***Thanks for all the comments, but I’m closing down commenting on this article. It’s at over 650 comments and that’s a ton to read, People are saying the same things over and over. In the spirit of keeping the conversation going, I’ve summed up the bulk of the post and what people are saying here and have started a new thread called More on Who is the mother from HIMYM.
Like most posts tat I really enjoy it’s overly in depth, check it out and let me know what you think!
—————————-
I feel that a big question for How I Met Your Mother fans has always been “Who is the mother?” And while we don’t have a definite answer, we can take what we do know so far and begin to formulate some ideas. This is a long one so go grab a drink and pull up a chair. By the way, HIMYM returns to us on March 17th! So hopefully soon there will be more to add to this list! Disclaimer: I love theories, but I have not posted anything here that cannot be backed up. Enjoy!
Who we know is NOT:
1. Robin is not the Mother. We learn this in the first episode and and it is reconfirmed countless times in all 3 seasons. No matter how much people “want it to happen, ” it just won’t. Get used to disappointment. In fact, for those still
letting the thought wonder in the empty space in your head let me share the best explanation / recap on the subject from tv.com forum user RUdaPs:
To explain the surprise of the “…and that’s how I met your Aunt Robin.” line in the pilot…
If you pay attention throughout the pilot, Future Ted always says things like “…and then I went to her apartment.” The assumption is that the kids are thinking the whole time that “she” and “her” are their mother because Future Ted says that he’s telling the story of how he met their mother. The only thing is, he doesn’t say a name. So at the end when he says “…and that’s how I met your Aunt Robin.” the kids are surprised.
It’s like watching “The Sixth Sense” for the first time. (If you haven’t seen it and would like to you should stop reading this and skip to the next paragraph.) You always assume that Bruce Willis is alive but it is never clearly stated. Then if you go back and watch it again, you realize that only the kid talks to him throughout the movie. Even though you thought it was obvious the story was about one thing it was clearly about another and you can go back and see what it was really about
2. The string of possible girls throughout Season 1. There was Natalie (Return of the Shirt), Ted’s old girlfriend, who knew Krav Maga. Coat Check Girl (OK Awesome), that Carter Bays even joked that if the writers strike ruined the show for good, she was the mother. Even though we never meet her (which would be a great idea for this season…hint, hint), the Slutty Pumpkin (from oddly enough the episode called the Slutty Pumpkin). Dr. Sara O’Brien (Matchmaker), the engaged 9.6 match found by love solutions. Trudy (the Pineapple Incident), who came back in the Third Wheel…let me side track here for a moment. Ted only says “I left Trudy a message, but she never called me back”…to me this implies he never saw her again, but I suppose that was the way around things for that episode (that and “Some stories you tell, some stories you don’t”…seriously, would would ever tell their kids they rode the tricycle)…anyhow moving on. There was Victoria from episodes 12-18, she was great, would have been nice, but she won’t be back (at least not as marriage material). Let’s not leave off Mary the Paralegal (and that is a shame…but when you don’t laugh it just seems mean). And I can sum all these up as “not the mama” because in the episode Lucky Penny from Season 2, Ted says:
“My destiny was to stay in New York. Because if I hadn’t, I never would have met your mother.”
Thus saying that up to this point, he has not met the mother yet, so we have not seen her. Take a moment and let that sink in if you need to.
3. Ted’s soul mate. Let’s camp on this one for a moment. Season 1 episode 21, Milk, the dating company finally comes through and finds Ted’s soul mate. Now if #2 is true then she could be included in that group. However, Ted never actually met her in person. Will this be a loophole? Will she ever play back in? I leave it to you…personally I feel, the “Soul Mate” is out of the picture or at very least not the mother…I just felt she needed to be mentioned.
4. The girls form Season 3 (so far). Well Season 2 was a wash as far as “the mother” because Ted was with Robin the whole time. And in Season 3 so far I don’t think we have seen any potential for a “mother character”. In some of the recent interviews with the creators of HIMYM they confirm this thought (more or less). In the Platinum Rule, Ted say something about that being all with Dr. Stella for now…but I seriously doubt she is the mom…and here is why….
