The Modern Family alum is a mother to three sons: Oliver, 18, and twins John and Gustav, 16.
Julie Bowen is sharing profound insights she has gained from motherhood.
Speaking at the Baby2Baby Gala on Saturday, November 8, the 55-year-old Modern Family actress disclosed one of the primary lessons learned while raising her three sons: Oliver, 18, and 16-year-old twins John and Gustav. Bowen emphasized that parenthood taught her to believe that her children are “doing more right than wrong.”
“Believe in them. I like to micromanage and check everything, and that’s not good for the relationships,” she explained. “It’s good to remind them that no matter what, no matter how many things they’ve effed up on that week, that month, that year, that they’re doing more right than wrong.”
She reiterated the sentiment: “And that is something I’ve really learned, ‘You’re doing more right than wrong.'”
The Emmy-winning actress shares her three boys with her ex-husband, Scott Phillips. Their first son, Oliver, was born in 2007, followed by the arrival of John and Gustav in 2009.
While widely known for portraying Claire Dunphy on the lengthy sitcom Modern Family, Bowen has previously noted that her on-screen role is vastly different from her real-life experience. “On TV shows, people talk to each other,” the actress joked on Today in 2021. “When you have three boys, it’s more like grunting. And you identify their mood kind of by their smell.”
College Visits and Sweet Goodbyes
Bowen recently spent quality time with her eldest son, Oliver, at the University of Oregon, even bringing along a familiar face. On Sunday, October 26, she posted a series of photographs on her Instagram documenting the weekend visit. One snap showed Bowen smiling alongside Oliver, who attends the university.
Her photos also featured a scenic shot of Autzen Stadium under a rainbow, as well as an image of the arena during a heavy downpour. In another picture, her former Modern Family co-star and fellow University of Oregon alum, Ty Burrell, leaned in to join the frame.
“Great (wet) weekend with @itsoliverphillips at U of Oregon. Dancing bears, old friends and a deluge…all capped off by a win from the Oregon Ducks at Autzen!” Bowen captioned the post.
Just two months prior, the proud mother had shared a touching series of photos on Instagram as she dropped Oliver off for his freshman year of college in September. In the photos, Bowen was seen hugging her son, and Oliver posed making a heart shape with his hands alongside his father, Phillips. The final photo showed Bowen getting a ride on her ex-husband’s shoulders in Oliver’s dorm room.
“Sweet Baby Oliver…you were born 5 minutes ago, so how can I possibly be leaving you at college?” Bowen wrote sweetly in the caption. “You made me a mother, and I learned more (and been humbled more) from being your mom for the past 18 years than I could ever have imagined.”
She concluded the emotional message by accepting the change: “Now I have to learn to do the hardest thing a parent has the privilege of doing and let you go. No, it’s NOT forever, but it’s the end of one big chapter, so – yeah – I’m going to cry… I love you, Monkey. Always No matter what. 💚💛.”
