Good Parents: Difference between revisions
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{{trope}}
[[File:Totoro good parents.jpg|thumb|350px|link=My Neighbor Totoro|Brushing her kids' hair.]]
{{quote|''"[[Tragic Dream|We didn't give up on our dreams!]] We changed our dreams into your dream! That's what parents do! That's what family does!"''
|'''[[Jerk with a Heart of Gold|Akio Furukawa]]''', ''[[Clannad (visual novel)|Clannad]]'' }}
In television, parents are either [[Bumbling Dad|dorky]], [[When You Coming Home, Dad?|busy]], [[Abusive Parents|abusive]], [[Amazingly Embarrassing Parents|embarrassing]], [[Evil Matriarch|evil]], [[My Beloved Smother|overbearing]], [[Overprotective Dad|overprotective]], [[Parental Neglect|neglectful]], [[Parents as People|only human]], [[Parental Abandonment|absent]] or [[Deceased Parents Are the Best|dead]], [[Parental Incest|squicky]], [[Parental Obliviousness|lost]], or just plain [[Adults Are Useless|useless]].
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And they can be a ''real pain'' to write about, since the story conflict has to be one that the parents can not fix for the children, and, if necessary, enough to cause a problem for the combined forces of children and parents.
When the '''Good Parents''' aren't the actual parents of the character, it's [[Parental Substitute]]. When the
{{examples}}
== Anime
* Trisha Elric from ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'' was a kind and loving mother who praised her two children for their alchemy - in fact they became alchemists purely because their mother was so proud of them. Their father Hohenheim seems to fail them by abandoning them, but then {{spoiler|we learn he left to help save the country, and now that he's back in their lives he's a good, loving father who's also proud of his kids. He even glared at a Eldritch Abomination to warn him to never mock his sons.}}
** Anime Trisha was also good. Rather protective, and extremely supportive. Anime Hohenheim, however, despite his good heart... {{spoiler|gets [[Parents as People|so many negative points you're like to cry]]. He cares very much, sure, but he abandoned [[It's Not You, It's Me|them because he was ashamed of his rotting stolen body]], and the [[Big Bad]] having the power to be a [[Big Bad]] is at least a third his fault anyway, and when he tries to do the right thing he is incredibly useless. And loving his last son so much gave us... Envy. [[Butt Monkey|He. Cannot. Win]].}}
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** [[Word of God]] says Minako's parents are this way as well. Even if Mom might be the nagging type, which makes Minako kinda bitter.
* The [[Digimon Tamers]] have some pretty good parents, [[Saving the World|all]] [[It Got Worse|things]] [[Cosmic Horror Story|considered]]. Special mention goes to Jenrya's dad, Ruki's grandma and Takato's parents.
** OTOH Ruki's [[Hot Mom]], Juri's dad and stepmom and Ryo's dad are more of [[Parents as People]]. They do love their kids, but it takes them a
*** Okay; so Mr. Lee is a good dad most of the time. Then there's his [[Parents as People]] moment: {{spoiler|deliberately not telling his son that defeating the D-Reaper would forcibly send ALL of the Digimon back to the Digital World, without any foreseeable way to return}} which results in a very angry Jenrya and several crying kids including little (seven year old) Shaochung...Mr. Lee's daughter. Not a shining moment of parenting.
* Koiwai from ''[[Yotsuba&!]]'' is something of a bachelor slacker but also definitely a good dad for his adoptive daughter.
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* In ''[[Inuyasha]]'', Kagome Higurashi's widowed mother didn't berate or question her daughter when she got involved in quite the plot in the Sengoku Jidai. In fact, thinking that [[You Can't Fight Fate]], she decides to support Kagome in her quests, and so she buys her a bike and contantly gives her treats for her friends.
** [[Inuyasha|Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's father]]. He posthumously manages to provide protection for Inuyasha and guidance for Sesshomaru through Tessaiga and Tenseiga.
* ''[[Hayate the Combat Butler]]'': While Hinagiku and Yukiji's adoptive father isn't seen and often depicted as off on business trips and her mother is shown to almost delight in teasing Hinagiku, especially about
** Hinagiku even places them alongside the affection she holds for her real parents.
* Queen Otohime in ''[[One Piece]]'' is this. Even when she is exhausted or depressed from her efforts to get the Fishmen Island residents to sign a peace treaty to cohabit with humans, she never lets her exhaustion or depression appear in front of her children and is shown caring for them very much and spending lots of time with them.
