When it comes to parenting tips, there's a wealth of information moms and dads can gain from watching television, particularly from some of the funniest sitcoms. The unrealistic scenarios that play out on the shows might be a product of a writer's imagination, but the stories these tell can still mirror real life.
The number of channels you have access to also plays a role on how much information moms and dads can gain from watching TV series and movies. And though it may seem that having more channels is great, it still comes with risks. This is why you have to know ahead what channels you have access to when investing in TV plans. Check this link regarding DirecTV plans to make sure you're investing in the right plan.
Many of these sitcoms present the bad yet amusing side to parenting, which, in hindsight, might not be an ideal resource for raising children right. Everyone has a favorite TV family they can relate to, though, no matter how flawed the characters are and some of today's parents find influences from these shows in the way they raise or shouldn't raise their own kids.
Dude Mom blogger Amanda Rodriguez, who is African-American, grew up wanting to have a family like the one from the '80s series "The Cosby Show." "They were the 'have it all' family," Rodriguez told CNN and admitted she aspired to be a lawyer just like the Cosby mom.
Comedian and writer Judy Gold said she loved watching the '70s series "Rhoda" as a child because it represented her Jewish-American family. Educational psychologist Lori Day said that "All In The Family" shaped her values along with her conservative parents' guidance.
Mother-of-two Michelle Ciulla Lipkin said watching "Married with Children" made her feel that her family at least got it "much better" than the Bundys, one of the worst TV sitcom families. The executive director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education said that TV families help "open people's eyes" and she's hoping that the small screen would continue to provide a representation of America's diverse culture.
Flip through a channel on TV these days and one can indeed find an assortment of TV families. "Speechless" features the DiMeos with a child with special needs. "The Real O'Neals" has an Irish-Catholic family whose middle child is an openly gay teenager. "Fresh Off The Boat" is about an Asian-American immigrant family and "Black-ish" is about the challenges of being an upper-middle-class African-American family.
Mic noted that TV families have evolved since the Cleavers from "Leave It To Beaver" over 25 years ago. The tone in these sitcoms, however, remain as entertaining and relatable as ever. These shows tackle not just parenting and family relationship struggles but also social issues like job security, discrimination, sexism, racism and homophobia.
Do you have a favorite TV family or sitcom? Share yours in the comments below!
