This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on May 4, 2016.
While moms are sometimes expected to be superheroes, it’s not always the case.
Moms are only humans, so even they mess up, freak out and/or need help some days.
Here are five moments where TV moms did just that:
RACHEL, “FRIENDS”
Episode: “The One Where Emma Cries,” season 9
First-time mothers learn a lot as they go. For new mom Rachel, that included letting her daughter sleep.
The day she brings home Emma, her newborn daughter with Ross, Rachel is so enamored that she decides to hold her sleeping baby, which wakes her up.
She should’ve listened to Monica, who’d advised against it. Emma wails for hours, and Rachel can’t figure out how to calm Emma down.
Fortunately she has friends to help, especially Monica, who seems to have the way to make Emma sleep.
CLAIRE, “MODERN FAMILY”
Episode: “Under Pressure,” season 5
Sometimes a reality check can be good.
Out of the three Dunphy kids on “Modern Family,” Alex is by far the smartest. But she’s also a perfectionist, and SAT prep gets to her so much that she decides to see a therapist after a birthday meltdown.
On the same episode/day, her mom, Claire, goes to parent-teacher conferences. By the way, Claire is the type of mom who wants her kids to have fun … and maybe didn’t do as well as Alex in school.
While Alex realizes she works so hard to be noticed, Claire realizes Alex’s classes are a lot to handle … and then stresses out in front of teachers.
The mother-daughter pair meet up after the therapy session, and Claire tells Alex how proud of her she is.
DJ, “FULLER HOUSE”
Episode: “Our Very First Show, Again,” season 1
Raising three kids with someone helping you is hard enough … imagine handling that on your own.
After her husband dies, DJ Fuller has family and friends help her raise her three boys. But they all have other obligations.
When they have a goodbye party and Jesse sings “Forever” to his wife, Rebecca, she tears up a bit.
Then, the next day, she has a sick child, work, a dog who’s about to give birth, and more.
So when she goes to take care of her baby, she talks to him, saying she’s scared and unsure because she doesn’t know how she’ll handle everything.
Little does she know her family and friends, who are about to leave, can hear her through the baby monitor.
Of course, this sets the reboot in motion, as sister Stephanie and best friend Kimmy decide to step up for DJ.
KITTY, “THAT ’70S SHOW”
Episode: “The Kids Are Alright,” season 6
When Red Foreman has a heart attack, he’s forced to rest and not work.
That means his wife, Kitty, has to pick up the slack. A lot of slack.
While Eric, their son, is preparing to leave town for college, Kitty picks up extra shifts at the hospital to help pay for everything, on top of taking care of her husband and the house.
But once Eric realizes Kitty can’t handle it all — he catches her doing laundry at about midnight because she’s between shifts and it’s the only time she can, and then finds her asleep on laundry — he agrees to stay home to help out.
LILY, “HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER”
Episode: “Band or DJ?” season 8
While most of “How I Met Your Mother” revolves around Ted and his love life (this episode is no different), there are moments where other characters get some focus.
In this episode, Lily and Marshall are dealing with the struggles of having a newborn, their son Marvin. In this episode, he’s crying … and producing empty diapers.
So Lily takes Ted up to the roof to talk. And she admits she wishes she wasn’t a mom sometimes, and that she hasn’t painted in months because she’s busy taking care of Marvin.
But she pulls through for her son, just like Ted has to move on from Robin. See, it all ties together!
So don’t forget to thank you mother or motherly figure in your life this weekend. Happy Mother’s Day!
