The adult characters in Modern Family are all on their own parenting journeys, and while they all spend time together regularly, they each have their own unique parenting styles. While Claire is strict and type-A, Phil is laid-back. Gloria's close relationship with Manny is sometimes a bit much for Jay to handle. Mitchell can be cold but Cam's theatrics can make him feel like the only adult in the house.
While the characters made some bad parenting decisions, there were times when they got things right, and viewers can learn some lessons on raising children from Mitch and Cam, Claire and Phil, and Jay and Gloria.
10 Accept That Every Kid Is Different
Three siblings couldn't possibly be more different than Haley, Alex, and Luke Dunphy. While Haley is a social butterfly, Alex is the bookish one, and Luke is a sweet but goofy kid.
Claire and Phil are amazing parents because they don't try to change their children. They accept that they each have unique personality traits and dreams in life, and they do their best to understand them and help them as much as they can. Sure, there are many obstacles, but Claire and Phil never try to make their children all the same.
9 It's A Good Idea To Ask For Help
In the fifth season, Gloria hired Andy as a nanny because balancing being a mom to both her baby son Joe and Manny was proving to be difficult. Gloria loved Andy right away, as he was kind, attentive, and all about healthy food.
Gloria sometimes made selfish decisions but in this case, she was looking out for her family's well-being. This brought up a great parenting tip: it's okay to ask for help. This was also a lesson that Jay learned, as he wasn't sure that he wanted someone else in his house, but he then decided to give it a chance.
8 Find Work/Life Balance And Don't Give Up On Your Dreams
In the series finale, Cam got a Missouri-based coaching position, and this was awesome news. He had always tried to find a career that made him happy, as he had dabbled in substitute teaching over the years, but he also loved staying home with Lily. Mitch also struggled to find a job that made him happy instead of stressed out.
These beloved characters can teach viewers that it's possible to find work/life balance. It's absolutely possible to start a family and still chase dreams and goals.
7 Parents Should Be A Team, But Compromise Is Inevitable
Although they're a charming couple, Phil and Claire sometimes hurt each other's feelings, but at the end of the day they're a team.
If Phil raised the kids on his own, he would make very different decisions than Claire, since the two have different parenting styles. Together, they compromise and approach each situation with some fair guidelines. Claire and Phil prove that it's best to present a united front and also make sure to compromise so both parents feel like they're being listened to.
6 Keep A Sense Of Humor
While Phil's advice was sometimes more awkward than helpful, he always kept a sense of humor. He couldn't help but laugh at Luke's jokes or want to team up for a goofy, childlike activity.
Claire's organized nature definitely balanced out Phil's silly side, and the two worked well together. Phil can teach viewers of Modern Family that parenting doesn't have to be so serious all the time. Sometimes the best thing to do is smile and laugh and this was especially true with all the quirky situations that the Dunphy family found themselves in, from Claire's enthusiasm about Halloween to Phil's inventions.
5 Don't Feel Guilty About Asking For "Me Time"
In the season 5 premiere "Suddenly, Last Summer," Phil and Claire tried their best to get their kids out of the house at the same time. They figured that they could enjoy one week together on their own, and they had a plan that seemed logical.
It turned out that Claire lied to Phil so she could have a few days alone. Once Claire admitted that this is what she was dreaming of, she realized that there was nothing to feel ashamed about. Every parent needs some "me time" and self-care, and no one should feel guilty about that.
4 Don't Forget Date Nights
Claire and Phil always celebrated Valentine's Day and it seemed like date nights were always a priority for them.
The same thing is true for Cam and Mitch and Jay and Gloria. Even if the three couples went to dinner together, they were getting out of the house and spending time with their partners. Sure, sometimes everyone was late or the evening was a disaster, but each couple believed that time away from the kids was an important part of parental life.
3 Parenting Doesn't End When A Kid Turns 18
Haley's season 4 arrest was a hard moment for her parents. She was always the life of the party and when she went to college, she kept drinking and having fun.
Haley ended up getting kicked out of her college, and she moved back home with her family. Claire and Phil realized that just because Haley was a young adult, they weren't done raising her, as she still needed some support, guidance, and love. It wasn't easy, but they were willing to be there for their child any way they could be.
2 Family Fun Can't Be Forced, So Embrace The Small Moments
Many classic and popular Modern Family episodes featured the Pritchett/Delgado/Tucker family going somewhere fun, from Disneyland to a beach vacation.
But these episodes also proved that it isn't always possible to force kids to have a good time. Often, these moments ended up in disaster and it was hard to guarantee fun when things kept going wrong. Modern Family proves that families can enjoy sweet, small daily moments with each other that mean more than these grand experiences. Whether Claire and Phil enjoyed a pizza dinner with their kids or Manny and Gloria watched a movie, these parents know not to take these moments for granted.
1 Kids Grow Up, But They Do Come Back
In the fourth season episode "Best Men," Claire asked Haley if she would go out to dinner with her, and they went to see Alex play in a band. Claire wanted to connect like they had when Haley was younger, but she was disappointed when Haley went off with a friend halfway through the evening.
Even though Haley cared a lot about being popular and social, she always came back to her family, and Claire and Phil realized that their daughter always loved them. This is an important piece of advice, as it can be hard to let kids go as they grow up.
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February 15, 2021 at 04:30AM
