23 Parenting Lessons Cersei Lannister Taught Us (For Better or Worse)

By Alessia Santoro
HBO
HBO

Game of Thrones' Cersei Lannister may be evil, but as suggested by Sansa Stark, there's a lot that can be learned from the mother of three (for better or worse). Whether she's enabling her entitled children or showing them unconditional love despite being seriously demonic toward everyone else in Westeros, there's a lot to be learned from Cersei. I mean, hey, every kid brings out a little bit of the Mad Queen in us from time to time, right?

Ahead, the parenting lessons we've learned from Queen Cersei over seven seasons.

01
After Putting the Kids to Bed at the End of a Long Day, You've Earned a Glass of Wine

After Putting the Kids to Bed at the End of a Long Day, You've Earned a Glass of Wine

02
OK, Maybe More Than One

OK, Maybe More Than One

03
OK, OK, Maybe a Little Bit *Before* the Kids Go to Bed on Really Hard Days

OK, OK, Maybe a Little Bit *Before* the Kids Go to Bed on Really Hard Days

04
It's OK to Ditch Friends Who Don't Understand Your Needs Anymore Now That You're a Parent

It's OK to Ditch Friends Who Don't Understand Your Needs Anymore Now That You're a Parent

05
Sometimes the Hardest Part of Parenting Is Admitting That Perfection Doesn't Exist

Sometimes the Hardest Part of Parenting Is Admitting That Perfection Doesn't Exist

06
You'll Have to Do Your Best to Shrug Off the Unsolicited Parenting Advice

You'll Have to Do Your Best to Shrug Off the Unsolicited Parenting Advice

07
It's OK to Ask For Help When You're Struggling

It's OK to Ask For Help When You're Struggling

08
Your Kids Will Give You a Million and One Reasons to Roll Your Eyes So Hard You See Your Own Brain

Your Kids Will Give You a Million and One Reasons to Roll Your Eyes So Hard You See Your Own Brain

09
It Doesn't Make You an Awful Person to Admit That Sometimes Your Kids' Behaviors Bother You

It Doesn't Make You an Awful Person to Admit That Sometimes Your Kids' Behaviors Bother You

10
Like, a Lot

Like, a Lot

11
It's Maybe Not the Best Idea to Let Your Child Run Amok With Dangerous Toys

It's Maybe Not the Best Idea to Let Your Child Run Amok With Dangerous Toys

12
You have to be firm with your kids' bedtime routines.

You have to be firm with your kids' bedtime routines.

13
It's Important to Show Our Kids We Love Them as Much as Possible

It's Important to Show Our Kids We Love Them as Much as Possible

14
And When We Can, Protect Them From the World's Evil (but Maybe Not by Poisoning Them Before They Can Be Taken by an Enemy Army)

And When We Can, Protect Them From the World's Evil (but Maybe Not by Poisoning Them Before They Can Be Taken by an Enemy Army)

15
If You Can, It's Good to Try to Hold in Your Anger in Front of Your Children

If You Can, It's Good to Try to Hold in Your Anger in Front of Your Children

16
Even When Your Kids Are Being Little Sh*ts, You Don't *Actually* Hate Them

Even When Your Kids Are Being Little Sh*ts, You Don't *Actually* Hate Them

17
90% of Parenting Is Trying to Catch Your Child as They Run Around the House, Playground, and Grocery Store

90% of Parenting Is Trying to Catch Your Child as They Run Around the House, Playground, and Grocery Store

18
It's Totally Normal to Think Your Kids Are Simultaneously Perfect and the Most Annoying Humans on Earth

It's Totally Normal to Think Your Kids Are Simultaneously Perfect and the Most Annoying Humans on Earth

19
It Can Be Difficult Not to Raise Tattle Tales

It Can Be Difficult Not to Raise Tattle Tales

20
Parenting Means Having to Pretend to Laugh at Your Kids' Aimless Stories

Parenting Means Having to Pretend to Laugh at Your Kids' Aimless Stories

21
Whether Your Child's Being Super Adorable or a Mini Psycho, the Tears Will Come Often

Whether Your Child's Being Super Adorable or a Mini Psycho, the Tears Will Come Often

22
Being a Mom Means Making a Lot of Empty Threats You Don't Intend on Following Through With — Until You Annoyingly Have To

Being a Mom Means Making a Lot of Empty Threats You Don't Intend on Following Through With — Until You Annoyingly Have To

(Maybe we've all got a little bit of Mad Queen in us.)

23
Once You Become a Mom, Everything You Do Is For Your Kids

Once You Become a Mom, Everything You Do Is For Your Kids