For 11 seasons of Modern Family, fans got to know Claire Dunphy better than she knew herself. As the mother of three kids, wife to Phil, and a businesswoman, Claire wore many hats and struggled because of it.

Claire has said time and time again that she had a strained relationship with her mother DeDe and that she never wanted to be like her. But unsurprisingly, there are moments where Claire acted exactly like the woman she tried so hard to distance herself from. As much as Claire wanted to be the “cool mom,” her controlling nature and judgments got in the way.

10 Like Mother, Like Daughter: She Meddled With Her Kids’ Love Lives

Claire and Phil got married as soon as they found out she was pregnant with Haley. Claire has been very open with the fact that her dad, Jay, was never a fan of Phil but has come around to love him like a son. DeDe clearly had similar feelings about Phil as she invited Claire’s ex-boyfriend over for dinner in hopes of them getting back together…

Likewise, Claire has gotten in between her children’s relationships far too many times. She denied Dylan from proposing to Haley when they were on vacation because she was still a teenager. She also got in between Bill’s spontaneous Valentine’s Day proposal. Claire forgets that she’s acting exactly like her own mother.

9 Better Than Mom: She Is Very Present In Her Kid’s Lives

Claire made it her mission to prove to everyone that she was a woman who could do it all. With three kids at home and a goofy husband, she was perfectly capable of running her household. And that she did.

She was always there when her kids got home from school, she made every meal, she made sure they had the best birthday parties and holiday celebrations… Claire was very present in her children’s lives (whether they liked it or not). Because Claire and DeDe had an odd relationship, it doesn’t seem like DeDe was always there for Claire.

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8 Like Mother, Like Daughter: She Suppressed Alex’s Sexuality

The one thing Claire hated most about growing up with Jay and DeDe was that they tried to keep her from doing normal things that teenagers did. Claire ended up sneaking out to go to concerts and parties because her parents never let her. All she wanted was to be seen as a young adult and to do what her friends were doing.

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When Claire became a mother, however, she too did what her mom did. She tried to keep Haley inside after school and was not okay with Alex’s slow transformation into a young woman. Whenever Alex tried to embrace her adult side, Claire thought it was weird and started acting in an off-putting way. This only made Alex hide more things from her.

7 Better Than Mom: She Drops Everything To Help Her Kids

Modern Family fans are torn on Claire. Some love her parenting techniques while others find her abrasive. But there’s one undeniable thing about Claire: at the end of the day, she loves her children. Whenever something happens, she drops everything to help them.

She helped Luke get into college, she tried her best to understand Alex’s workload, and she showed up to Haley’s art show (even though she wasn’t asked). She wants her children to succeed and shows up because she cares. DeDe, on the other hand, is never around Claire or Mitchell and doesn’t seem too interested in their accomplishments.

6 Like Mother, Like Daughter: Her Controlling Nature

One of the first things that people about Claire notice is her controlling nature. She’s manipulative when she doesn’t get her way in any aspects of life, not just motherhood.

Claire always said she didn’t want to be like her mother because of how controlling she was. She ended up having to sneak out of her bedroom window just to hang out with friends. Funny enough, that’s exactly what Haley, Alex, and Luke do when they wanted that didn’t have Claire’s stamp of approval.

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5 Better Than Mom: She Is An Amazing Role Model

Jay is a very honest man with old-school, traditional values. He’s constantly playing catchup with his kids, grandkids, and even his wife. Between his two children, he’s closest with Claire because they share a similar personality. The two were so close that he hired and promoted Claire to CEO of Pritchett’s Closets & Blinds.

As a CEO, wife, and mother, Claire struggled at first. It was hard to juggle it all and to be present. But when she finally found her footing, Claire was a wonder-woman and an excellent role model to her kids.

4 Like Mother, Like Daughter: Her Daughters Are Afraid To Go To Her For Things

Claire always wanted her kids to feel comfortable coming to her for advice and support. And while Haley, Alex, and Luke all had their moments, they didn’t always want to involve Claire with life’s problems.

They were afraid they would be grounded or scolded instead of heard. Haley hid her pregnancy, her possible elopement, and her failing grades from Claire until she ran out of excuses. Alex also hid her successes from Claire because she was either too over-the-top or didn’t care at all. Luke was always a daddy’s boy and that’s because Phil listened and understood him more than Claire did. This is all very reflective of Claire’s relationship with her mother.

3 Better Than Mom: She Became Her Kids’ Friends

Claire and DeDe were never friends. They didn’t call each other regularly to catch up and Claire even unsubscribed from her mother’s weekly email. They didn’t have much in common and didn’t share the same sense of humor.

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But when it comes to friendship with her own kids, Claire had the relationship she never got with her own mother. When she and the kids were on good terms, they were absolutely BFFs.

2 Like Mother, Like Daughter: They Both Picked Favorites

Over the years inside the Dunphy house, fans would confirm that Alex was Claire’s favorite child as they were the most alike. They were both brilliant, goal-oriented, and competitive. But as Haley matured, Claire seemed more herself around her. Claire vented to Haley, drank with her, and talked on a different level than she ever did with Alex and Luke.

While Claire was going up, she was always Jay’s favorite and Mitchell was DeDe’s.

1 Better Than Mom: She Was Loving In Her Own Way

When DeDe unexpectedly died, Claire was devastated because she didn’t have a good, lasting impression of her mother. Mitchell was in tears while talking about all of the sweet things he did with his mother but Claire couldn’t think of much.

That is something Haley, Alex, and Luke wouldn’t have trouble with. It’s clear that Claire’s kids are her whole life and she would do anything for them. She was controlling, sure, but she always hugged and kissed her kids to make them feel loved.

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About The Author


Lynn Gibbs
(1652 Articles Published)

Lynn is a nomad who travels the globe on the hunt for her next adventure with her husband. A lover of being outside (and finding the best latte in town), Lynn is typically hiking, walking, or jogging when she’s not focusing on her love of writing. When it comes to shows streaming on Netflix or anything Bravo-related, Lynn’s your gal.

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