Well, it's that time of year again. Mother's Day. Frankie (Patricia Heaton) begins the episode wearing some of the horrible presents her family has presented to her in the past: the gross yellow jeans from season four, a random necklace from a child that isn't even hers and a Clean Your Moon t-shirt from her first Mother's Day now more than two decades ago. But this year, she has everything figured out, she wants to have a fancy tea party at My Country tis of Tea and Mike (Neil Flynn) decides to put the kids in charge of getting her a present.
Unfortunately, none of this is as easy as it appears. Mike has to make the reservations online which is a huge pain for him, he has to recruit all of his co-workers to help him though they are more distracting than helpful. And, yet, despite all his efforts, they go to the tea shop and his reservations have disappeared even though he's a platinum member of the chamomile club and, yes, his two tea sets are ready to pick up at the gift shop. Thankfully, something goes the Hecks way, they only have to wait forty-five minutes.
Meanwhile, the kids have a hard time deciding what to get Frankie. Their first attempt is quite great: a magazine holder to hold all of her People magazines, but then they discover that Frankie already has the exact same one. Then, they get her a turquoise necklace only to hear her say that she hates turquoise, so they return to get her something else.
Frankie, on the other hand, decides to sabotage herself and asks each one of her children what they would do differently when (not if) they become parents. Sue (Eden Sher) says that Frankie is wonderful, but after Frankie insists, she says that she would be more organized, like making sure her kids had the signed permission slips so they could go on field trips and wouldn't be left out awkwardly in the cold. Axl (Charlie McDermott) immediately says that he wouldn't be stubborn while Brick (Atticus Shaffer) gives her the thoughtful answer of not bringing home the wrong baby, making sure his kids have nutritious meals and stuff like that and of course, be more organized. All of these answers upset Frankie and hurt her feelings.
Things come to a head when Frankie's mom, Pat Spence (Marsha Mason) joins the family for tea and Frankie admits that she's upset because Pat always encouraged her to be practical which made Frankie feel like she couldn't follow her dreams and that she's hurt with everything the kids said. Now, Pat is also upset and devastated that her daughter felt like she was a bad mom. Soon, all three women, Sue included, are crying. Mike is fed up and walks away, taking solace in the bathroom where Axl and Brick join him.
The ironic thing is, Frankie forgot to get her mom anything for Mother's Day and takes what the kids got for her and gives that to Pat. The kids got her salad hands which just don't measure up to the cashmere sweater Janet (the unseen and unheard Molly Shannon) and they only cry more. The next day, both Pat and Frankie return the salad hands to have the clerk heavily compliment Frankie for her children's wonderful behavior and that she must have been raised right which just warms Pat's heart. They are both happy again, which is always a great thing and for once, Frankie's Mother's Day wasn't a complete disaster, in fact, it was probably her best.
Once again, this is a solid episode, warm and funny with the characters true emotions showing, with each character having some great moments, you can't ask for much more than that. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Frankie decides to finally clean out her junk drawer, something that every family has, to find a permission slip to the children's museum. She apologizes and asks which child missed that event, and all three instantly raise their hands.
-Axl's idea of giving her coupons is childish just as the coupons are, which include one meal where he will hold a fart in, holidays excluded.
-Chuck (Greg Cipes) brilliant idea is to bathe Frankie in champagne and make her feel appreciated. Mike isn't thrilled with that idea.
-Grandpa Tag (Jerry Van Dyke) stayed at home, which was his Mother's Day present to his wife and she needed the break so no complaints from her.
-Axl and Brick are upset that they always have secret meetings in Sue's room but that because of Axl's stinky feet, though he denies that.
-The tea shop is cruel, not letting Mike have any of the tea sandwiches or petty fours until the tea is served and then the tea must seep first. This upsets him massively.
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