Stoneybrook decides to bring back its annual Baby Parade for the 80th anniversary, and Kristy and Watson, along with other past winners of the parade, will get on a special ride during the parade. The club decides to enter their own float in the parade, adapting Mallory's idea of "The Old Woman who Lived in a Shoe". Kristy's dad contacts Liz and says that he will come to the Baby Parade with his girlfriend and their new baby. Upon hearing the news, the Thomas children, especially Kristy and David Michael, plan for the visit in their own way. On the day of the parade, the club's float collapses on itself, and Kristy's dad cancels his plans at the last minute. Watson rants about how Kristy's dad is an irresponsible father that Liz is still trying to cover up for before expressing his interest in officially adopting Kristy and her brothers. The club's float enters the parade after Mallory fixes it with some innovative touches, and the baby costume that Mimi designed wins the first prize.
Tropes:
- Brutal Honesty: Watson and Mary Anne give Liz and Kristy respectively a much needed wake-up call about the behavior of Kristy's father. Watson tells Liz she has to stop defending her ex-husband in front of her kids because they have to understand his behavior is disrespectful towards them. Mary Anne tells Kristy she has to stop sacrificing her time and energy for this man because she always gets hurt when he does it and he's clearly not stopping.
- Daddy Didn't Show: Kristy's dad once again cancels meeting with her and her brothers at the last second, after Kristy got up her hopes about seeing him. Mary Anne points out he's done this a lot in the past and finally tells Kristy she needs to stop doing this to herself.
- Dramatic Irony: Liz informs her children that their father will be driving through town with his new girlfriend. And their new baby. Which just goes to how much of a dick Mr. Thomas is after constantly flaking out on the children from his first relationship.
- Everything Is Racist: Played for Laughs. Claudia relates that she and Mary Anne were also entered in the baby parade the year Kristy was, and Mimi and Alma had worked very hard on their costumes...only for Kristy to win through a combination of racism and nepotism.Claudia:Liz Thomas shows up at the last minute with Kristy in some hand-me-down Christmas dress and wins the whole thing because of...
Dawn: White mediocrity superseding the excellence of two women of color?
Claudia: Yes, but also because Kristy's great-aunt Judy was one of the judges and should have excused herself. - Hard Truth Aesop: It's admirable to not insult your child's absent mother or father due to divorce, but if the behavior of your ex spouse is genuinely uncalled for and outright negligent towards your children then you aren't helping your kids by trying to downplay these actions.
- History Repeats: Mary Anne has to confront Kristy about the fact she's seen Kristy's dad flake on her multiple times over the years.
- Parents as People: Discussed regarding the behavior of Kristy's birth father, compared to the likes of Watson and Liz, Mary Anne's mother Alma, and Dawn's father.
- Liz is trying her best not to speak too harshly of her ex-husband because she knows her children might feel differently, but Watson points out that glossing over the man's very glaring flaws and negligent behavior towards Kristy and her brothers isn't helping and the healthiest thing for everyone is for them to admit that Kristy's dad is an asshole.
- Mary Anne acknowledges her mother died when she was a baby, but she knows Alma would've done anything to have spent more time with her. Dawn states her dad's always contacting her and staying involved in her life not because he's a saint, but because that's what parents are supposed to do for their children.
- Papa Wolf: After Liz's ex yet again flakes out on spending time with their children, Watson stops trying to be gentle and makes it clear he'd break the guy's neck if he saw him in person. He then explains to Liz that Kristy and her brothers all deserve better than their father repeatedly breaking promises, and she's not helping them by downplaying his behavior.
- Rage Breaking Point: Watson has done his best to be considerate towards Kristy's and Elizabeth's complicated feelings regarding Kristy's birth father, but after the man bails on meeting his family once again, Watson has had enough. He gently but honestly confronts Liz about this and tells her she's not doing herself or her children any favors by not being honest about what an asshole her ex-husband is by pointing out the emotional turmoil Kristy and her brothers are suffering from.