WHAT WE THINK WE KNOW SO FAR:
1. Her name. Now this is just a theory but it seems to be a pretty strong one. The mother’s name is Tracy…don’t believe me? Season 1 Episode 9, Belly Full of Turkey, at the end of the episode a “burlesque entertainment artist” approaches Ted and says what he did was sweet… She says “I’m Amber”…then says “Actually, I’m Tracy”… then future Ted’s (Bob Saget) voice pops in and says “And that kids is the true story of how I met your mother.”
The kids are blown away surprised. He does say he is kidding…however ponder this if you will…why would the kids even believe it for a moment if their mother’s name was not Tracy?
*Update: Here is some more info on the Tracy Theory.
2. They meet in New York. This is a slight assumption too, however in Lucky Penny he says if he wouldn’t have stayed in New York he would have never met her.
3. The Yellow Umbrella. Season 3 episode 1, Wait for It, Ted says, “Kids, there is more than one story of how I met your mother. You know the short version, the thing with your mom’s yellow umbrella…” So we don’t know much, but we do know there is a yellow umbrella involved (You can thank Captain Obvious for that one).
Also if this is your first time here be sure to check out the How I Met Your Mother Show Reviews for the latest info on “the mother”.
So here my idea, there is one episode, the season escapes me now, but Barney takes Ted to a St. Patty’s Day party. Ted says the mother happened to be at the same party but they never met. But during the episode Ted decides to try out acting like an ass to get women. Ted makes a complete dick out of himself with every person he meets at this party. There is only one time that he has any ounce of courtesy, its a girl he bumps into and says Im sorry. The girl looks at him and checks him out. For me this incident had no carry to the story and added nothing and just seemed like a quick brush by, but that is the genius of it all. It flies past everyone and is a great way to sneak in the mother into episodes before we truly find out who the mother really is. Let me know what you think.
Ctrl + F + “bump”.
goes to show I dont read shit.
It’s my own fault. I delete the bump girl comment probably twice a week since people don’t read or care to…it amazing how many people come here with a 3 year old idea and thinks it’s original. =)
I’ll be closing off comments on this thread soon and opening up a new one. That should solve a lot of confusion.
That’s exactly why you shouldn’t delete the comment …in fact WE ALL KNOW THE BUMB GIRL IS THE MOTHER! Or at least we will all think it is until proven differently afterall he took the mother’s unbrella from the party the next day so yeah…..The bump girl should be on your list at the top not censored by you!
Dear Vicki1… have you even read the post hun?
“…ps, try to read at least some of the comments and no offense but if you mention the bump girl from no tomorrow like a ton of people before you, I’m gonna delete it. Seriously, ever consider an original idea people?”
it’s not censored. It’s just not a new idea. And in no way contributes to the conversation. It’s more like a small child repeating the phrase “why” over and over. If a comment is contributing to discussion it’s left. If it’s some one who come in and say “You know I feel the earth is round” when it’s e been stated many times before and considered a known fact (or in this case “Red Herring” by most HIMYM fans), then I don’t want to waste time and space on an already impossible to entirely read discussion.
Now, if you have a new theory, we would all love to hear it =)
This “bump” girl that you guys are talking about, is this the one where “Vanessa Minnillo” stars in? All the episodes look the same to me, after a while.
your a funny dude sze, that’s the girl we’re talking about.
There was a time when I thought the bump girl but I think its someone else. Everyone forgets that Ted was suppposed to meet a girl at McClarens but he decided that he wanted Robin. This still works because in this season Ted’s wife’s roomate was at the McClarens. So because the roommate has been to the bar, its very possible that Ted’s wife has been to the bar before too.
hey, buddy. i wrote that already :)))))
The wife will be seen soon, as in 601 he was at a wedding and met her there, he is the best man for Punchy, so that would be the wedding, and this would be the last season for HIMYM. and no it is not Robyn and yes it is his kids
I can HONESTLY say I don’t think Carter and Craig are “set” on the mother yet. I think they WERE at one point, pre-writer’s strike when the ratings were dropping, but believe it or not the writers strike and damn Britney Spears helped revitalize HIMYM.
