***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!
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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”.
thanks for saying it…I feel like I’m beating a dead horse when I tell people that’s old news and already dismissed.
“Thanks for adding nothing to the discussion.”
I agree… I know there are a lot of comments but If you think you have an original idea at least have the courtesy to read a bit.
ohhh
well ‘aunt robin’ is the kids auntiess rightt, soo he married someone related to robin?? or either they just call her that,,,.. hahaha omggg cant wait till we find out who the mommm is 😉
I have seen spoilers that say something about Barneys Ex but every time I see a leaked script or a awesome spoiler from plot details they change what was leaked. I wouldn’t believe anything I read online. It would make sense that one of Barneys 200+ x-hookups could be the mother as they do live in New York and most people in the city live in small confined neighborhoods and constantly cross the same paths.
my other thoughts:
it is not Robin, not Stella, unfortunately not Rachel Bison cause she is awesome.
maybe all of the red herrings (Tracy, bump girl, slutty pumpkin…) are the same character and hence the mother. but who knows.
Yellow umbrella and a foot shoot are all we know for sure about the mother.
The only thing I know for sure about the show is it was renewed for another year in the last couple of weeks. So we have some time before we will know for sure. I just hope they don’t say something like “And kids that is how I met your mother” the moment we see her face and end the show. I hope we get a little character building on her. 5-6-7 years who knows I want a little gratification for my loyal following of this awesome show.
you forgot to mention that she is (the mother) one of Ted’s date roomate!
by the way the thing about barneys hook up is wrong cause its just that in one of the episodes it valentines day and lilly and somebody are finding ted someone and they go through barneys Ex’s ! That might be the last episode and if it is they never tell you who the mother is but its probably not !
well first of all, we’ll have to wait until 2012, that’s what the producers want us to…
and those guys stated, that they shot the scene, when the mother is actually revealed at the same time as the beginning of season two, so the whole plot but the details is already written
in my opinion it’s not really necessarily that the mother already appeared in the series
Wow. Let me first just say that it took me so very long to read every single comment (except for a few bump girl comments because it was annoying the hell out of me). Anyway, it’s clear that Robin isn’t the mother. But why is that to say she’s not the wife? Why are people saying that the mother and Ted couldn’t have gotten a divorce? Because I don’t see how this couldn’t be the case. Then Robin could be Ted’s wife and because the children aren’t really Robin’s, they could love her like a mother but just call her ‘aunt’ because she’s not the real mother.
I believe it is likely the show will make the mother either some random who we havn’t seen yet or maybe someone we have seen in the background but don’t really know. So, if the mother was to be them, it would surely disappoint the audience and people would be like, “Oh, so that’s the mother…” the end. But if she is the mother and Robin then turns out to be the wife, then the audience will be happy and there’ll be no reason for that to be the end of the series.
I know others also have posted a similar thing, but to you other people reading, how does it not make sense???? In the pictures the kids drew, it’s them and aunt Robin. The mum is no where to be seen….
Or, i just had a thought then… Maybe in the end Ted and Robin do get together but Robin can’t have kids… but it’s Robin’s friend who is the yellow umbrella girl, shower leg girl and roomate, and so she is the “birth mother” or “surrogate” mother or whatever…. but Robin is like, a mother to the kids…. Or maybe they they later find out that that mother was near Ted all those times and it just so happens that she’s the birth mother…
Whatever happens, I think Ted will end up with Robin… not just because I want that to happen, but because they’ll do it to make tha audience happy and it’ll somehow all fit together!
Okay, i’m finished.
@Rach: well, good thoughts, but i believe it was in season three, when ted finally get to that point that robin isn’t “the one” for him
actually for me it wouldn’t make any sense if robin would be the mother, and this thing with the picture, neither was ted in the picture… so? but he’s the father, right?
and the way, ted speaks about the mother, so loving and heartwarming – i can’t even imagine that they could be divorced in the future
But what if they arent talking to Ted at all? The narrator isnt the guy who plays Ted its Bob Saget, so maybe its not Ted talking to them and it could be Barney or someone else?
And also I do have to say the kids look alot like Robyn.
nope…it’s old Ted… that has been confirmed in numerous ways
I haven’t been watching the show religiously, but the curiosity of the whole situation is incredibly overpowering nontheless. I have to say that a lot of the brief moments that have made their way into the fully fledged theory books are probably the writers messin’. it’s like LOST. as much as i want to believe that every tiny little thing is premeditated and all links to one higher purpose…i don’t think they do. sometimes you just ‘can’t make it up’. I wouldn’t be suprised if it is Robyn through some weird twist of fate. just going on the way american sit coms tend to go. however, i think there would be strictly no way to workout who the mother is for reasons like this thread…they want you to be curious so you’ll keep watching. I don’t think there is any way of knowing for real though. so it’ll be interesting if there is any through line when we’re finished here.
