Last Man Standing is one of the smartest, more humorous comedies on television. The show, starring Tim Allen, is full of incredibly funny lines. Allen is never afraid to tell it like it is, especially when his character, Mike Baxter, is talking to his three daughters: Kristin, Mandy, and Eve.
Throughout the course of the show, Mike and Vanessa Baxter offer some great advice to their daughters. They help them during difficult situations. However, they sometimes make parenting decisions that completely backfire on them. Here are five useful parenting advice from the Baxters and five tips you don't necessarily want to follow.
Best: Going Unplugged
Tim Allen's character on Last Man Standing is much different than his role as Tim Taylor on the 1990's comedy, Home Improvement. Mike Baxter is never afraid to express his concerns (or sometimes distaste) with the new generation. In the season seven episode "Cabin Pressure," Mike decides to take matters into his own hands when he notices his daughters spend way too much time on their cell phones.
Mike and Vanessa take the family on a getaway trip to a family cabin. Mike challenges his daughters to unplug and stay off their phones. He convinces them that it's more important to spend some quality family time together. While this creates some challenges, they make it work. Mike gets an A+ for this parenting lesson.
Worst: Not Supporting Eve
In the season five episode "Eve's Band," Eve starts a band with her friends. From the very beginning, Mike isn't sold on the idea of his youngest daughter pursuing a music career and he tries to break up her band. That's not being a supportive father, especially since Eve was determined to make her band work.
In the end, Eve is still convinced music is the right path for her. Mike eventually comes around to see she is committed to a music career. He finally supports her, but it certainly took him a long time to show his support.
Best: Follow Your Instincts
Throughout the course of the show, Mike isn't afraid to playfully insult Ryan, the father of Kristin's son, Boyd. The two don't get along, but there are very few times where Mike offers helpful advice and compliments Ryan.
For example, when Ryan doesn't know how to be a father, Mike tells him, "You should do what I did, just go with your instincts. Follow your instincts. As far as being a parent is concerned, and that is about it, you are pretty spot on." It's nice to see Mike being nice to Ryan for a change.
Worst: A Meddling Grandfather
Mike sometimes oversteps his boundaries as a grandfather to Boyd. He thinks he knows what's best, which backfires on him. In the season two episode "Circle of Life," Mike tackles the subject of life and death. He brings home a duck from his hunting trip, and he tries to explain the circle of life to Boyd.
Kristin doesn't want Boyd to know that meat is dead animals, and Ryan wants his son to become a vegetarian. Mike decides to ignore these requests from Boyd's parents, and he talks about hunting and meat-eating with his grandson. He tries to convince him that there is nothing wrong with it. Ignoring your daughter's request, Mike? That's not the best way to be a grandparent.
Best: Offering Money Advice
In the season four episode "Mike Advises Mandy," Mandy is struggling with her online clothing business. She doesn't know how to pay taxes, and she needs help before her business fails altogether.
Luckily, Mike knows just what to do. He advises her to set aside money to help pay the taxes. He offers the best fatherly advice he can provide for his daughter, while still letting her make her own decision. Does she listen? Not particularly, but Mike gets a gold star for being a helpful father in this episode.
Worst: Imposing His Political Views
In the season two episode "Voting," the Baxter family is divided during a presidential election. Family members, including Mike, try to persuade Mandy to vote in the way they see fit.
On Last Man Standing, viewers have grown to know Mike's (and Tim Allen's) political views. However, this episode struck a nerve with some viewers because Mike was creating a division in his household about politics. In the end, Mandy makes her own decision about the election. Some fans wish Mike didn't impose his views on his family so much.
Best: Offering Career Advice
The Baxter daughters often seek their parents' help with determining their future. When Eve wants to join the Reserve Officers' Training Corps and follow in her grandfather's military footsteps, she talks about it with her parents. When Mandy is struggling with her fashion career, Mike and Vanessa are there to help.
In the seventh season, Mandy decides to change her career from fashion to real estate because she was failing at her job. Previously, Mike offered great advice: "When God closes a door, He builds a window." Mandy uses this advice, even though Mike and Vanessa aren't sure she should become a real estate agent.
Worst: Not Following The Rules
In the season six episode "Precious Snowflakes," Mike has to deliver a graduation speech at Mandy's business school. Of course, he's proud to have been chosen for this honor. However, he has a difficult time writing a speech. He has many rules to follow to keep his speech "politically correct."
At this point, viewers know Mike's political views and they don't align with what is considered "politically correct." So, he ignores the rules, even though the speech is very important to Mandy. However, he eventually uses this event as a lesson on the importance of everyone--no matter who it is--telling their story the way they see it. He didn't follow the rules, which isn't necessarily a good lesson, but he raised awareness on an important issue.
Best: Showing Tough Love
Every parent sometimes needs to show some tough love to teach an important lesson. In the season seven episode "A Moving Finale," Mandy and her husband, Kyle, are hesitant to move out of her childhood home and into their apartment. Mike finally puts his foot down and says if they don't move into the apartment (that he rents out to tenants), then he will find another tenant.
This convinces Mandy and Kyle to move into their new home, but Kyle feels hurt by Mike's sudden demands. Later, Eve explains to Kyle that Mike pushed him because he always wants what's best for his children--including his son-in-law.
Worst: Picking Favorites
There is one important rule to parenting: Don't pick favorites. However, Mike and Vanessa don't always follow this rule. Everyone knows Eve is Mike's favorite daughter, and he treats her differently than Kristin and Mandy. Meanwhile, Vanessa tends to favor Mandy and is more lenient on some rules for her. Kristin is quick to acknowledge this.
This creates conflicts for the Baxter family. They have many fights over their parents "picking favorites," which never should happen in the first place. If Mike and Vanessa would treat their three daughters equally, perhaps there would be fewer fights at the dinner table.