Grounded For Life, the Finnerty family. Hot Mom, stuck in high school mode dad, teenage drama queen daughter, 2 hooligan sons, a whacky uncle, a goofball grandfather and a dorky neighbor set the tone for one of the most important lessons in life. Don’t take yourself too seriously. In order to get by in this life you have to be able to laugh at yourself! Using their wry sense of humor Sean, Claudia, Uncle Eddie and Grandpa Walt were always teaching Lily, Jimmy, Henry and even Brad that you have to take your responsibilities seriously but be sure to never take yourself too seriously. It’s ok to be dysfunctional sometimes, that’s life!
Gilmore Girls, the Gilmore family. From the first episode of the first season to the last episode of the last season the message that confident and successful Lorelai Gilmore has always exemplified for Rory was just be yourself. It may be a cliche but it is one of the best things you can do for yourself in life. It’s ok to be smart. It’s ok to be a bookworm. It’s ok to put your career first. It’s ok to kiss boys. It’s ok that your best friend is your mom. It’s ok if you change your life plan. It’s ok if you’re obsessed with coffee. It’s ok that you’re confused. It’s ok to know what you want. It’s ok to be yourself. It’s the greatest gift you can offer the world, just exactly who you are.
Malcolm in the Middle, the Wilkerson family. Two parents with a handful of sons, there is bound to be chaos. Especially when Francis, Reese, Malcolm and Dewey just don’t know when to quit it. There’s never a thought of a consequence to an action.. most of the time. But along the way, after Jamie, the fifth son was born Dewey had an epiphany. Be nice to your mom and she will be nice to you. Dewey realizes that if you do what you’re told, you don’t fight with your brothers, if you don’t destroy anything in the house, you don’t get punished. Reese punches him and demands to know why mom hasn’t been on his case… Dewey just simply says “I just haven’t done anything wrong in three days.” Duh!
Roseanne, the Conner family. This true television masterpiece covers so much of real life including what it’s like to have three bratty kids and how said brattiness should be handled. In Roseanne’s case her favorite was purr evil but genius. Your parents will embarrass you on purpose especially when they want to teach you a lesson. I will never forget the episode when Roseanne told DJ she was going to bring him to school, and walk him all the way to the front, as she takes off her robe and has on a flannel, overalls, blacked out teeth and pigtails. He was MORTIFIED and promised he would never do whatever the bad thing was again. In fact growing up, my mom used that one on me multiple times and some of a gun her blackmail always worked. Thanks Mrs. Conner.
The Addams Family, the Addams Family. The Addams family are known to be “creepy, kooky mysterious, spooky and all together ooky,” but under all of the “weirdness” they’re a pretty normal family, and a devoted family at that. Gomez and Morticia are a prime example of parents who certainly practice what they preach. Don’t be afraid to show affection. Physical and mental. They always 100% support their children and other family members and literally cannot keep their hands off of each other. It’s ok to spread the love!
Lizzie McGuire, the McGuire family. Lizzie McGuire was one of the best shows for teenage girls. Hilary Duff hit the nail on the head representing a teenager and what it felt like to be insecure about your body and other obstacles that may come your way. You must be comfortable in your own skin. The show honed in on some serious taboo issues like eating disorders, teenage bullying and lack of confidence. Although Lizzie had her bestie trifecta, her parents Mr. and Mrs. McGuire always managed to find out what was going on and reassured Lizzie she was beautiful inside and out.
Full House, the Tanner family. People always say you “can’t pick your family.” Wrong. Family doesn’t always have to be blood either. Among the many life lessons Full House taught us the most significant one was that all families are different, not every family is made up of just a mom and a dad and kids. In the Tanner Household you’ve got the dad, the Uncle, the dad’s best friend and the kids. It really does take a village to raise a child as they say.
Television whether we like it or not plays a huge role in our lives and sometimes unintentionally it’s where our children pick up a lot of their vocabulary, likes and dislikes. If my daughter can take from these shows what I have then I’d be quite alright.
*Images are not mine. Thank you Google.
The Word of Mommy Morgan✨🌿 