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== Comic Books ==
* ''[[Young Avengers]]'' has the Kaplans, Wiccan's parents, who mistake his coming out as a superhero as a
** Them being such good parents had also caused some backlash amongst the fans, since Billy became a [[Determinator]] over finding the [[Scarlet Witch]], who thanks to chaos magic is also his and Tommy's mom. The fans are hoping that the Kaplans stay relevant,
* [[Superman|Martha and Jonathan Kent found]] [[Moses in the Bulrushes|a baby in a rocket]], and took him in as their own son, raising him with care and instilling strong, fair morals and humility to make him into [[The Cape (trope)|the true hero we all know and love]].
** They even fall into this when they ''don't'' find that baby in the rocket. In [[The Nail]], an [[Alternate Universe]] where {{spoiler|Supes was found and raised by Amish and never became Superman}}, they become the [[Team Dad|team]] [[Team Mom|parents]] to {{spoiler|many super heroes, since they are actually outlaws from society.}} And this takes [[Tear Jerker|a heartbreaking turn]] when {{spoiler|the Amish community that Not!Supes belongs to comes into play... and his adoptive parents are horribly murdered in front of everyone. Ma and Pa take the now orphaned and completely lost Supes in... and soon, he becomes Superman.}}
* When [[Batgirl|Barbara Gordon]] is being [[Grand Theft Me|hijacked by Brainiac]], her friend [[Black Canary]] uses a picture of Babs's beloved father Jim Gordon to help pull her back from oblivion. As she explains it, and as we see throughout [[Birds of Prey|the series]], if there ever was a father, ''this'' man was it. Sometimes their relationship also verges over to [[Happily Adopted]], but writers can never seem to agree on whether or not Barbara is Jim's biological daughter, his niece that he raised after her parents death, or a non-blood adoptee.
* Though it's a little bit more [[Depending on the Writer]], Thomas and Martha Wayne are usually depicted as truly loving of their son Bruce and truly good people. In most of the alternate universes where they survive, whatever the other consequences, it's taken as a given that Bruce would have a mostly happy childhood.
* ''[[Blue Beetle
* You'd think his goofiness and madcap antics would make him a horrible parent, but [[Plastic Man]] is anything but. He loves his son VERY much and his son loves him back the same. Any moment in a comic with both of them at the same time is guaranteed [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|D'awwwe!-inducing]].
* Surprisingly, Ares of [[Marvel Comics]] is a very competent and loving father towards his son Alexander.
* Fantomex uses this on {{spoiler|
* Done rather frighteningly in ''[[Runaways]]''. All of the Pride are murderers, thieves, and backstabbers who quickly sign up to bring about the end of the world. When they have children, they love them and do their best to provide good futures for them... by which they mean that they will destroy everyone else on Earth and let their children inherit what is left. {{spoiler|After they are defeated, the kids run into the past versions of Geoffrey Wilder and Mr. and Mrs. Yorkes, whose children both died. Upon learning of this, the parents are horrified and try their hardest to protect them...by murdering those "responsible" for it.}}
== [[
* They were only talked about on two or three occasions, but the parents of Kallian Tabris from ''[[Dragon Age: The Crown of Thorns]]'' are said to be this (or to have been, since her mother Adaia is dead). In fact, {{spoiler|King Cailan practically invokes this trope while dying, because she slapped his senses back into him so he could meet his end calmly, without being wrecked with guilt over having gotten his men killed.}}
** It is revealed that her father Cyrion {{spoiler|spent most of one night talking to Faren, the dwarven commoner, when Kallian dragged him over to her home, so he could get a good idea of who his daughter had gotten involved with.}}
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* Tiana's parents in ''[[The Princess and the Frog]]'' are clearly loving, supportive, and moral. Both of them are willing to work hard to make sure their little girl has a better life, and never lose sight of the importance of love.
** Charlotte aka Lottie's father is also a certified [[Doting Parent]].
* [[Mulan]]'s parents.{{context}}
* Both Maurice and Mrs. Potts in ''[[Beauty and the Beast]],'' to Belle and Chip respectively.
* Pacha and Chicha on ''[[The Emperor's
* In ''[[Despicable Me]],'' Gru doesn't start out this way, but by the end of the film, even his [["Well Done, Son" Guy]] mother is proud of his parenting skills.
