Ep 2. The Bicycle Thief

Jay is trying to sort out the hype of his stepson’s birthday gift - a brand new bicycle - while Phil is on a mission to teach his eldest son how to ride a bike. Meanwhile, Claire literally has her hands full with her daughter, Lily, who’s determined to run around non-stop in her new shoes. Gloria is dealing with the good-old-fashioned mom vs dad argument as she and Manny have very different opinions on what is acceptable when it comes to value for money on a bike. Finally, Mitchell is determined to teach a lesson to his niece by getting her an expensive bike, but is quickly reminded of why he should stay in his own lane.

The episode opens with Jay and Gloria at Luke’s birthday party. As Phil shows Luke his new bike, Jay eyes the shiny new bicycle with envy. He is tempted to take it for a spin around the block, but Gloria warns him against it, saying that it’s a child’s gift. Jay, however, is convinced that his stepson will never appreciate the value of a two-wheeled vehicle.

Meanwhile, Phil and Claire race to teach their eldest son, Haley, how to ride a bike. Phil is convinced that riding without a helmet is the key to success, while Claire is more cautious and insists that they take it slow. After several falls and one contentious decision on whether to remove the training wheels, Haley finally gets the hang of it and is off and riding on her own.

At the same time, Gloria is going back and forth with Manny on the cost of buying a bike. Manny wants a cheap one that he can upgrade or add accessories to himself, while Gloria insists on getting the most expensive top-of-the-line bike out there. Manny is reluctant to concede, but Gloria says that if he wants the best, he has to pay the highest dollar.

After completing the basic instruction on Haley, Phil turns his attention to the youngest sibling. However, Lily has her own agenda: to wear her new shoes. Claire tries to keep up with her as she runs around constantly, trying to keep her from falling.

While Gloria and Manny deal with their bike issues, Mitchell has promised to get his niece, Claire’s daughter Alex, a fancy new bicycle. When he does, he realizes that he might have bitten off more than he can chew. As he confronts Alex about her spoiled attitude, he is reminded of why he should stay away from parenting his nieces and nephews.

Each storyline is interwoven and comes together in the end to make The Bicycle Thief an enjoyable episode that showcases the different parenting styles of each household in a humorous and relatable way.