TV moms have become part of our lives

Given that so many Americans have used television as a baby sitter for so many years, it's a lucky thing that there are so many good mothers for kids to see.

And in each of the six decades since television became a ubiquitous part of American life, there have been some great moms. Loving. Comforting. Supportive.

Some of them have done it all in high heels and pearls. (Think Donna Reed or Margaret Anderson.) Others have been, well, a bit more unorthodox. (Like Roseanne, Marge Simpson and Lorelai Gilmore.)

But what they've all shared is love for the children. And they've been part of our lives for longer than most Americans have been alive.

Here's a chronological list of some of TV's top mothers:

Lucy Ricardo/Lucy Carmichael/Lucy Carter (Lucille Ball), "I Love Lucy" (1951-57), "The Lucy Show" (1962-68), "Here's Lucy" (1968-74): All the Lucys took time out from their wacky schemes to be good mothers — except that Lucy Carmichael's kids were sent off to school and never seen again.

Harriet Nelson (Harriet Nelson), "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet" (1952-66): She was the most real mom on TV — her TV husband, sons and, eventually, daughters-in-law were real members of her family. The exterior shots of her house were her real house. The interiors were re-created on a soundstage. And the Nelsons were a part of American life — not only does "Ozzie & Harriet" remain the longest-running live-action sitcom in TV history, but it ran from 1944-54 on radio.

Margaret Anderson (Jane Wyatt), "Father Knows Best" (1954-60): Sure, the show was called "Father Knows Best," but it was Mom who usually had the answers.

June Cleaver (Barbara Billingsley), "Leave It to Beaver" (1957-63): It's become fashionable to criticize June for being too perfect — perfect home, perfect attire, perfect hairdo — but she was a comforting presence for a generation. And she did it again as a grandmother in "Still the Beaver" (1984-89).

Donna Stone (Donna Reed), "The Donna Reed Show" (1958-66): Another idealized wife and mother who made mothering look easy, Donna nonetheless was a comforting presence for eight seasons.

Wilma Flintstone (voice of Jean Vander Pyl), "The Flintstones" (1960-66): To all appearances, Pebbles was the happiest little girl in the Stone Age.

Morticia Adams (Carolyn Jones), "The Addams Family" (1964-66): Odd? Certainly. But she was a loving wife and a mother who let her kids be themselves.