Ever have so much going on in your life, it feels like it's unreal? Family life can get chaotic and make you feel like you're living in a TV show.
That's no coincidence. Over the years, we've all learned about families not just through the ones we're born into but through the ones we see on TV. Everyone's got a favorite TV family.
Today, there are more shows out there than ever. Between the new stuff and the classics, there are so many great shows about families that will make you laugh, cry, and feel every feeling across the spectrum of emotion. These are some of the best TV families and takes on parenthood to enjoy and even share with your own kids.
'Parenthood'
Parenthood shows the vulnerable side of navigating family in adulthood. The series is incredibly done and a total tearjerker, but it will make you feel every family-related feeling.
'This Is Us'
This Is Us may be coming to an end, but there's no understating how great the show has been in showcasing all the complexities of family, especially untraditional families. It also shows the generational impact of parenting and how families evolve over time in an enlightening and emotional way.
'The Wonder Years'
The Wonder Years may seem a little old school, but it's still a favorite among those who love family TV. It's a great coming-of-age story in a period full of immense change, not unlike our own in some ways. The show is also poised for a remake, so it'll be relevant to the conversation before you know it.
'Little Fires Everywhere'
Little Fires Everywhere goes into the dark and complicated areas of family in a really insightful way. The intersection of two very different moms' lives illuminates a lot about their different parenting styles, where they go right, and where they go terribly wrong.
'Good Girls'
Good Girls brings the laughs with a heartfelt dark comedy about moms pushed to the edge. But one out-of-the-ordinary decision leads to a life of crime.
'Modern Family'
Modern Family fills the hole that '80s and '90s sitcoms like Full House and Family Matters left in your heart. It's also one of the first family shows that has had a same-sex couple at its core.
'Malcolm in the Middle'
If you feel like you're losing your mind raising kids in a range of ages, you'll totally relate to the dysfunction of the Wilkerson family. The show hones in on the mundane aspects of life that are part of making family life what it is.
'Fresh Off the Boat'
Fresh Off the Boat does an awesome job of addressing serious issues while still being a lighthearted family sitcom at its core. The show takes a look at American culture from the lens of a family trying to figure it out.
'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air'
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air feels just as relevant today as it did during its original run. The show brings so many hilarious and iconic moments while still teaching a lot of questions and exploring topics that still don't get enough TV time.
'Gilmore Girls'
Not all areas of Gilmore Girls have aged well, but the mother-daughter bond between Lorelai and Rory was a rare example of single-mom life in its day. It also shows the kind of family that isn't all about blood relations in a heartwarming, small-town environment.
'One Day at a Time'
One Day at a Time is great because it's dealing with the issues your family is probably talking about right now. In an intergenerational household where race, sexuality, and mental health are all factors very much at play, a lot of love and laughs are shared as everyone learns and grows.
'Sister, Sister'
These twin girls were separated at birth, but come together just as they're coming into their own. With adoptive parents who couldn't have more different ideas of what parenting looks like, there are a lot of laughs and a lot of lessons learned.
