The characters came fully formed in the pilot episode. But over the years, they all grew up together. The documentary-styled series has captured some of the honest emotions in comedy. The characters so varied and unique it’s almost impossible to put them under the same roof. But here. We have a modern family, giving us lessons we wouldn’t forget:

Here are the lessons the show has taught us:

1. Being a parent is less biological, more parental:

The show has two dads with an adopted Vietnamese child and a stepfather with a Columbian family. What the show tells us is being a parent isn’t all about being biologically related to the child. In the words of Jay Pritchett, “90 percent of being a dad is just showing up”.

2. Realists versus Dreamers:

The Pritchetts, The Dunphys and the Tucker-Pritchetts are a unique mix of people. They have the strong-willed logically inclined realists, and the rest are the free-spirited dreamers. Through pumkinchunkin, they gave us the most memorable quote. In the words of Cam “See, the dreamers need the realists to keep them from soaring too close to the sun. And the realists? Well, without the dreamers, they might not ever get off the ground”.

3. You’re never too old to make a new friend:

Friendships have been shown in the most beautiful way. Jay and Shorty’s friendship that spans more than decades is truly one to learn from. But Phil too finds a friend in his next-door neighbour, Andre, who has been living there for 8 years. They bond over building a treehouse, and Phil gets a brother from another mother.

4. The right love will always find you:

Haley’s series of boyfriends over the years only shows that a clichéd attractive character can offer so much – love, companionship, intelligence. But Haley ends up with her first love – Dylan. Even Claire, who never really liked Dylan, embraces him into the family. Jay finds love in his second wife - Gloria. The right love will eventually find us – that’s what the show tells us.

5. Parents need a life after the kids move out:

One important thing this show has shown us that parents feel the empty nest syndrome and actually struggle with it. Gloria not being able to let go of Manny, Phil adopting three ducks and caring for them, and when all the Dunphy kids move in together despite being adults, Claire and Phil feel the frustration of not enjoying post-kid old life.