# Parents-Which Fictional Mom/Dad did/do you aspire to, and which do/did you fear that you emulate(d)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 21, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392 "2015-10-21T19:38:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mixolydian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/da6949/32.png) [@Mixolydian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mixolydian)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/1 "2015-10-21T19:38:38Z")
Not sure if this is in the right forum, but… Most of the time, I hear my dad’s words/tone coming out through me when gut-reacting to my kids. I suppose that’s as normal as can be. Just so we can get a general feel for how you perceive your own parenting style, please pick a fictional parent from movies, TV, books, etc. that you would hope you are like, and one that you fear that you are really like. Personally, I wish I was more like My Three Sons’ Steve Douglas (Fred MacMurray) but I fear I come across sometimes like The Wonder Years’ Jack Arnold (Dan Lauria). ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/2 "2015-10-21T20:25:36Z")
Thinking back to possible contenders, Atticus Finch comes to mind. (To Kill a Mockingbird)) ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/3 "2015-10-21T20:31:40Z")
Roseanne and… Roseanne. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/4 "2015-10-22T01:14:48Z")
I aspired to emulate Calvin’s dad. Yes, from Calvin and Hobbes. I feared not achieving better than Malcolm’s dad. Yes, from _Malcolm in the Middle_. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/5 "2015-10-22T01:30:42Z")
We’re both still aspiring for Calvin’s Mom and Dad. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus\_alba](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quercus_alba/32/4061_2.png) [@Quercus\_alba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus_alba)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/6 "2015-10-22T03:23:44Z")
Fantasy: Charles Ingalls Reality: Al Bundy ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/7 "2015-10-22T05:04:32Z")
I just try to do my best. Unfortunately, I succeed. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/8 "2015-10-22T14:47:44Z")
There was a sitcom called Grounded for Life with Donal Logue and Megyn Price, I always thought they were good parents that struck a good balance of responsibility and fun. Parents to avoid, Al and Peg (Married with Children), Frank and Estelle (Seinfeld.) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/9 "2015-10-22T14:54:01Z")
I aspire to be Atticus Finch, but have too short a temper for it. ---
**Author:** ![Jelly\_Roll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Jelly\_Roll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelly_Roll)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/10 "2015-10-22T18:33:53Z")
I aspire to be Lorelai Gilmore, but I suppose I’m probably more along the lines of Frankie Heck. Which isn’t too bad, just a lot less glamorous. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/11 "2015-10-22T18:55:46Z")
Aspire: Gomez Addams Reality: Rusty Venture ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2015, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/12 "2015-10-22T21:22:19Z")
Ideal: Nanny Fine. Reality: Calvin’s mom. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/13 "2015-10-23T01:53:47Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I aspired to emulate Calvin’s dad. Yes, from Calvin and Hobbes… > [@Penfeather](#): > > We’re both still aspiring for Calvin’s Mom and Dad. > [@Maastricht](#): > > …Reality: Calvin’s mom. A cautionary tale: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyXJfUPSQhM](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyXJfUPSQhM) ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/14 "2015-10-23T03:19:47Z")
Oh, my goodness. I wish I had not watched that. > [@The\_Hamster\_King](#): > > Aspire: Gomez Addams > Reality: Rusty Venture Ditto. I would SO take a kidney from each of my rotten kids. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/15 "2015-10-23T05:27:24Z")
Aspire: Lorelai Gilmore Reality: Edina (Absolutely Fabulous) - except I’m sober most of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/16 "2015-10-23T18:32:18Z")
I can’t recall their names, but I liked the parents in _Mom and Dad Save the World_. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/17 "2015-10-23T18:36:19Z")
As a mother-in-law. Aspire: Endora Reality: Aunt Clara ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parents-which-fictional-mom-dad-did-do-you-aspire-to-and-which-do-did-you-fear-that-you-emulate-d/735392/18 "2015-10-23T19:40:57Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I can’t recall their names, but I liked the parents in _Mom and Dad Save the World_. There’s this crazy thing all the kids these days are calling “Wikipedia”: [Mom and Dad Save the World - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mom_and_Dad_Save_the_World)