* ''[[Kung Fu Panda]]'' has Mr. Ping, Po's adaptive father. Regardless of the events of the film, Po and Ping have an excellent relationship in which Po cannot bear to disappoint his father about his true interests, while Mr. Ping is understanding enough to allow his son to choose his own life. True, Mr. Ping gets a little antsy and unreasonable about his son leaving him in the Holiday Special, but soon concedes that both that Po is more loyal than he realized and the panda has larger duties beyond his father that cannot be ignored.
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== Live
* ''[[The Addams Family (1964 TV series)|The Addams Family]]'': |Gomez and Morticia Addams
* ''[[The Big Bang Theory]]'': |Sheldon Cooper's mother
* Many older sitcoms such as ''[[Father Knows Best]]'' and ''[[Leave It to Beaver]]'' present parents like this.
* ''[[Brady Bunch]]''{{context}}
* ''[[Boy Meets World]]'' has Alan and Amy, Cory's parents. Not only are they happily married and good parents to their three (and later four) biological kids, they also are surrogate parents to Shawn and Topanga, to the point where [[Papa Wolf|Alan]] risks a lawsuit by physically attacking a cult leader who brainwashes Shawn.
* Danny, Jesse, and Joey on ''[[Full House]]'' are all intended to be loving father figures to the girls.
** Rebecca later acts as [[Parental Substitute|surrogate mom]].
* Blossom's dad Nick on ''[[Blossom]]'' (albeit with shades of [[Overprotective Dad]]).
* ''[[Family Matters]]''{{context}}
* ''[[Growing Pains]]''{{context}}
* ''[[Family Ties]]''{{context}}
* ''[[The Cosby Show]]''{{context}}
* ''[[Veronica Mars]]'s'' father Keith{{context}}
* ''[[7th Heaven]]''.{{context}}
** Not necessarily, as some people see Annie Camden as a
* ''[[[[Dexter]]'': Considering his son was a sociopath,
** However, as the show's gone on, it's been shown that Harry was very wrong about Dexter in several aspects - for example, thinking he would never be able to form emotional connections with others - and a fair few viewers are wondering, if he'd gotten treatment for Dex instead of encouraging his desire for violence, would Dexter still have his "Dark
* On [[Friday Night Lights (TV series)|Friday Night Lights]], Eric and Tami Taylor and Corinne Williams are Good Parents, though there are plenty of lousy parents to go around.
* ''[[Glee]]'': Burt Hummel may be a flanel-wearing, football-loving car mechanic (played by Mike O'Malley, no less) but he still loves his flamboyant gay son Kurt to bits. Their relationship is one of the most beautiful, inspiring things on TV.
** Carole is this to Finn
* Sandy and Kirsten Cohen, Seth's parents on ''[[The OC]]'', who also become Parental Substitutes for Ryan.
* ''[[30 Rock
* [[Deep Space Nine]]'s Benjamin Sisko is an excellent father in between running Deep Space Nine and trying to keep his crew together. His relationship with Jake is one of the most consistently [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|heartwarming]] things on the show.
** Although not shown very much, Nog and his father Rom are said to have this type of relationship as well. When Leta joins the family, Nog immediately accepts her as his mother and there's no indication of ripples.
* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'': The fact that Joyce Summers manages to give
** Not to mention [[Papa Wolf]] Giles. Their surrogate relationship builds slowly and subtly at first, but really becomes clear in the episode where her agrees to go to the Ice-Capades with her (there was a lot more going on between them in that episode, but this ultimate outcome was very touching).
* ''[[That '70s Show
* ''[[Numb3rs
* ''[[Home Improvement (TV series)|
* Phillip and Vivian Banks on ''[[The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air]]'' are this to their own kids AND their goofy nephew. Uncle Phil's concern in the episode where Will's [[Parental Abandonment|absentee father]] returns is very touching. And his reunion with Will after the jerk ditches him again might count as a [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming]] if it weren't [[Tear Jerker|so sad]] at the same time.
* ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' is full of them. The title character herself is a good parent to her [[Truly Single Parent|adopted]] [[Younger Than They Look|teenaged-appearing]] [[Artificial Human|son Luke]]. Maria's father Alan, and later Rani's parents Haresh and Gita, are the emotional rocks for their respective daughters and much loved by them despite sometimes being [[Amazingly Embarrassing Parents|embarrassing]]. Even Clyde's mother, who only has a handful of appearances, is established as a good mother to him during those few appearances. ([[Disappeared Dad|His father, though...]])
