The relationship between Alex (Ariel Winter) and her parents is a bizarre one. On Modern Family, there is a sense of belonging and loyalty between the Pritchett-Dunphy-Tuckers. However, has anyone else noticed how Claire (Julie Bowen) and Phil (Ty Burrell) take Alex for granted? Or how they neglect her in favor of their other kids?
It comes as no surprise that Alex doesn’t check in with her family often because they don’t seem to care. They treat her the same way Meg from Family Guy. Therefore, it’s not shocking to see Alex treat her parents badly either. From the mono incident to Alex’s arrogance, here are the 5 worst things Alex did to her parents (& 5 they did to her).
Alex: Her arrogance
One thing all Modern Family fans know is that Alex can be a little arrogant and condescending. She often takes pride in the fact that she is the cleverest person in their family and uses this against them. Alex can also take it too far when she insults their intelligence, which Phil and Claire have been at the end of many times.
A prime example of this is in the episode “Our Children, Ourselves” when Alex implies that Phil and Claire are stupid because her main nemesis’s parents are a doctor and a professor. She also rejects their help on any school project because she thinks they aren’t capable enough to do it. It’s probably the main reason they leave her alone.
Claire & Phil: The constant neglect
Every parent and guardian knows you are not meant to have favorites, but this rule does not apply to the Dunphy family. Both parents seem to divide their attention between Luke and Haley because they believe they need it most. They believe that Alex doesn’t need it because she is always on top of things.
What they fail to realize is that Alex has her own pressures and struggles. A prime example of this being in the episode “Under Pressure” when Alex tells her therapist that the pressure comes from people expecting too much from her. She also adds that her family ‘don’t understand her’ and it makes her feel alone.
Alex: Nearly ruined Mother’s Day
In the episode “Mother’s Day”, Alex almost ruined Claire’s day when she decided to complain about the activities planned for the day. When Claire decided she would like to go on a hike with the kids, fans knew it wouldn’t go as well as expected.
Gloria and Claire decide to ditch Alex and the others after they complain about how bored they are. Instead of apologizing for their behavior, Alex agrees not to as they believe Claire is doing it on purpose so she can control the places they will visit in the future. What weird timing it was for Alex to raise an issue with their mother.
Claire & Phil: Gave her the wrong medicine
In the episode “Hit and Run”, fans had to question Phil’s parenting skills when he proved he couldn’t look after his kids properly. This all comes about after Claire decides to run for council, which meant that Phil had to watch over the household for a change while she campaigned.
However, fans see how much Phil takes Claire for granted when he fails in looking after the kids. In Alex’s case, Phil accidentally gave her the allergy medication that made her drowsy and it impossible for her to study. He then tries to cover his mistake up but fails. Who knows how stressed Alex got after this?
Alex: Lack of concern for Phil’s health
Usually, Alex is the voice of reason. However, this went out the window in the episode “Up All Night” when Phil is rushed to hospital after being diagnosed with kidney stones. Instead of being a concerned daughter, Alex (along with Claire and Haley) is excited at the prospect of the “hot firemen” coming to the house.
Alex also lets Phil down when she fails to visit him in the hospital. The last time she saw Phil, he was in excruciating pain on his bed. For all she knew, he could have been dying. Yet we never see her check in or up on her dad. It just makes her look like a terrible daughter
Claire & Phil: Not interested in extracurriculars
If Claire and Phil ever wondered why they struggled to connect with Alex, then maybe they should take an interest in her extracurriculars. In the episode “Best Man”, fans see how ‘invested’ Claire and Phil are in Alex’s extracurriculars when they both try to make excuses to not take her to Alex’s cello performance.
Claire must have pulled the short straw as we next see them at the restaurant. Claire only stays when Haley tries to ditch her to hang out with her friends. It is here that she discovers another aspect of Alex’s life when Claire finds out that Alex can sing. She then gets offended when Alex blows her off to hang out with her friends. It’s no wonder Alex feels like she’s second best all the time.
Alex: Tried to change Phil’s personality
Phil is most notorious for his quirky and childlike attitude. Out of him and Claire, he often likes to be known as the “fun parent”/good cop and struggles to punish his children because of the excessive guilt. However, Alex tries to curb Phil’s personality in “Frank’s Wedding” when he embarrasses them by making them dress as figures from the ‘Roaring ’20s’.
When Haley, Claire, and Luke worry about having ‘knocked the fun’ out of Phil, Alex squashes these worries. She says they are close to having a normal dad and their guilt wasn’t going to ruin it. A lot of people would love to have a dad like Phil. Sometimes Alex can take her reputation too seriously.
Claire & Phil: Embarrassing her in front of her friends
In the episode “Benched”, Claire strained the relationship with her daughter when she embarrassed Alex in front of her friends. This all starts when Claire decides to spend some time with Alex and takes her shopping for clothes. However, after some time, Alex decides she would rather hang out with friends.
Instead of accepting that Alex was starting to grow up, Claire takes the less mature route and ends up embarrassing her. When Alex tries to go out with her mates again, Claire shouts that she should go shopping for a training bra before calling her “kitten”. It’s puzzling to think about why she wonders why Alex struggles to keep friends.
Alex: Not saying she was leaving for college
The worst thing Alex has done to her parents was not telling them that she was leaving for college. In the episode “The Day Alex Left For College”, Alex reveals to her parents that she was leaving for college a day early because she didn’t want to make a big fuss.
She is seen to dismiss Claire and Phil’s feelings, who wanted to have one last night with her before they drove her to college. Instead, the only olive branch she extends is offering them five seconds each to hug her before she leaves with Haley. It’s a really cold move on Alex’s behalf.
Claire & Phil: The perfect summer
This was one of the worst things Claire and Phil ever did to Alex. In the season opener of season 6, the Dunphys (minus Alex) reveal that they were having the perfect summer. Haley and Luke were getting along, Phil took an interest in gardening and Claire was pleased to be getting some free time.
However, the harmony in the house doesn’t last when Alex returns home from her humanitarian trip a week early. Although she revealed how much she hated the trip, Claire and Phil then try their best to drive Alex out of the house to restore the peaceful balance. As expected, Alex was furious and was going to leave until she points out the stupid mistakes they all made while she was away.
