When I think about true love, I can't help but see images of my favorite classic TV couples in my mind.
Sure, they were all fictional and larger than life for entertainment value, but that doesn't mean there wasn't truth behind every zany plot the pairs found themselves in on a weekly basis. Whether you were watching the Cleavers on Leave It to Beaver or tuning in to the Bradys wrangling their six youngsters on The Brady Bunch, there was always a nugget of sincere wisdom shared between the husbands and wives on screen.
Of course, the most important lesson they all shared is that you should choose someone you truly love to be your partner in life — even if they have a few interesting personality quirks.
Take a look below to see what we learned from some of the most beloved classic TV couples.
Let us know in the comments if we missed an important piece of wisdom from one of your favorite couples and be sure to SHARE with your loved ones!
1. You Should Learn To Accept Each Other's Family
Darrin and Samantha Stephens from Bewitched
Sure, Darrin and Endora never completely saw eye to eye, but his love for Samantha always made him at least make the effort to compromise over the years.
2. You Might Have To Get Creative With Communication
Lucy and Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy
Though she never learned Spanish, Lucy was always able to tell what Ricky was trying to say with his strained English. Even when it was filled with long strings of his native language in particularly heated moments, she still got the message loud and clear.
3. You Should Be Ready To Roll With The Surprises
Jeannie and Tony Nelson from I Dream of Jeannie
There was no telling what was going to happen any time Jeannie wrapped her arms together and blinked her eyes, but Tony stayed by her side through each unexpected mishap.
4. Remember Hotheads Also Have Soft Hearts
Ralph and Alice Kramden from The Honeymooners
Ralph definitely struggled to keep his temper tampered down, but Alice always waited patiently for his tirades to end and usually responded with an even more biting comeback before the pair eventually kissed and made up.
5. Make Sure To Always Celebrate Each Other's Successes
George and Louise Jefferson from The Jeffersons
Louise was heartbroken to give a tearful goodbye to her neighbor and best friend Edith Bunker after George's dry-cleaning business helped them "move on up" to a swanky Manhattan apartment, but she was even more proud of her husband's business achievements.
6. It's Better To Tackle Chaos As A Team
Mike and Carol Brady from The Brady Bunch
Having six kids is no easy feat for even a fictional family, but the pair always confronted every issue (usually caused by those rambunctious children) together to calm things back down.
7. It's Best To Find The Humor In Any Situation
Rob and Laura Petrie from The Dick Van Dyke Show
It was just as hard for Rob as it was for viewers to hide his smile pretty much every time Laura warbled a teary-eyed "Oh, Rob!" during an argument. But they usually managed to end any disagreement with laughter.
8. You Should Be Open To Simple Wisdom
Archie and Edith Bunker from All in the Family
Despite Archie's usually grumpy nature and attempts to "stifle" Edith, he couldn't deny that her quiet, kind-hearted perspective came with more knowledge than he often gave her credit for when she stifled him right back with her simple and true voice of reason.
9. Remember To Keep It Real
Ozzie and Harriet Nelson from The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
The real-life pair closely modeled their fictional family's antics after those they experienced at home, even going so far as to replicate their actual house for the show's setting, proving just how important it was to represent the love between them.
10. It's Best To Work With Each Other's Strengths
June and Ward Cleaver from Leave It to Beaver
There's no question the Cleavers epitomized a perfectly balanced relationship, with June's affinity for domestic duties while Ward worked in his office. Each role was as important as the other and was never demeaned.
11. You Should Always Encourage Each Other's Quirks
Morticia And Gomez Addams from The Addams Family
Gomez wasn't shy about sharing his passionate feelings for his wife. The pair was so absorbed in each other's charms that they assumed it was the rest of the world who was abnormal rather than their own spooky selves.
12. Remember That Sacrifice Goes Both Ways
Lisa And Oliver Wendell Douglas from Green Acres
After tearing his reluctant socialite wife away from the big city life, Oliver still found himself making plenty of his own sacrifices, like when it came to putting up with her beloved pet pig, Arnold.
Did we miss any lessons you learned from your favorite TV couples back in the day? Let us know below and be sure to SHARE with your friends!
