# Modern Family, May 4, 2011 -- "Mother's Day" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 5, 2011, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830 "2011-05-05T13:38:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830/21 "2011-05-06T03:07:03Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I was trying to remember what all we ‘learned’ but all I can think of is “coyotes are the fastest mammal on Earth”. What were some of the others? As I recall, his words of wisdom included: coyotes are the fastest mammal on earth; the flavor of lemon-lime is detestable to coyotes, making lemon-lime a suitable poison coating for makeshift weapons; and more people have died hiking than in the entire Civil War. (In addition to suggesting they eat what they kill. Which is I suppose coyote …) I love Alex’s t-shirt, a giraffe hugging a dinosaur. It makes me a little sad to find out it’s from irritating hipster shop [Threadless](http://www.threadless.com/product/606/We_re_On_the_Same_Level). 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830/22 "2011-05-06T03:26:46Z")
“Your hat makes you look like you walked under a bird that poops ugly hats.” ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830/23 "2011-05-06T11:43:00Z")
one of the few episodes (imo) that claire out-hots gloria ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830/24 "2011-05-06T12:09:32Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > I think it was established in the episode where Mitchell built the princess castle that Cam was pretty handy with tools and fixing stuff. That’s more a stereotype of manliness but Mitchell has the facial hair so it’s a draw. Ah, but Mitchell is the breadwinner, so that tilts the scale heavily in his direction. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830/25 "2011-05-06T13:03:49Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > I think it was established in the episode where Mitchell built the princess castle that Cam was pretty handy with tools and fixing stuff. That’s more a stereotype of manliness but Mitchell has the facial hair so it’s a draw. While I still agree that Cam is the ‘wife’, let’s not forget the incident at the gas station with the guy who bumped his car into Mitchell’s leg. [http://www.hulu.com/watch/111076/modern-family-clown](http://www.hulu.com/watch/111076/modern-family-clown) ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830/26 "2011-05-06T14:06:40Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > While I still agree that Cam is the ‘wife’, let’s not forget the incident at the gas station with the guy who bumped his car into Mitchell’s leg. Hm. Who’s the Husband? Mitchell: [ul] [li]Has facial hair[/li][li]Earns money[/li][li]Fewer stereotypical mannerisms[/li][/ul] Cameron: [ul] [li]Played football in college[/li][li]Badass, frightening badass when need arises[/li][li]Can snap Mitchell like a twig[/li][li]Good with tools[/li][li]Grew up on a farm[/li][li]Skilled with drums, the most masculine of rock instruments[/li][/ul] I think it’s clear who the _real_ husband is. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830/27 "2011-05-07T04:28:06Z")
> [@Paranoid\_Randroid](#): > > Hm. Who’s the Husband? > > Mitchell: > [ul] > [li]Has facial hair[/li][li]Earns money[/li][li]Fewer stereotypical mannerisms[/li][/ul] > > Cameron: > [ul] > [li]Played football in college[/li][li]Badass, frightening badass when need arises[/li][li]Can snap Mitchell like a twig[/li][li]Good with tools[/li][li]Grew up on a farm[/li][li]Skilled with drums, the most masculine of rock instruments[/li][/ul] > > I think it’s clear who the _real_ husband is. Yes, but sometimes the whole is very different than the sum of its parts. Cam is definitely the “wife,” though I suspect he’s the “man” in bed (only because Mitchell looks extremely fuckable). _ **“Hands! Hands!”** _ 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830/28 "2011-05-07T04:42:20Z")
> [@Paranoid\_Randroid](#): > > Hm. Who’s the Husband? > > Mitchell: > [ul] > [li]Has facial hair[/li][li]Earns money[/li][li]Fewer stereotypical mannerisms[/li][/ul] > > Cameron: > [ul] > [li]Played football in college[/li][li]Badass, frightening badass when need arises[/li][li]Can snap Mitchell like a twig[/li][li]Good with tools[/li][li]Grew up on a farm[/li][li]Skilled with drums, the most masculine of rock instruments[/li][/ul] > > I think it’s clear who the _real_ husband is. One could probably come up with a similar list that would show Claire to also be the “real husband”. Anyways, I think your list is part of what makes the show what it is. Cameron is clearly (IMHO) the ‘wife’, he has many of the stereotypes associated with an effeminate gay male, but when you really pick him apart the way you did you realize it’s not quite so black and white. But as a whole picture thing, if you just met the two of them or if you only knew the casually like the people in the park, you’d probably pick Cam out as the wife. Also, he’s the one doing most of the child rearing, a role typically associated with the wife/mom. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830/29 "2011-05-07T11:22:25Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > But as a whole picture thing, if you just met the two of them or if you only knew the casually like the people in the park, you’d probably pick Cam out as the wife. There was an episode the first season where Cameron said something like “I’m going to stay home and be a trophy wife!” ---
**Author:** ![hamwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/0ea827/32.png) [@hamwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hamwater)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830/30 "2011-05-07T13:10:00Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Luke’s vast “knowledge” of coyotes and the wilderness was quite “impressive” Joo Jooz the air bunnies at me, I keel joo! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830/31 "2011-05-07T17:04:19Z")
Just saw this- very cute! [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEFI-_Sg5G0) ---
**Author:** ![Kylede](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a6a055/32.png) [@Kylede](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kylede)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830/32 "2011-05-08T21:57:45Z")
WOW, once again as a gay man, I remember how unknowingly offensive “Breeders” can be… The whole point of the Cam/Mitchell plot is that there is no “wife” or “husband” Just two people in love raising a child. It was done in a humorous style, but some of the posts here don’t seem to get that , and they seriously discuss who should be which… ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830/33 "2011-05-08T22:32:46Z")
Is it worse to be unknowingly offensive, or to throw hateful terms around in full knowledge? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2011, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830/34 "2011-05-08T22:42:46Z")
> [@Kylede](#): > > WOW, once again as a gay man, I remember how unknowingly offensive “Breeders” can be… > The whole point of the Cam/Mitchell plot is that there is no “wife” or “husband” Just two people in love raising a child. It was done in a humorous style, but some of the posts here don’t seem to get that , and they seriously discuss who should be which… First of all, we are not all “breeders.” Second, there’s nothing “serious” about any of this. And third, my attention has returned to fantasizing about Phil . . . who is definitely the wife. Or at least with me he would be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modern-family-may-4-2011-mothers-day/580830.md?page=1)