25 years later and Simpsons writer, Josh Weinstein, has just admitted that he only recently got the meaning of one of Homer's most iconic lines. Homer's quote about his towel didn't make much sense considering he has almost no hair, but despite his lack of smarts, the cartoon father has lots of practical experience when it comes to parenting, as he’s been honing his skills with Bart, Lisa and Maggie on The Simpsons for 33 seasons.
Homer's parenting style might be unconventional and he's not always the best caregiver or role model, but, somehow, he always seems to impart valuable life lessons to his children, even if by accident. With Father’s Day around the corner, it's an opportune time to revisit Homer’s best pieces of parenting wisdom.
Homer On Empathy
"Lisa, Just Because I Don't Care, Doesn't Mean I Don't Understand."
This classic Homerism accurately sums up The Simpsons patriarch's relationship with his middle child. Lisa is, arguably, more wise and emotionally mature than Homer, who is often bored by his daughter's interests and the causes she's passionate about.
However, Homer tries hard to connect with his daughter, including when he's out of his depth. Whether she's talking about her vegetarianism, feminism, or her love for the environment, Homer wants Lisa to be able to confide in him -- even if he couldn't care less about the topic. This father/daughter duo balances each other out and, together, they manage to solve even Lisa's biggest childhood dilemmas.
Homer On Ambition
"Trying Is The First Step Towards Failure."
This is another bit of advice that might seem callous at first, but in reality, it is absolutely true. Homer doesn't want his children to think they are going to succeed at everything they attempt. Nobody does and that's an unrealistic goal.
There's an important lesson to be learned in failing. Failing, and trying again, takes resilience. Managing expectations is crucial, and it's something that Homer does quite well after years of learning from his own mistakes. He may appear overly blunt with his children, but he's preparing them for the real world and, like any good parent, he also applauds their successes when they finally reach their goals. Homer's humorous and timeless advice puts The Simpson's among the most rewatchable sitcoms on television.
Homer On Parenting
"The Key To Parenting Is Don’t Overthink It. Because Overthinking Leads To … What Were We Talking About?"
Homer keeps things simple, and it's apparent in the way he fathers. Homer lucks out because his refusal to overthink things often creates accidentally deep lessons for his children.
Bart, Lisa and Maggie watch their father fumble his way through countless get-rich-quick schemes, none of which pan out. The "Beer Baron," Mr. Plow, a door-to-door sugar salesman, the time he sold used grease, and all of his other business ideas end up failing because Homer doesn't think them through. But in every instance, he and his children learn an important lesson as an unintended result of his poor planning. For Homer, under-thinking is the way to go.
Homer On Keeping His Word
"Weaseling Out Of Things Is Important To Learn. It’s What Separates Us From The Animals! Except The Weasel."
In many ways, Homer was ahead of his time. "Weaseling out of things" sounds like a cop-out, but maintaining boundaries, saying "no" when overextended, and cancelling plans to recharge is self-care.
Self-care might not have been a popular thing to teach children when The Simpsons first premiered in 1989, but now it's commonplace and overwhelmingly viewed as an important thing for kids to learn to advocate for. Homer doesn't commit to things he doesn't want to do, and he doesn't expect his children to either. If anything, this is a progressive lesson on autonomy.
Homer On Work Ethic
"If You Don’t Like Your Job, You Don’t Go On Strike. You Just Go In Every Day And Do It Really Half-Assed."
It goes without saying, this particular piece of advice likely won't help his children get ahead in the world and is probably ill-advised. But the sentiment is very in-line with Homer's "work smarter, not harder" life philosophy.
On many occasions this lackadaisical outlook on life actually works in Homer's favor. Afterall, he's kept his job at the nuclear power plant for more than three decades by putting forth very little effort. He prioritizes the people and things that are most important to him such as Marge, his children, food, and beer, as Homer's among the biggest sitcom beer lovers. By not stressing over the other stuff, in this case his job, he saves himself a lot of hassle.
Homer On Musical Performance Etiquette
"Lisa, Never, Ever Stop In The Middle Of A Hoedown!"
This is solid advice no matter which way you look at it. When Lisa's saxophone is stolen, her father gives her a jug to play instead, and dances along to her "making music" with it--even warning her never to "stop in the middle of a hoedown."
While Lisa does eventually get her prized sax back, Homer's guidance in this situation is not terrible. He reminds her anything can be an instrument and he's incredibly enthusiastic as she gives her new "instrument" a try. Homer gets a lot of flack for being a bad parent, but an unpopular Simpsons opinion suggests he's actually a good dad and this quote backs that theory up.
Homer On Screen Time
"Television ... Teacher, Mother, Secret Lover!"
Screen time is a hot button topic for parents these days. But for Homer, unlimited screen time is the best policy. Homer allows his children to watch as much television as they'd like, as long as he gets to watch what he wants as well.
Lisa is an honor roll student, she plays the saxophone, she loves to read, and she's involved in extracurricular activities. Bart has a vivid imagination, is an avid skateboarder, and spends a large part of each day being active outdoors. It doesn't sound like Homer's screen time beliefs have negatively affected his kids.
Homer On Being Helpful
"Well, I Hope You’ve Learnt Your Lesson, Lisa. Never Help Anyone!"
Sometimes, especially with Lisa and often unintentionally, Homer prefers to take the reverse psychology approach to parenting. He tells her the opposite lesson, in this case "never help anyone" and leaves it up to her to find a reason to continue doing what she believes is right.
Lisa is smart and, in spite of Homer's backwards lessons, she follows her own moral compass. It is also possible she simply watches how Homer navigates the world, and choses another path for herself. Regardless, Homer and Marge have raised independent children who think for themselves and learn from the missteps of others.
Homer On Health & Wellness
"You Don’t Win Friends With Salad."
Lisa, a devoted vegetarian and environmentalist, is often at odds with her meat-loving father. This struggle is apparent during season 7, when Lisa initially becomes vegetarian and ruins her father's BBQ.
In the end, Lisa learns her vegetarianism is a personal choice, and Homer learns to respect it as such. Nevertheless, Homer has a point--you don't win friends with salad. But as Lisa and her father learn, there are plenty of delicious vegetarian options that friendships can be formed over. In this instance, Apu's tofu-based hot dogs might not earn the Kwik-E-Mart a spot among Springfield's best restaurants, but they did help Lisa befriend Paul and Linda McCartney.
Homer On Growing Up
Bart: "This Is The Worst Day Of My Life." Homer: "The Worst Day Of Your Life ... So Far."
Homer doesn't sugar coat life's difficulties when talking to his children. As harsh as it seems, honesty really is the best policy. When Bart thinks he's had the worst day of his life, Homer dutifully reminds him that it's only the worst day of his life so far.
In a sense, Homer's absolutely correct. It's important to teach children that there will always be challenges to overcome. Learning to cope when times get hard is of the utmost importance, and it's better to prepare children with the skills to do so while they're still young. Plus, Homer knows a thing or two about challenges, as he's had his fair share of them over the years.