Parenting Tips from TV Moms

Over the years I have ran across many TV moms from whom I've either learned what I feel is a great parenting tip, or who I felt I was really able to relate to. Here is a list of those moms and in what way I believe they portrayed good parenting techniques or the traits that really struck a chord with me, personally, as a parent.

Clair Huxtable - For those of us who grew up with this funky fun loving TV mom, you know that Clair Huxtable strived to balance work and raising her family. Somehow she always managed to pull it off, but not always without a headache.

What did I learn?

For me even as a work from home mom I find that daily I have to strive to maintain this same balance. When I worked outside the home (in the real world) I had always imagined that this balance would be easily attained, once I was able to handle work and parenting from the same home-base.

Like Clair I found out quickly that it does not matter where you work, this struggle of balance is one that many parents have to face regardless. I also learned that finding this work-family balance can eliminate a lot of anxiety that you may not even realize accumulates everyday as a result of this imbalance.

June Cleaver - This 1950s TV mom/superhero took care of her home and family and showed us how much work it really takes to make both function. -If only it was as easy and smooth as she often made it appear.

What did I learn?

I may not be nearly the cook nor cleaner that June Cleaver was I do think, looking back now, she showed me that being a parent is not a cake walk and is not something that can be handled hands off. For me the parenting tip or parenting advice I feel she shared was that it is not always what you buy or how much money you make but what of yourself you put into your family that really matters.

Peggy Bundy - Yes, that's right this flamboyant sometimes "ditzy" TV mom did offer up a good, if not a little twisted, parenting tip in her own fashion.

Peggy often seemed to be concerned with finding the right belt or painting her nails rather than parenting sometimes but Peggy showed us (even if it was completely overboard) that parents need to focus a little on themselves too.

What did I learn?

I could never take personal time to the extent Peggy did but I do think that it brought up a very valid point in parenting. Time for yourself as a parent - whether you are a single parent or a two parent family - is a must if you want to stay sane and healthy.

There is nothing wrong with being dedicated to taking care of your child(ren) but you have to make sure you are taking care of you too. That may be some of the best and most difficult to follow parenting advice I ever learned.

Lois from Malcolm in the Middle - This stressed out, loud, often frazzled TV mom who always seemed to have a dozen issues she was trying to juggle was definitely not your typical real life mom. To some her uncanny ability to know what her kids were up to was awe inspiring - unfortunately that ability is not anything that can be learned through parenting tips or parenting advice but luckily seems to be a blessing bestowed upon many parents.

With Lois even though she seemed to always be either screaming, working or chasing kids she seemed to almost always get the family to come together for dinner.

What did I learn?

For me, I think that, it is necessary for families to take time together whether it be breakfast, dinner or just casual time. To use that time to see what is going on in everyone's life and really just to be together as a family. I actually felt quite motivated by her in her role. - Yes, I know it's only a show! - But if Lois was able to bring that chaotic bunch together around the dinner table then there is no reason I could not accomplish the same feat!

Obviously, the majority of us are not TV moms and real life comes with many different lessons, laughs and struggles that can not be completely handled in 30 minutes. None-the-less, I do still feel that there can be some really great parenting tips or pointers that can be learned through these TV mom personas and applied to our own real life parenting. Sometimes it is all a matter of perspective.