the two sets of kids learned to get along.
Lesson: In a blended family, the role of each parent — and where their boundaries lie — can be confusing. The best way to navigate the "yours" and "mine" situation is for each parent to create special relationships with their spouse's children and make sure the two sets accept each other.
Game of Thrones
Parents: Ned and Catelyn Stark
Parenting Style: Ned felt very passionately about right and wrong, emphasizing to his kids both in words and action the importance of personal responsibility. He was a doting father who set a great example about doing what's right (even if it isn't popular).
Lesson: Your kids look to you as the ultimate example, so set a good one.
The Brady Bunch
Parents: Mike and Carol Brady
Parenting Style: Six kids are a lot of responsibility, but the Bradys managed to get involved in all of their children's lives so that they each felt special.
Lesson: Make it a priority to know what's going on in your children's day-to-day lives, even when life feels overwhelming.
Parenthood
Parents: Adam and Kristina Braverman
Parenting Style: The Bravermans aren't perfect by any means, but they are incredibly supportive when faced with a challenge. From their son's autism to their daughter coming out, Adam and Kristina genuinely do their best to help their kids thrive.
Lesson: Things don't always go the way you imagined they would, but you can still emerge as a strong and happy family. Making an effort to understand and work with your children's individual needs will strengthen your entire family.