I suppose I forgot about the parts with Madoka's mother and the girls' teacher. The way this series handled Madoka's mother was extremely well done. She wasn't a perfect mother, she wasn't a saintly goddess of goodwill, she was a mother. She lamented not being able to help as much as she could as her daughter grew up, just as their teacher lamented not always being able to help/save them.

Madoka's mother came off very human, a rarity in anime. She did not let Madoka run off on her own easily, she didn't ignore everything going on, she even offered to help Madoka with her troubles. She was perceptive (about Sayaka, asking if Madoka was being tricked by something, and other things), she was caring, and she acted like a parent should. Guidance, advice, never controlling, but always available to listen when a misstep was made.

If it wasn't for Kaname Junko, Madoka would never have had the smarts, selfless attitude, and resolve to make that wish. She raised a damn good kid, even if she no longer remembers her.