8 best TV moms of the past decade you’d want on speed dial for life advice

Deeya
Still from Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (Image via Netflix)
Still from Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life (Image via Netflix)

Some of the best TV moms of the past decade have showcased a level of fierceness and support that is truly unmatched. From the fierce maternal instinct of Joyce Byers to the dramatic yet honest advice of Moira Rose, these TV moms have proven that they can not only juggle their personal lives and careers but can also be present for their children.

Therefore, here are the 8 best TV moms of the past decade.


Rainbow Johnson, Moira Rose, and other best TV moms of the past decade

1. Claire Dunphy – Modern Family

Still from the show (Image via Peacock)
Still from the show (Image via Peacock)

Played by Julie Bowen, Claire Dunphy is one of the best TV moms of the past decade. Created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan, the sitcom aired from 2009 to 2020, where Claire Dunphy was a dedicated yet loving mother.

Her mothering style and antics defined a decade and even though the show focuses on a bunch of other characters who are interrelated and often get into mishaps, Claire Dumphy epitomizes in the role of the best TV moms of the past decade. She is filled with quirks but is not perfect. Juggling three children with wildly different personalities is not easy, and she therefore has her own anxieties and troubles that make her relatable.

While Phil lives in a world of his own, it is Claire who is the most worried about the future of her three kids and wants to see them grow in life. From trying to make a bond with Alex to guiding Haley to build a future for herself, she is always there for her kids. Even though she can sometimes come across as being pushy and overbearing, she only does it for the good of her children. Therefore, she is one of those mothers anyone would want to turn to for life advice.


2. Lorelai Gilmore – Gilmore Girls

Still from the show (Image via Netflix)
Still from the show (Image via Netflix)

While the show ended in 2007, there was a reboot that hit the screen in 2016, and the magical bond between Lorelai and Rory was back.

One of the most celebrated mothers on television, played by Lauren Graham, Lorelai Gilmore is one of the best TV moms of the past decade. From the original show to the reboot version, Lorelai Gilmore proved she could be the perfect mother effortlessly. She is definitely one of the best TV moms of the past decade that one would want on speed dial.

Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, the comedy drama not only offered a cozy vibe and an intricate look at a mother-daughter relationship, but it also felt like a slice-of-life show that was relatable and soothing. Lorelai played the single mother who wants the best for her daughter. She made sure that she shared a deep bond with her daughter and supported her through her teenage and other troublesome phases in life.

From bonding with her daughter over movie nights and takeout food to being sarcastic and quick-witted, Lorelai was the perfect fictional mom and one who would give brilliant advice. Even though she could be impulsive at times, she did her best to be a supportive and cool mother, and she is one of the best TV moms of the past decade.


3. Rainbow Johnson – Black-ish

Still from the show (Image via IGN)
Still from the show (Image via IGN)

Played by Tracee Ellis Ross, Rainbow Johnson is one of the best TV moms of the past decade as she is not just a mother of five, but is also an accomplished doctor. Created by Kenya Barris, the sitcom focuses on the life of an upper-middle-class Black family, who want to stay connected to their roots. While the show focuses on the Johnson family and its many quirky characters, Rainbow Johnson is like a beacon of calm and compassion.

The show aired from 2014 to 2022, and Rainbow proved that she is "the" modern mother who can juggle both her chaotic household and her demanding career. Even amid all this, she makes space for her children and tries to bond with all of them.

From trying to form a bond with her fiery daughter Diane to guiding her son Andre Johnson Jr., Rainbow is one of the best TV moms of the past decade. She lives with the times and is enthusiastic about feminism and the exploration of one’s sexuality. She makes for the perfect person to give life advice. Therefore, she is one of the best TV moms of the past decade.


4. Tammy Taylor – Friday Night Lights

Still from the show (Image via Peacock)
Still from the show (Image via Peacock)

Tammy Taylor is one of the best TV moms of the past decade, as she was the epitome of a warm and loving mother. Developed by Peter Berg, the sports drama aired from 2006 to 2011 and revolved around a high school football team in a small town in Texas.

While Tammy Taylor was a school faculty member, she married Eric Taylor, the high school football coach. Played by Connie Britton, Tammy later becomes the high school guidance counselor and eventually the principal. While her husband runs the show on the field, it is Tammy who is the backbone of the family and makes sure that she is supportive of her daughters as well.