I dont think the mother has been cast yet. There’s no way they are going to pick a random actres/extra from 4 years ago and *HOPE* she still looks good years later.
I think thereis a master mother plan, but at the same time thinking about Future Ted being a forgetful storyteller that could all play into it.
I think about the episode with the bartender that always likes to fight and how Future Ted was like Oh i didn’t mention him and then we get all these flashbacks that have this bartender IN them. I feel they can do the same thing with the mother. She isnt a part of ted’s world or memories until she MEETS him/ BECOMES significant in his life. I imagine that when we do “MEET” her all of sudden there will be flashbacks where her in them much like that bartender.
Victoria has to be the Mother!!!
yes economics 101
First of all, I agree with anyone saying that Robin is NOT the mother. But I found one interesting aspect: In Season 3 Episode 5 – How I Met Everyone Else (Not sure???) Bla Bla near the end says to Ted “I’m just some random girl to make Robin jealous, and after she takes you back you probably won’t even remember my name!”
As we all know, he didn’t remember “Bla Bla’s” name. Maybe they’re getting back together? Could this play a role in the meeting of the mother? Again, I don’t think Robin is the mother, but I really think there’s something important there.
First of all, I agree with anyone saying that Robin is NOT the mother. But I found one interesting aspect: In Season 3 Episode 5 – How I Met Everyone Else (Not sure???) Bla Bla near the end says to Ted “I’m just some random girl to make Robin jealous, and after she takes you back you probably won’t even remember my name!”
As we all know, he didn’t remember “Bla Bla’s” name. Maybe they’re getting back together? Could this play a role in the meeting of the mother? Again I don’t think Robin is the mother, but I really think there’s something important there.
I think every part is important! For example, realised that Lily ONLY slaps someone at the same place? Barney and his home. Think about it!
do you know where is barny working?he always says :”haha,please….” ? he is legend …wait for it…here it comes….daries :))) btw my english is not very god its my second language 🙂
It could be Aunt Robin right?
Maybe he’s telling the story of how he met their mother, because they want to know who their mother is.
A strange idea but you never know?
i think it’s plausible that the wedding could be of Robin & Barney’s, but (i think someone brought it up, i’ll just reiterate it) could it be Punchy’s? i mean he was ted’s best friend back then. to add on to that, i read that the 12th episode in season 6 coming up says ted’s starting to get ready for Punchy’s wedding….it sort of confirms it for me.
THANK YOU! I’ve been saying that since it first came on. they filmed the final reveal after season two, so it makes sense to place the mum in series well before S8 or whenever, and that girl has no purpose in the show apart from to be noticed!
At the st Paddys day party he brushed into a lady walking out, whom had be seen ealier coming with a yellow umberella, and he did tell the kids that their mother was there but they never spoke. mmmm so rewind that episode and u’ll se thier mother.
Kid not in Robin life plan but not for Ted.
So Ted marry and have 2 kido.
Something happen to his wife. … I dont know but
Aunt Robin will take care for the children.
And have sweet life with Ted at the end.
I guess 😉
Ted is not real father of those kid.
He is godfather instead.
He adopt them after Lilly and Mashall got killed by Voldermo.
🙂
In season 4/5 (the Open Window-episode) Ted says he heard the second best love story (I guess he’s one is the best)! I fint know how some people CSN comment this blogpost and say that someone are about to die?
Sorry about My last post, my iPhone Said CSN instead of can! And fint would be don’t!
I actually read through just about every comment, ugh.
I only recently started the show, and am now current. My theory for a while has been pretty simple:
Barney & Robin get married (the marriage where both Ted and Marshall are Best Men).
