33 TV Moms Who Really Have This Whole Parenting Thing Down (or Not)

7. Sarah Manning (Orphan Black)

Orphan Black starts with Sarah Manning coming back from a year on the run and trying desperately to get her daughter Kira back. Since finding out she’s a clone, Sarah has done everything possible to protect Kira.

With Sarah’s return came her sestras, or genetic identicals: Allison, Cosima, and Helena. It may not be a traditional relationship, but the Leda clones all form their own sort of cooperative when it comes to motherhood and the protection of Kira, who is, genetically at least, related to all of them.

8. Lorelai Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

Lorelai is the coffee-drinking mom you want on your side. She comes to the table armed with razor-sharp wit, and a makeup pouch full of lip gloss that mimics the taste of sugar-y breakfast cereal.

Her relationship with her daughter, Rory, seems more like two best friends than mother and daughter, complete with movie nights, vast amounts of take out, and lots of charming town events that they attend together.

Still, despite having a witty, fast-talking, banter that’s laced with more pop culture references than you can shake a stick at, Lorelai is never afraid to put her foot down when teenage daughter Rory needs a mom more than a friend.

9. Meredith Grey (Grey’s Anatomy)

When Grey’s Anatomy premiered thirteen years ago, did anyone ever imagine that dark and twisty Meredith would eventually have three kids?

After miscarrying her first child during a shooting at the hospital, Meredith and her husband Derek adopted Zola from Malawi. In later seasons, Meredith and Derek would have another son, named Bailey, and a daughter named Ellis who was born after Derek died.

10. Claire Dunphy (Modern Family) 

Moms come in all varieties, including perfectionist, know-it-all, and trying to make up for her wild and crazy teenage years.

Modern Family’s Claire Dunphy has a wry wit and humor that keeps the audience coming for more as she wrangles three kids, her husband, and sometimes her extended family.

Sure, sometimes her perfectionism is the cause of drama, but it can also lead to some lighthearted moments: like the time they all wore white to the family photo and proceeded to throw dirt on each other.

11. Regina Mills (Once Upon a Time)

Regina might be a parent, but she’s also a work-in progress.

While throughout the early seasons we have struggled to reconcile the idea of Regina as The Evil Queen with Regina as Henry’s mom, she has slowly learned how to navigate her life with Henry and Emma.

Though Henry may have sought Emma out at first, Regina’s determination to find her own happy ending, and Henry’s willingness to help her with Operation Mongoose, is heartwarming.

12. Nancy Botwin (Weeds)

Oh, where do we start with Nancy Botwin? The widowed weed-dealing mom of two started out with good intentions, but her well thought-out business plans quickly snowball out of control, and become a family business.

It’s probably not a surprise that Nancy Botwin doesn’t win any Mother-of-the-Year awards, but through all the ups and downs she manages to keep her family together, and gives the audience more than a few reasons to smile, and facepalm, along the way.

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