Whatever problems her daughters, Julie and Gracie, faced, Tammy was there like a rock for her children. She was warm, loving, and understanding, and had the best life advice to give. She even mentors her students and always gives them insightful and caring advice. She is someone who stays calm and collected, even if the events around her are chaotic.

Tammy brings a certain sense of clarity and empathy, which makes her one of the best TV moms of the past decade. Tammy’s voice is that of strength and compassion, and she knows when to push someone and when to allow the other person to rest.


5. Joyce Byers – Stranger Things

Still from the show (Image via Netflix)
Still from the show (Image via Netflix)

Nothing is more powerful than a mother’s intuition and resolve towards her children. And Joyce Byers encapsulates that strength. Created by the Duffer Brothers, the sci-fi horror and mystery show has won the hearts of people worldwide and is one of the most popular shows from the last decade.

While the show focuses on a bunch of characters in a small town in Indiana who are terrorized by other-dimensional creatures, Joyce, played by Winona Ryder, comes out shining as one of the best TV moms of the past decade. The show began airing in 2016, and from the first season itself, Joyce proved that she was a strong mother who could take on any monster for her child.

When her son Will goes missing, she strings up Christmas lights to communicate with him, even when others are unconvinced. She showcases a strong maternal instinct towards her children and even displays maternal love towards Eleven, who has no parents.

She might get frantic at times, but that is only because she cares deeply for her children and wants them to be safe. She is fierce when it is needed, and is raw, emotionally strong, and brave. Therefore, she is one of the best TV moms of the past decade.


6. Moira Rose – Schitt’s Creek

Still from the show (Image via CBC)
Still from the show (Image via CBC)

Played by Catherine O’Hara, Moira Rose might not be your typical mom, but that is what makes her one of the best TV moms of the past decade. Created by Eugene Levy and Daniel Levy, this sitcom focuses on a formerly rich family that has to move to a small town after losing their fortune. Each and every character in the show is quirky and hilarious, and Moira is no less.

The show aired from 2015 to 2020, and Moira was the highlight of the series. While she might be eccentric and dramatic, Moira is someone who is fiercely loyal to her family, and under all the layers of haute couture, she loves her children deeply.

Even when she gives advice, it is dramatic yet honest. She is one of the best TV moms of the past decade, as she wants her children to thrive and reinvent themselves in any given situation. She might say things dramatically, but they always have substance. She is a modern mother who is loving and supportive of her children’s choices in life.


7. Bonnie – Mom

Still from the show (Image via Warner Bros TV)
Still from the show (Image via Warner Bros TV)

Bonnie is one of the best TV moms of the past decade because she is not perfect and is therefore extremely relatable. Played by Allison Janney, Bonnie is one of the most interesting and enigmatic mothers on screen.

Created by Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky, and Gemma Baker, the comedy drama is about a single mother, Christy, who is trying to stay sober after years of battling addiction. However, her life changes when her estranged mother, Bonnie, who has also struggled with addiction, comes back into her life. The show premiered in 2013.

The series, at its core, is about a mother and daughter duo who are trying to create their lives anew and stay sober. As such, Bonnie’s character might look hilarious, but she holds deep wisdom and pain. Bonnie had her daughter, Christy, at a young age. Therefore, Bonnie tries her best to reconnect with her daughter and form a bond that got lost over the years.

Bonnie is one of the realest motherly characters on screen, as she presents a mother who is not perfect but is still loving and supportive. She is, therefore, one of the best TV moms of the past decade.


8. Nancy Botwin – Weeds

Still from the show (Image via Peacock)
Still from the show (Image via Peacock)

Another mother who might not sound perfect but is actually one of the best TV moms of the past decade is Nancy Botwin. Played by Mary-Louise Parker, the show is entirely about her as Nancy is a widow who must resort to selling drugs to support her two sons. Interestingly, she becomes the top dealer in the area. While it might seem like Nancy has chosen an illegal profession and is therefore not an ideal mother, the reality is more complex.

The show aired from 2005 to 2012 and was created by Jenji Kohan. The comedy drama showcases how mothers come in all shapes and forms. Even if Nancy is not the perfect cookie-cutter mother, she is still one of the most supportive and fiercely protective mothers to her children.

And Nancy does not want her sons to be mixed up in the world of drugs. She tries her best to not let her criminal part of her life influence her role as a mother towards her children. Even with all the ups and downs that she faces in life, Nancy is always there for her children. Therefore, she is one of the best TV moms of the past decade.

Edited by Deeya