15 of the All-Time Greatest TV Parents

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.