It’s no surprise that having a favorite character on a show can make you question what life would be like if that character existed in the storyline of your own life. Honestly, we’ve all had that experience, and for Abbott Elementary fans, that thought may come across your mind a lot more than the average television viewer.
There are so many exceptional characters to love. All of them bring a unique and enjoyable personality to the show. But the one that keeps them all in check is none other than Barbara Howard. She’s the powerhouse, the wise one, the motherly figure, the classy, respected, and loving woman that not only the show needs, but we as viewers also need in our lives.
Let’s take a look at some moments where Barbara channeled her inner mother energy and won over the crowd.
Mother's Day (season 3, episode 12)
Episode 12 of season 3 is by far one of the most sentimental and relatable episodes. Barbara’s motherly energy is present, and we even got to see a softer side of her. After noticing Gregory’s lack of excitement for Mother’s Day, Barbara instantly questioned Gregory without him having to utter a word, almost like a mother who knows her child and can pick up on their mannerisms. Gregory opened up to Barbara and admitted that he is still grieving and coping with the loss of his mother.
Demonstrating to viewers that grief is an ongoing battle, we were able to see a more vulnerable side of characters Gregory and Barbara, who were both dealing with the loss of their mothers. The wise and solution-based motherly character that Barbara is, she came up with a solution to invite Gregory to her family brunch instead of Gregory ignoring the holiday and spending it solo. Unfortunately, she overstepped and unintentionally crossed boundaries by forcing Gregory to deal with his emotions. She instantly fixed her mistake, apologized, and once again proved to viewers that the nurturing, caring, loving mother-like side of her is what makes her respected in and out of the classroom. Whew!
That episode almost made me cry. Excellent move, Barb!!
Ava vs. Superintendent (season 1, episode 12)
Similar to a mother caring for all her cubs, Barbara’s motherly instincts not only kick in on a one-on-one basis, but she has also proved she has all of her co-workers' backs. In this episode, Abbott Elementary was expecting an upcoming visit from the superintendent of the district.
Principal Ava struggled to come up with a plan to impress the superintendent, who also happens to be a man she blackmailed to get her principal job at Abbott. Ava is worried about whether she will be able to keep her job. When Barbara heard the news of how Ava blackmailed the superintendent and did not appropriately use school funds, she reacted like a mother would. She is disappointed and stands firm on the fact that she does not want to compromise her morals to get what she needs in her classroom for students.
Unlike Ava, who took shortcuts, Barbara has applied for grants for ten years and still has no luck. But things turned around for her as we saw at the end of the episode. Her encouraging, patient, and supportive mother's energy came in handy as Abbott finally received a grant. But that’s not it, despite Barbara's disappointment in Ava, Barbara still showed up to support Ava like any mother who is riding behind their child would. A true ride or die.
Mom (season 2, episode 21)
We all have that one person in our lives who needs advice or guidance more than others. In Abbott Elementary, Janine happens to be the person who seeks out wisdom from Barbara.
Janine is one of the characters who brings out Barbara’s maternal side the most. Perfectly fitting, episode 21 of season 2 is titled “Mom.” Janine’s mother (Vanetta), with whom she doesn’t have a close bond, made an appearance at Abbott. Due to their distant relationship, her mother’s visit brought on a lot of mixed emotions that Janine had trouble dealing with. She also brought on a lot of blank stares and a lot of awkward moments, to say the least. Upon Barbara meeting Janine’s mother, Barbara sensed a weird energy from Vanetta and gave Janine a look to let her know she was aware and keeping an eye out. The same look your mom may have given you when she was suspicious of something or had a bad feeling. Barbara sensed that Vanetta may be using Janine to get money to pay her phone bill.
As the episode continued, Barbara came in to save the day as usual. We probably should just call her Mama Abbott or Captain Save-A-Staff at this point. Barbara talked with Vanetta to come up with a solution for the money Vanetta needs to pay her bill. Barbara offered to pay the bill only if Vanetta kept it a secret that she paid for it. The purpose of doing so is so Janine can properly enjoy the vacation she has planned without having to make arrangements to provide her mother with money.
Janine overheard the conversation and later thanked Barbara for offering to help. She reassured Barbara that she did not overstep, and she is appreciative of someone who cares and is reliable. This episode proved that Barbara’s character is the ultimate mom figure, protective and willing to go the extra mile to avoid disappointment. Barbara certainly came in clutch. Just like Janine, we all need Barbara in our lives.
Girard creek (season 4, episode 12)
As you may have guessed it yup! Barbara still has those motherly instincts that don’t seem to be going away anytime soon. In the most recent season, there were many moments where Barbara became Mother Barb, including episode 12, where the entire school was invited to the opening of the new golf course near Abbott.
With so many delicious foods to try, Gregory was afraid to explore and try new foods. As he described it, “everything is either dusted and crusted or not to be trusted.” Barbara stepped in like the mother she is and encouraged Gregory to try new foods. She told Gregory that having a healthy meal together is the cornerstone of every healthy relationship, and Janine loves to eat. She inferred that this will be important to remember when it comes to Gregory and Janine's relationship.
After all, Gregory settled for a bowl of noodles and didn’t realize they had truffles in them. Barbara points this out, and suddenly Gregory realized he had eaten truffles and enjoyed them. All of a sudden, he became hopeful and had a change of heart and mindset toward trying new foods. All thanks to Barbara’s encouragement and pushing Gregory out of his comfort zone. She didn’t force Gregory; instead, she was calm and patient. So mother-like! By the end of the episode, Gregory has stuffed multiple truffles in his mouth.
When it comes to Abbot Elementary, Barbara Howard is the woman who wears multiple crowns. Teacher, friend, co-worker, and most of all, mother figure. She is the patient, wise, stern, and reliable one. Her energy doesn’t just radiate in a classroom; she goes beyond the classroom, making sure everyone is cared for and feeling okay. Barbara is the classy, respected, and positive figure many viewers wish they had. Her character on screen is what many people would love to have off-screen.
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