* ''[[Good Times
* ''[[The Golden Girls]]'' had this with Sophia, who was both the literal mother to Dorothy, and a mother-figure to Blanche and Rose. Dorothy and Rose were also shown to be good parents, as were Stan and Miles (their ex-husband and beau, respectively). Blanche, however, [[Hands-Off Parenting|averted this.]]
* ''[[Freaks and Geeks]]'' shows parents that are corny, ridiculous, care for their children, care for each other, can be hurt by their children, have [[Crowning Moment of Heartwarming|heartwarming]] and are nothing less than fully fleshed out characters.
* ''[[Smallville]]'' has Jonathan and Martha Kent being just as good as their comic book counterparts.
* Annie and, to an extent, Hal and Tom are adopted versions of this for baby Eve in ''[[Being Human (UK)|Being Human]]''. They care for her after {{spoiler|George and Nina die}} and are devoted to protecting her from the various supernatural things trying to kill her.
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* [[Super Mario (franchise)|Bowser]]. No, seriously. Bowser Jr may be something of a [[Spoiled Brat]] but hey, at least his dad always supports and encourages him, teaching him how to be a villain yet giving him the freedom he needs to show creativity and individuality as such, and even when Junior's schemes fail, Bowser is ''always'' proud of him. Kinda touching in an... evil sort of way.
==
* Kat's parents in ''[[Gunnerkrigg Court]]''. Especially when compared to [[Missing Mom|Annie's lot]] [[Disappeared Dad|in parenting]].
** In all fairness to her dad, we have yet to find out for certain if his long absence is voluntary or due to circumstances beyond his control.
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** Penny's parents also count. Especially with how they handled Penny after the Rich incident. She was punished accordingly, but they love her none the less and are giving her the oportunity to earn their trust back.
* Davan's parents, Fred and Faye, in ''[[Something*Positive]]'', more or less fit the trope.
* ''[[Dominic Deegan
* The Dupont Family in ''[[Balderduck]]'' comprises two parents who are willing to accept all of the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130624050251/http://www.balderduck.com/2010/11/17/the-dupont-family-has-visitors-2/ misfits] their daughter brings home for dinner
* Luk and Hala River from ''[[Irregular Elis]]''. They are a special parents too.
* Elliot and Ellen's parents in ''[[El Goonish Shive]]'' are very [[Open-Minded Parent|Open Minded Parents]] but they must be doing something right as Elliot turned out pretty well adjusted. Tedd's father, and even {{spoiler|Raven's treatment of Noah}} are also great examples of good parents.
* Commander Badass from ''[[Manly Guys Doing Manly Things]]'': raw machismo, pretty much ''made'' of testosterone... and an ''awesome'' dad to his small children.
* Marten's parents from ''[[Questionable Content]]'' are at times strange or embarrassing, but he loves them a lot and acknowledges that his childhood was pretty great, despite their divorce (his dad was gay, but both parents have a good relationship with each other throughout the story.)
* ''[[Erstwhile]]'': [https://web.archive.org/web/20131102181406/http://www.erstwhiletales.com/littleshroud-01/ The mother and son] in "The Little Shroud"
== [[Web Original]] ==
* Most of the parents of Team Kimba in the ''[[Whateley Universe]]''. Chaka's and Tennyo's familes. Lancer's dad and Generator's mom. Fey's parents were separated, but having a son become a [[Gender Bender|female]] mutant [[The Fair Folk|Faerie]] seems to be bringing them back together. Even Phase's parents were loving... right up to the second he manifested as a mutant and [[It Got Worse]].
* Frankie Stein's parents from ''[[Monster High]]'' are just about the most loving, fair parents you could ever hope to find. The twist? They're [[Frankenstein's Monster]] and his [[Bride of Frankenstein|Bride]].
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* Zachary and Eliza Foxx on ''[[Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers]]'': [[Happily Married]]? Check. Their kids turned out okay (despite Eliza's capture and forced separation)? Check. Even with the less than ideal circumstances, they are a strong, loving family.
* Sid's parents on ''[[Sid the Science Kid]]'' not only support Sid's curious nature they also humor all his questions. Plus they encourage him to explore his questions in more detail.
* ''[[
* Eddie Storkowitz' parents on ''[[Birdz]]''. The mother is rather laid-back and supportive, while the father is somewhat stricter but never comes off as mean. Most episodes show Eddie generally getting along with his parents.
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