A Few of My Favorite Fictional Mothers

First of all:  A gentle hug for all of those to whom this day brings more pain than joy.  For those who have lost children, for those who have lost mothers, for those who wish they could have a closer connection to their child or their mother, for those who have been abused by their child or their mother, for those who — for whatever reason at all — just have a complicated relationship with this day.  You are inexpressibly loved. ♥

Happy Mother's Day, my little munchkins!  In honor of the holiday, I wanted to spotlight some of my favorite mamas in the realm of fiction.  This is a small sampling, and there are, of course, several other maternal characters for whom I harbor deep affection. 😉

In the interests of narrowing down the list, I tried to confine this post to characters who are either introduced to the story as mothers or whose maternal role is one of their most significant contributions to the story.  That's why I'm not including the lovely ladies pictured above, for instance.  Y'all know how much I adore both Emma Swan and Regina Mills (and how much I love their relationships with Henry), but my first thoughts about them are typically tied to their other roles in the story, not so much their motherhood — if that makes sense.

Here they are, then:  a handful of fictional women who make terrific mothers. 😊

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❀ Nina Banks ❀

Father of the Bride (1991) and 

Father of the Bride Part II (1995)

So what you're going to realize, in reading this post, is that I am a diehard '90s movie fan.  (If you didn't know that already.)  In fact, the 1990's are my favorite decade in cinema history.  Just banger after banger, consistently, the whole time.  No notes.  Gotta respect that. 

I think that arguably one of the greatest strengths of 90's filmmaking is its (relatively) realistic portrayal of middle-class family, domestic life, etc. — so it should come as no surprise that 90's films are riddled with fun moms. 😉  Nina is one such mom, and what a delight she is — wry and warm, easygoing and energetic, smart and sweet.  She manages her somewhat neurotic family so beautifully, doling out space and indulgence or tough love by turns to each member. 

❀ Sarah Wheaton Whitting ❀

Sarah, Plain and Tall (1991); 

Sarah, Plain and Tall:  Skylark (1993); 

and Sarah, Plain and Tall:  Winter's End (1999)

As weird as the mail-order situation is, you can't help but admire a turn of the century single woman — a "spinster," by cultural definition — who decides that she wants to change her life and so determines to try her hand at becoming a mother on a trial basis. 

I especially love watching the way that the second movie stretches Sarah's maternal muscle.  She doesn't want to leave Jacob — I don't think she even wants to leave Kansas, because angry as she is with it at the moment, I think she already loves it — but the children need to be protected from the drought, and as Jacob points out, "they can't go on their own."  And he can't leave the land.  So Sarah does what any good parent does:  she puts her children first.  I love seeing how deftly she protects and nurtures the kids' hearts as they take in the newness of Maine, as they struggle with the (temporary) separation from their father, etc.

(Also, the second movie is just one of my favorite period dramas.  It's great all the way around. ♥)

❀ Alice Newton ❀

Beethoven's 2nd (1993)

"Don't tell your dad."

With those four words, I'd wager that Alice Newton won the undying trust and loyalty of more feral animal lover children of the 90's than just myself.  She's a queen and I love her, your honor.

Why, yes — I do want to watch more of a woman who agrees to hide four newborn puppies without a second thought, who handles her husband's neuroses with firm and loving honesty, who counsels her children with kindness and wisdom.  Sounds like a legend to me.

❀ Lorelai Gilmore ❀

Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)

Yes, Lorelai makes considerable mistakes as a mother — yes, she spoils Rory; yes, she feeds her falsified self-image as an uber-talented wunderkind; yes, she teaches her to dismiss and belittle others if their interests and choices don't make sense to her.  Yes, Lorelai makes considerable mistakes as a human — yes, she cheats; yes, she can be petty; yes, she can be childish.

But she is an undeniably dedicated mother, and she's fiercely protective of her kid (and, indeed, of any kid in her care).  That doesn't mean, though, that she won't call Rory out when necessary.  She tends to downplay Rory's mistakes, but there is A Line and Lorelai can (usually) recognize that, even if it means acknowledging her own hypocrisy and mess-ups.  

Lorelai is deeply, refreshingly self-aware; she has few to no illusions about herself.  She's spunky and fun but can snap into dead-serious mode at a moment's notice.  She's an entertaining character in her own right, of course, but I also really love seeing her shine as a mother.

❀ Elizabeth James ❀

The Parent Trap (1998)

Simultaneously the platonic love of my life and my fictional role model.  I want to be her when I grow up.  (Yes, I do want to marry a man I just met on a ship, predictably divorce him in a year or less, arbitrarily choose one of my two children to live with, and agree to never see the other one again.  Why would you ask?)

No, but in all seriousness, Elizabeth's entire vibe is peerless.  Her aesthetic is the epitome of effortless elegance, her personality is equal parts easygoing and chaotic, and she just feels safe.  (Even when stumbling around a swanky hotel in an unfamiliar city while absolutely blindingly sauced.)  You can see and feel her warmth as a mother, and I love that. ♥

Plus, come on — do I even need to mention it?

Icon behavior.

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Honorable Mentions:

Marmee (Little Women)

Maria Portokalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding and My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2)

Linda Belcher (Bob's Burgers)

Maleficent (Maleficent and Maleficent:  Mistress of Evil)

Molly MacDonald (Monarch of the Glen)

Donna Sheridan (Mamma Mia)

and more 😉

Happy Mother's Day!

Who are your favorite fictional mums?