One of Florence Henderson’s real-life children had a small role on The Brady Bunch

For many actors, kids can be a hard thing to balance, especially for those starring in a TV show or film. But that doesn’t stop many, and it certainly didn’t stop Florence Henderson.

Henderson was America’s top mom, both on TV and within her own household. No matter what role she took on—whether it was onscreen or as a parent at home—she took her role of "mother" very seriously.

According to a 1969 interview with The Herald Statesman, Henderson and her husband lived in New York before she was cast in The Brady Bunch. They had their own sort of bunch at home, with four children.

When she got the call to join a widower with three boys in The Brady Bunch, she moved to Hollywood, where the iconic series was filmed. Usually, that would mean Henderson would have to be away from home for months. But this mom of the year wasn’t leaving anyone behind.

"It turned out to be just the opposite," Henderson said. "Screen Gems had a problem with the series that solved my biggest problem—being away from the children."

She explained that the series had to accommodate six child actors whose schedules were packed with school, after-school activities, and other typical kid issues. That meant they typically filmed during the child actors’ summer breaks.

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"That meant that my family was vacationing, too, so we hauled them out to the West Coast," Henderson said. "We shot 14 episodes before the vacation period. It worked out perfectly."

She said every summer it was a battle of the ratings. While they had a steady fan base, the cast and crew were constantly checking and making needed adjustments based on the show’s performance.

According to the interview, if the ratings didn’t show up big, no one would be more upset than Henderson’s oldest child, Bernadette.

"The children spent a good deal of time on set and really got interested in what was happening," Henderson said. "Robert even got into one episode—he played a tree in a school play sequence. But the one who was bitten most was Bernadette. She kept asking me if she could be in one of the shows. Finally, we got a promise that she’d be in a scene after we started filming again."

Her love for her real-life children carried over to her onscreen kids as well. She was part of a tight-knit bunch who acted much like a real family off-screen. She truly had the best of both worlds. She was constantly seen as a mother, and she wouldn’t have had it any other way.

"They’re a great bunch of kids, and we get along quite well," Henderson said. "I think part of it is that I am a no-nonsense type with my own, and I believe that feeling carries through. Children like to know that there’s strength in the character they’re depending on."