5 Things I learned... From HelloGiggles.com!

I found this wonderful article on HelloGiggles.com (a blog I'm newly obsessed with) and I wanted to share it with you! 

5 things I learned about being a Mom, from Peg Bundy

by Danielle Hampton

Married With Children was one of those shows that my Mom wouldn’t let me watch growing up, alongside The Simpsons and Beavis and Butthead. But sorry Mom, a girl wants what a girl can’t have, and over those years living at home I secretly watched hundreds of episodes, amassing a veritable vault of Bundy knowledge that can be applied to all aspects of life. And to this day, I still get a little thrill when I successfully make it through an entire episode of Married With Children without flipping quickly to PBS when someone walks into the room.

If we’re going on style and attitude, Peg Bundy may be the best television Mom of all time, and I (half-jokingly) can credit some of my Mom knowledge to this impeccably dressed, immeasurably funny woman. In future columns I’ll be discussing the legacies of many other favorite television mamas, but today, it’s all about Peggy.
So, here are 5 things I learned about being a Mom, from Peg Bundy.

1. You have to look good, to feel good. High heels, huge hair, and tight pants worked for Peggy, and they work for me too. On days when I feel like I got run over by a two-ton truck and need about seven more hours of sleep, if I just put a little time in with the blush brush or curling iron, I feel like a million bucks. Even if I’m just hanging out at home with my son, a little red lipstick can go a long way.  And seriously, I’m sure you fellow mamas can relate- it’s so easy to fall into a rut, and taking a couple of minutes to feel beautiful always puts a little pep in my step.
2. A little indulgence never hurt anyone. Now, I’m not advocating smoking here (I think it’s disgusting), but Peg knew what worked for her- and let herself really enjoy it!  For me, it’s dark chocolate and the occasional ice cream cone. They keep me going. At the end of a long day, once my son has gone to bed, curling up on the couch with a delicious chunk (okay, entire bar) of dark chocolate with sea salt is my own little slice of heaven. For Peg, it was cigarettes for a while, always shoes, a new tube of lipstick- really anything and everything her heart desired. Peg always put Peg first, and while that isn’t really my style, I do like to put me first every once in a while. Peg reminds me to do this.
3. Keep your girlfriends close. Peg and Marcy may have had their squabbles, but Peggy knew that when life got tough with the ever-grumpy, sex-refusing, wallet-closing, insult-throwing Al, Marcy would be there for her. Their friendship got them through a lot, and with me it’s no different. Some days you just need your girlfriends, whether it be a long phone conversation full of laughter, or a fun night out on the town. We all need a little Marcy D’Arcy in our lives.
4. It’s never as bad as it seems. Peg always takes everything in stride. Seriously. From Kelly’s escapades with every guy in town, to Bud’s incessant whining, to Al’s crass remarks, Peg knew when to shrug it off (and go shopping!).  On days when she felt like she couldn’t get ahead, Peg always managed to come out on top and realize that it could definitely be worse (but not much worse).  Being a Mom and wife could get tough at times, but Peggy never got down for too long, and truly realized that it wasn’t ever as bad as it seems. Sometimes when I’m feeling not-so-happy I need to remember this. Whatever sad or bad mood I’m in, it would be good to take a look at the way Peg lives her life (some of it at least) and realize that this too shall pass.
5. Laughter is always the best medicine. Life in the Bundy household may be a bit more vulgar/extreme/ridiculous than most, but the common thread is laughter. Sure, my husband Hank doesn’t make jokes about not being about to distinguish my chest from my stomach or constantly put me down for not working outside the home, but we do joke a lot. Laughter abounds in our house, and even when life seem a little dismal or when things aren’t the best, we always seem to find the humor in situations. This has helped us get through many hard times, and being able to rely on the other to make us laugh is the best. My husband is definitely no Al, but we’ve absolutely taken a page out of the Bundy book in terms of infusing humor into our day-to-day.

With that said, what television Moms do you love?  I’ve been known to do a little admiring of Claire Huxtable, and who can forget Vicki’s Mom, Mrs. Lawson, of Small Wonder fame? (She always treated V. like a real girl).

So do tell, who are your fave T.V. mamas? I’m looking forward to discussing more of them, from Roseanne Conner to Mona Robinson (points if you know who that is!).

Danielle Hampton is a high school English teacher turned stay-at-home Mom, living in Arizona. She blogs daily at Sometimes Sweet and tweets too much via @danihampton. Come say hello!

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