It’s the most wonderful time of the year, especially on TV. I catch my favorite Christmas movie, Miracle on 34th Street, at least once during December. (Not the remake, only the original will do.)
I’m also a fan of Elf, Home Alone, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and A Christmas Story.
As I was thinking of these sweet and funny movies, I realized that they all have something in common: great moms. And not only are the moms in these movies great, but they are real, too. What I mean by that is that they are all less than perfect! My kind of moms. Below I celebrate my favorite moms from my favorite Christmas movies:
1. Doris Walker from Miracle on 34th Street.
Can you imagine being a working, divorced, single mom in New York City in the 1940s? Nope. Neither can I. But Doris is just that. And she’s terrific at providing for and protecting her daughter from the big, bad world. Thankfully, her hard exterior melts under the magic of Christmas as she comes to believe in Santa and love once again.
2. Kate McAllister from Home Alone.
There’s no escaping it. Kate McAllister is a bad mom for leaving her 8-year-old son home alone while she jets off to Paris for the holidays. BUT, she’s an AWESOME mom for doing everything in her power to get back to Kevin, including hawking her jewelry in exchange for a flight to Dallas and riding in a rental truck with the Polka Kings of the Midwest for HOURS. I also love it that she’s not afraid to discipline Kevin. (Ok, so it really wasn’t his fault for freaking out about who ate his cheese pizza.) Still, I gotta give props to a mom who knows it is in her child’s best interest to discipline him.
3. Emily Hobbs from Elf.
I think the character of Emily Hobbs is underrated. She puts up with a curmudgeon for a husband, Walter Hobbs. She graciously welcomes Buddy the Elf into her home. Then she proves she’s an excellent homemaker by having a well stocked pantry that provides Buddy with a steady diet of sugar. She also encourages her son, Buddy’s half-brother, to play nice with Buddy. Finally, Emily belts out, rather poorly, the song Santa Claus is coming to town. She swallows her pride. She gets the job done. She helps save Christmas!
4. Ellen Griswold from Christmas Vacation.
There are many reasons why I love Ellen. She opens her home to the extended family. She takes everyone to the mall at Christmastime. She wants to give her nieces and nephews a nice Christmas. She stands by her man, Clark, through one adventure after another. She even rocks some cleavage on Christmas.
5. Mother, aka Mrs. Parker, from A Christmas Story.
Did you know that this long-suffering mom doesn’t even get a first name in A Christmas Story? Yet that doesn’t stop her from being awesome. She’s vigilant about cuss words. She clothes her children properly for the winter weather (Put your arms down when you get to school). She cooks a mean turkey. She gets a picky eater to eat some of his dinner. She lets her husband think he’s smarter than she is. She’s protective of her son’s vision. What’s not to love about her?
Those are my favorite Christmas movie moms. Do you have one to add? Or do you have a favorite moment from one of these movies?
Love Ellen Griswold!! That whole movie. The family that comes to visit, the squirrel in the Christmas tree, Uncle Eddie and his see-through shirt and dickie. Best Christmas movie!
TheBargainBabe recently posted…14 Snacks for the Letter “O”
My kids can randomly say, “And why is the carpet all wet Todd?”
“I don’t know Margot!”
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…Great Moms from Christmas Movies
I never realized the Christmas story mom didn’t get a first name. I love your selections and explanations.
Missy Homemaker recently posted…I’m a SAHM and No, We’re Not Rich
It’s kinda a weird sociological experiment that she DOESN’T have a name. But I’m not going there with that commentary!
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…Great Moms from Christmas Movies
I love all of those movies but I never saw the mom connection until you pointed it out. My all time favorite movie is White Christmas. I can’t come up with a mom connection though.
Terra recently posted…5 Mustache Birthday Bash Ideas
Yes, I like White Christmas, too, but it’s a bunch of young, swinging people dancing around without kids. So, it didn’t make the list. 🙂
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…Great Moms from Christmas Movies
Christmas Story Mom is my favorite! Mostly because she gets totally silly with her kid and does the “Mommy’s little piggie,” deal. That cracks me up every time. LOVE that movie! Thanks for this round up of under-appreciated Christmas moms 🙂
Stephanie @ From the Burbs to the Boonies recently posted…Fels-Naptha laundry bar review, giveaway & poison ivy home remedy?
“No, Daddy is not going to kill Ralphie!”
“Yes, he is!”
“Noooo…”
🙂
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…Great Moms from Christmas Movies
I love this list…next time my evil judgy MIL tells me that I am a bad mom, I can pull your list out and say to her, “not even close” Lol. Thanks for the cute and funny list. Merry Christmas!
Misty recently posted…Bloggers Brags Weekly Pinterest Party
And Merry Christmas to you, too!
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…Great Moms from Christmas Movies
This is great! Pinning for sure! I love all of these movies!
Carli recently posted…Walker Family Photos with Aimee Whitmer Photography in Durango, CO
Love all the quotes–did you have to watch them all again to find them or do you just know these movies that well! White Christmas is my favorite Christmas movie too.
Tammy Doiel recently posted…Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party, Week 7
Tammy, I love reminding myself of my favorite movie quotes using IMDB.com. I can remember the gist of the quotes, but IMDB makes sure I get them exactly right!
Katy @ Experienced Bad Mom recently posted…Great Moms from Christmas Movies
Thanks for linking up with the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board!
Tammy Doiel @creativekkids.com recently posted…Wordless Wednesday: A Redo!
This brought back many memories of watching Christmas shows. I love Home Alone. I remember even watching them in the theaters. That says a lot because I don’t watch very many in theaters.
Jill @ Called To Be A Mom recently posted…10 Crazy Facts About Panama
I was totally thinking about Home Alone and how the mom transforms from one really crazed out mom who tells her son that maybe he SHOULD wish that he didn’t have a family to one who was pawning off her jewelry and hitch hiking to meet her son. We all get those days, but in the end, we would do anything for our kids!
Nina recently posted…The downside of having too many toys
I agree! That’s why she might be my favorite on the list. Even the way Kevin gives her a dirty look when they reunite and she just takes it and apologizes because she knows she messed up.
Awesome choices!! I could not agree with this list more! I love the mom in A Christmas Story, and I am huge Catherine O’Hara fan! :)-Ashley
thedoseofreality recently posted…Would You Rather: Watch Elf or A Christmas Story?
Oh yes! This the best round-up of Holiday movie moms indeed! Not sure which one is my favorite, maybe all of them!