Pop culture moms we ought to learn from
Moms, for all their quirks and oddities, have a knack for saying what you need to hear and being there for you whenever you need them most. That trait extends past the screen and into the very shows and films we watch. This Mother’s Day, we look to the pop culture moms who have served as our secondary parent, and are wonderful examples we should look up to.
Inko Midoriya – “My Hero Academia”
As a mother to a powerless child in a world filled with heroes and villains, Inko Midoriya did all she could to encourage Izuku to follow his dreams. That unconditional love and never-ending support, in the end, is what allowed him to grow into the hero he became at the end of “My Hero Academia.”
For parents, being realistic often protects their children from disappointment and failure. Inko’s example proves that support, irrespective of the results, matters more.
Hiling – “Ranking of Kings”
In “Ranking of Kings,” Bojji is a deaf, powerless prince often bullied by the very people under him. For a time, his stepmother Hiling seemed to be of a similar type, often belittling his abilities whenever he wanted to set out on a journey or train in combat.
However, it is later revealed that Hiling deeply cared for Bojji, and her discouraging behavior ultimately stemmed from an unhealthy desire to protect and shelter him. Sounds familiar? Helicopter parents, take note.
Nani Pelekai – “Lilo & Stitch”
Motherhood entails a lot of sacrifice, and it’s not something you can necessarily commit to so easily—especially when you don’t have a choice in the matter.
For Nani, the untimely passing of her parents was a difficult experience in and of itself. However, she wasn’t allowed the opportunity to grieve or act her age as she had to take care of her sister, Lilo, on top of balancing several jobs and risking her own dreams. She didn’t ask for it, nor did she prepare for it, and yet she rose to the occasion, just like a mother would do.
Helen Parr/Elastigirl – “The Incredibles”
The whole of “The Incredibles” revolves around Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible and his struggles with adapting to civilian life. In fact, he never really does, and he only ever found fulfillment when he became a full-time hero again. Helen, on the other hand, did not hold on to her past glories and fully committed to becoming a mother.
While Bob was out gallivanting and living out his fantasies, Helen held the fort and took care of the home. It was even she who set out to save him and clean up his mess. This goes to show that being a mother is often a thankless job, which is why we should always strive to give them their flowers.
Aunt Cass – “Big Hero 6”
Similar to Nani, Aunt Cass didn’t have to care for Hiro and Tadashi, and yet she took on the responsibility out of a love for her nephews. And even though she constantly doubts her capabilities as a parent, her efforts are greatly appreciated.
Funnily, one scene in particular has Aunt Cass fetching the boys from prison after they were involved in illegal bot-fighting. She later told them how this situation led to her stress eating the doughnuts in her cafe. While a seemingly throwaway comedic moment, in truth, we don’t always consider how our actions affect our parents.
Joyce Byers – “Stranger Things”
Nothing beats a mother’s love, and Joyce Byers best showed this in season one of “Stranger Things.” Even when everyone around her gave up on her son Will, she never stopped looking for him, no matter how crazy or nonsensical she seemed.
Though in later seasons, the traumatic experiences they went through made her coddle Will to the point where he resented being sheltered. While we get that parents want their children to be safe, too much protection could also equate to a sort of imprisonment. But at the same time, we should also keep in mind that no parent would want to be resented for that, despite having their best interests in mind.
Sue Storm – “The Fantastic Four: First Steps”
Faced with the decision to either give up her child to Galactus or face extinction, Sue Storm chose to protect her son and face the inevitable. While her decision may have been selfish to some, she proved that picking one over the other would have been the easy way out. She wouldn’t have risked her kid for the world, nor would she have risked the world for her kid, and nothing would have convinced her to do otherwise
Frigga – “Thor”
Despite being underutilized in the first two “Thor” films, Rene Russo returned in “Avengers: Endgame” as a past version of Frigga that Thor met after traveling through time. As it turns out, even for the God of Thunder, sometimes, all it takes is one good talk with mom to get you back on track.
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