Seven life lessons we learned from ‘Shameless’

The dark yet hilarious series ‘Shameless’ (Seasons 1-6 are on Showmax)  features the six Gallagher children (Fiona, Lip, Ian, Debbie, Carl, and Liam) and daddy Frank trying to survive Southside Chicago with some mouth-over-hand moments you can only dream about.

If you have ever watched an episode of 'Shameless' with what could be described as the world's most dysfunctional family, you may think it’s weird to be taking lessons away from the show? But if you’ve watched it, you also know that the Gallaghers and their friends are not only erratic and scandalous, but that it’s their scrappiness and resilience that makes them a really lovable bunch.

It is rare that we get to watch a US production of a family living in the harsh realities of the lower working class. Mix in their equally dysfunctional friends and you have a recipe for disaster. But 'Shameless' has so many life take-aways, even for those of us who might not see ourselves in the characters. 

1) Family is everything

Yes, they fight a lot. Each Gallagher is flawed. Deep down Frank loves his family but often won’t raise a finger to help them. Lip is an alcoholic, Frank is a drug addict, Fiona wants to be happy but keeps sabotaging everything good that happens to her, Ian won't accept his mental condition, Debbie wants to be an adult but hates the responsibilities that come with it, and Carl is that son you keep praying will find the light but never does. Yet through all of their issues, one thing remains constant – the bond they share.

2) It’s okay to be different

Coming from the rough side of the tracks, being gay is frowned upon, yet Ian and Mickey have a Romeo and Juliet romance you can’t help but support. They’ve struggled to stay together and are constantly fighting their inner demons. Being openly gay in our society is not as welcomed as it should be and many countries are still fighting for equal rights and gay marriage. Seeing Ian and Mickey work things out gives hope to everyone watching.  

3) You are not your past

Lip battles with his alcohol addiction, his mathematical genius, his determination to be more than just Frank’s offspring, his obsession with a female professor, and his guilt for leaving his struggling family. Yet Lip still manages at 18 to build a laser beam-clad robot and enter it into a college robot fighting competition to win money.  He also goes on to smash his mid-terms and keep his scholarship. He even manages to get a side hustle going to pay the bills at home, proving anything is possible if you believe in yourself. 

4) It’s okay to cut out toxic people from your life

We have Fiona to thank for this lesson. Fiona has no shame in sleeping around and thoroughly enjoying the perks of casual sex. Here is one female that keeps picking the wrong men, or maybe she so badly wants to be loved that she confuses dependency with love? A guy who steals cars may have a few things going for him (who doesn’t love a bad boy?) but be prepared to constantly be looking behind you. All of Fiona’s men are unreliable and irresponsible, including her father Frank. But being the strong woman that she is, she rises to the top - always. Don’t ever give people control over your life. 

5) Don’t rely on anyone but yourself

Despite Fiona’s lack of a high school diploma and college education, she manages to always put food on the table and pay the bills. The quicker you learn that you can't rely on other people, the faster you will start doing things for yourself. Fiona is strong, beautiful, selfless, and just generally a badass. She does not wear make-up, dresses like a teenager late for school even when going for a job interview, has no filter when talking to people, and when she puts her mind to it, even her family will get the cold shoulder while she works on herself. If she can raise a family on top of getting through the everyday struggles of being a 20-something woman, then what are the rest of us complaining about? She has strength in her that we all wish we had.  

6) Respect your money

In almost every episode of 'Shameless' we see someone in need of money that they don’t have or someone doing something dodgy to get their hands on a few Dollars. Whether it's problems with the bar, being robbed or baby mama drama, Kevin teaches us that you control your money and what happens to it. We also learn from Fiona that it is important to pay off your debt and manage your finances if you want to get ahead. Having money can open doors (or get you a laundromat), so use it wisely. And you can make money from just about anything – look at Debbie and her daycare/online thrift shop business. 

7) Don’t neglect your kids

Frank loves his kids; even when he is stealing from them, locking them out of the home, or trying to get them to sell drugs for him. But as much as we want to root for Frank, he is an awful parent. Monica, their mother, is no better. Yes, she has her bipolar to deal with, but that is no excuse for the mess she left behind. To make up for the lack of a parenting figure, the young Fiona steps in and that backfires. Drug parties, cold pizza three times a day, a teenaged sister with a baby and a brother who sells drugs… they’re proof that when parents expect their kids to grow up too soon, there are always far-reaching consequences.

For more 'Shameless' lessons, get your fix on Showmax. DStv Premium customers can watch Showmax at no extra cost! Click here to find out more. 

ALSO READ: 5 Lessons about love we learned from 'The Affair'

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