There are several things my mom always reminds me to do: Pray. Be nice to my siblings. Don’t go barefoot when cooking on the electric stove, and trust her.
Though I don’t always listen, I’m eternally grateful I have someone looking after me.
J.D. Salinger once said, “All mothers are slightly insane.”
For who else would give their child the last serving of food, quit their job to spend time with the kids, or help with assignments after a long day at the office?
In the spirit of Mother’s Day, I’ve put together a list of fictional moms from movies and TV. Try to imagine them as your mom, and come to love and appreciate the tender loving care they give their families.
Lily van der
Woodsen-Humphrey
Who she is: A multiple-divorced, ex-ballerina, and socialite mother of Serena and Eric van der Woodsen in the hit TV series, Gossip Girl.
Why you’ll love her: She’ll go to great lengths to protect her kids even if it means having to send someone to jail and bribe people to stay away from her family and not spill the scandalous beans. Plus, she has a great sense of style.
Bree van de Kamp
Who she is: Bree is recognized in Wisteria Lane for her perfectionist attitude and work ethic, and homemaking talents leveling Martha Stewart, with her gourmet meals, breakfast treats and pineapple bran muffins.
Why you’ll love her: No party is too small, no house too clean, and no dish too complicated to prepare for Bree. If you had friends over, you’d be feasting on classy hors d’oeuvres, not chips and dip.
Helen Barksdale Morgendorffer
Who she is: A character created for the MTV-animated series Daria. A corporate lawyer, she is the mother of Daria and Quinn Morgendorffer.
Why you’ll love her: Some kids lack direction in life but she’ll make sure you find one. She once told Daria, “If you don’t get into a decent school, your life will be ruined. End of discussion.”
Miranda Priestly
Who she is: The devil who wears Prada, editor-in-chief of Runway magazine, and a “legend” according to her assistant, Emily.
Why you’ll love her: Being EIC of a top fashion magazine means you get first dibs on skirts and satchels from up-and-coming designers. But even if she’s made her career practically her life, underneath that she-devil of an attitude lies a soft heart for her children. She’ll have her assistant charter a plane even during a storm just to see her kid’s ballet recital.
Kate McCallister
Who she is: Kevin McCallister’s frantic mom in Home Alone 1 and 2.
Why you’ll love her: Raising a large family and getting them all together for a trip is no easy task. She may forget a child once airborne, but you can guarantee she’ll ride any mode of transportation just to come back for you.
Gloria Delgado-Pritchett
Who she is: Played by Sofia Vergara in the TV series, Modern Family, Gloria is one hot Colombian import married to Jay and is mother to her son, Manny.
Why you’ll love her: If you move to another country, it’s important not to forget your cultural identity. She makes sure her son never forgets his heritage by observing Colombian traditions at home.
Mrs. George
Who she is: Mrs. George, played by Amy Poehler, is Regina’s mom in Mean Girls. She describes herself as “not a regular mom. I’m a cool mom”.
Why you’ll love her: She can be your best friend and you can share “what’s the 411, what everybody’s been up to, what the hot gossip is, and what the cool jams are.”
Moms in the Joy Luck Club
Who are they: Chinese women who painstakingly migrated to the US and raised their daughters as best they could.
Why you’ll love them: They’ll always be proud of you no matter what you end up doing with your life and they’ll be the one to catch you when you fall.