Julie Bowen, the Modern Family actress, shared in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE that the most important lesson motherhood has taught her is to trust that she is "doing more right than wrong." Raising her three sons—twins John and Gustav, 16, and Oliver, 18—has helped her realize the importance of believing in her children rather than micromanaging every detail. She explained that constantly checking on everything isn't healthy for relationships and that reminding her boys of their successes despite mistakes is key.
"You're doing more right than wrong," Bowen emphasized as a lesson she has deeply internalized through parenting.
Bowen, 55, who shares her children with ex-husband Scott Phillips, contrasted her real-life parenting with her role as Claire Dunphy on Modern Family. She joked about the noisy realities of raising boys, saying that communication often involves grunting and recognizing moods by scent rather than spoken words. She also described the emotional difficulty involved in letting go as her children become more independent.
"Now I have to learn to do the hardest thing a parent has the privilege of doing and let you go," she said, acknowledging the bittersweet transition as her kids grow up.
Bowen's approach to parenting balances vigilance with acceptance. She admits to a tendency to micromanage but understands the value of stepping back. The experience of raising her three sons has taught her that focusing on their strengths and successes fosters better relationships than focusing on their faults.
Julie Bowen highlights the empowering parental mindset of focusing on children's overall good choices rather than mistakes, embracing growth and trust over control. This reflects a mature, compassionate approach to motherhood that supports healthy family bonds.