In a rare moment of kindness towards their parents, the Dunphy kids prepare breakfast in bed as an anniversary present, only to find them participating in some morning delight. The embarrassment and shock that follows for everyone is both realistic and hilarious — a combination that has made Modern Family a hit and quantifiably better than the “reality” TV currently striving to portray family life (TLC, I’m talking to you).
Rather than wait around for Phil and Claire to initiate what’s bound to be an insanely awkward conversation about parental “needs,” Alex, Haley and Luke band together, grab the car keys and go to the most obvious place for kids in their situation: the gas station. There’s something startlingly honest about the three siblings working through the uncomfortable scenario. They realize that it means their parents still love each other, and in a time where fifty percent of marriages end in divorce, that means something. The kids rejoice and everything seems less awkward.
But that only lasts for a second, because then we have the inevitable reunion with the parents, who have finally mustered up the courage to talk to their children. Instead of resistance, they’re met with smiles and nods as they stumble through their apology. Phil and Claire think they’ve handled it well.
Meanwhile, Mitchell and Cameron have been having their usual gay-couple-with-an-adopted-baby shenanigans. They’ve discovered that their perpetually mute daughter goes to preschool with the son of woman who owns the hottest new restaurant in the neighborhood and, thanking their lucky stars, they arrange a play date immediately.
While alternating holding Lily (aren’t kids supposed to play together at a play date?), Cameron and Mitchell chat it up with the mom, who is interrupted by a phone call moments before giving them an in to the restaurant. Cameron panics because he really wants to try some expensive food in tiny portions.
The two hear the mother on the phone over the baby monitor, and she’s screaming at the poor bastard on the other end. You mean she’s one of those restaurant owners? Cue the discovery of a juice stain from Lily’s diaper bag on the pristine white carpet.
After considering an alteration of the house’s interior design to cover their mistake, Mitchell and Cameron blame the juice stain on Lily’s play date, only to find out he’s allergic to the kind of juice he supposedly drank. Psycho mom whips out a needle to stop the non-existent allergic reaction, causing M and C to freak out and confess. They spend their evening eating at a crappy Indian restaurant.
Both of these caught-in-the-act hijinks come together for what you might think are obvious lessons on the ethics of parenting. But if you look past the comedy clichés in this episode, there are morals — however overdone — that are still pertinent: Using children for your own benefit rarely works out, and loving parents are better than miserable ones.