Ted’s wife is Zoe’s step-daughter and the Captain’s daughter, and since Zoe has become friends with the group, and Ted with the Captain, they all come out to the wedding, where Ted and the step-daughter “meet” for real.
Whether that is also the girl described to Ted in Season One, the “bump girl” mentioned 200x above, someone who is friends with Stella, etc. is academic; the only reason some of those may be true is so it wasn’t a waste of 6 seasons, but that there were pieces in each season to look back at and say “there were hints everywhere to the viewers!”
I should add that Ted’s the one who put together why Zoe was upset on Thanksgiving regarding the stepdaughter, and I feel as if there have been a number of small hints that could point to this being the case. The Captain is certainly old enough that his daughter is actually quite close to his new wife in age, and would be in college (studying Economics), etc. I think that the little gift animal Zoe was going to bring her was a red herring since it makes it seem like the daughter must be a little girl, but if that were true, then Zoe and the Captain wouldn’t always be out and about. Punchy is also a red herring to make people think it’s his wedding where Ted is Best Man, but why would the rest of the group be at that wedding (in Ohio), and why would Marshall be Best Man?
yeah, i thought that too… there were bells ringing LOUDLY when she said that… but now, it’s much clear, it ain’t Stella (and thank God for it!)
im confused on all your posts just post your opinions. Facts are cool but who do think the mom is. my opinion is someone way obvious that you all over looking. i haven’t found it out yet but i will soon. tell me your straight up opinion, no jokes.
Sorry, but doesn’t ted clearly state that he didn’t meet the mother at the party…However, stella does say that she’s been to just one party in a long time…”On St. Patrick’s day, and i left early…”
but cool theory champ 😀
“one party”
I agree with frank and Rob, my bet is on that pretty girl too. It looked too orchestrated to let pass by!
stella only has one kid while ted had two around the same age so…do the math
its not stella,. kasey is spot-on!
its and its the girl who he date’s roommate. we have seen her ankles!!
i believe you’re wrong
they call him dad.
and its a girl from the class that he accidently went to
thats just stupid..
they actually want people to like the ending.
please dont ever become a write 😕
thats stupid.
Here’s something that makes me very unsure about this theory.
In The Mermaid Theory, at the end you see Zoe (Do you spell her Name like that or with a “y” at the end?) and Ted sitting together and you hear a ticking of a clock which you know from earlier in this episode (Marshall+his secretary, Marshall+Robin) which indicates a Mermaid Clock. If this means Ted and Zoe get closer and maybe even fall in love, which I do not hope – I hate Zoe, enemies can’t become friends, disagree with Wang-guy. Back to the actual point: If Ted and Zoe get something going, I don’t think Zoe’s stepdaughter would be too keen on getting to know Ted, especially since she doesn’t seem to like Zoe (which makes her very simpathic to me, and almost make me want her to be the mother – enough with my Zoe-hate).
Just a very small detail, not necessarily relevant, but definitely something to think about.
my guess is that the ticking clock probably holds true, but before Ted/Zoey act on their feelings, the Captain’s daughter will be introduced (if she is of Ted’s romance-able age). Then Ted will be confused between the two women, Captain’s daughter will probably come across Ted and Zoey in some compromising position, and that will lead to some drama that probably will be the main storyline for the last episode of this season.
Or…
Or Zoey’s (I’m just gonna write her name like that for now) stepdaughter doesn’t even play a role… Maybe?
Seriously, I don’t know.
Someone we haven’t met yet. There are details that describe her, so that when she finally does appear, we know that she is the mother.
its the girls room mate because she has a little yellow bus and ted says you know the one right behind you
unless that girl is the same girl that walked into the saint patties day party
well actually ted puts in al0t of irrelevant things to how he met there mother so its probably just another one of those things
also robin doesn’t own a yellow umbrella or a yellow bus but he always refers to them as kids and also says your mother but he cant say my wife and son daughter
bingo.
I watched some episodes yesterday. Thinking of the children, what if the boy is the girls boyfriend? (The girl is Ted’s kid, she called him Dad).