Aaron: are you a fan of Monkey Island by any chance. Some of your comments tend to make me think you might be. if not, you would probably love it.
Thanks.
I’ve never heard of Monkey Island…I have to check it out. Thanks for the recommendation.
i have not been able to read all comments i have not been on here for a while but i have 2 new theories
1. the mother could be someone disguessed thats always around but never really see them like what they done with that crazy man with the stupid wig (dont remember his name) therefore could be someone like wendy the waitress.
2. i have recently watched HIMYM alot, an i have come across an interesting theory. older ted always refers robin to aunt robin an only occasionally calls the others ‘Aunt or uncle’ i remember a few years back (2-3 years) robins little sister comes to town when she is 16, an now ted has saw her foot an knows she was in the university where he teachers basic maths 16 + 2 or 3 years is 18 or 19 perfect age to be in university an this always explains why the kids look like robin.
please comment!
Hi i just wanted to ask if you watch lost cause I also love ian somehaleder and i think hes in that !!!! and what is monkey island !!!!!!!!!!! And Please look at this cause you might just scroll right past it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok just so you know im Chloe Salavtore i just changed my name its not my real name its just from book im obsessed with Anyway who is tiffany and since when did robin and barney start dating and when did they break up !!!!!!!!!!!
This might be a long shot, but maybe Trudie, the girl who is in it twice already, maybe, I’m just saying, and BTW i cant believe that Barney and Robin are together, that is great!!!
By the way i was Poppy North i change alot
For some reason i think its anne hathaway. i’m not sure why though.
Shes pretty
A couple of comments
1) ROBIN IS NOT THE MOTHER !!!!!!! Going into season 5 the narator states that TED HASN’T MET THE MOTHER upto that point, thus Stella/Robin/all those people Ted has dated to that point is not the mother …………..
2) Robin is “Aunt’ Robin because the group is EXTREMELY tight (like a family) so they refer to each other as “aunt” and “uncle” when their kids are involved. It’s not a hard concept to grasp …………..
3) Why will the series automatically stop once the mother is revealed ??? What is to say that the story won’t be dragged out to include their engagement and possibly the first year of 2 of their marrage ??? Ted has dragged on a relatively simple story (they already know the short version) for 5 seasons now, so will it REALLY be out of character for him to torture the kids a little longer with more than the simple “I met here, end of story” scenerio everyone on here assumes will occur
4) It WILL NOT be one of Barney’s ex’s !!!!!!!!! I can’t remember the exact episode, but there was the bet where Ted and Barney both had to score with the same chick, and Ted couldn’t go through with it once he thought Barney had been there first. I doubt he would be able to date, let alone marry one of Barney’s ex’s based on this reaction
That will do for now ………….
knighty: Good ideas for all and good idea for 3 and i agree with you for the rest!
🙂 😀 🙁 😛 😉 Soz just trying some emotions out!!
🙂 😀 🙁 😛 😉 Soz just trying some emotions out!! if anyone knows any more please tell me !!!!!!!!
FINALLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Soz i sent it twice it didnt appear at first BUT THANK GOSH IT WORKED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😀
Thanks for the comments Lena… I think there are a ton of theories mentioned here. Some are in the post… some are in the 300+ comments… I still delete post about the bump girl all the time…
btw to the person that put the link up to someones theory that it might be stella because they have similar letters in stellas apartment and behind the kids. this couldnt be right because the ted dates when he is a professor and she ends it becuz its not allowed (sorry cant remember her name) it turns out the mother is her roomate and stella lives in new jersey with her daughter. so it cant be her.
A. The show is called “How I meet your mother” – not “How I meet my wife”
B. The “kids” Ted tells the story too…does he refer to them as his own kids?
Thank you – and good luck guessing
@Insider A: Its Met not meet
B:My mum sometimes calls me and my sister kids
Anyway no one knows only the producers do so we can just keep on guessing
I changed my name again
Everyone in the cast knows who it is because they have already shot the ‘finally’ or the scene where the mother is revealed. Good ideas. It coud be that girl from the dance club in late season five.
Does anyone know how many episodes there are left ?
season 1 22 episodes
season 2 22 episodes
season 3 20 episodes
season 4 24episodes
season 5 ??? 18 already
and the show has been renewed for at least season six. I saw it a couple times that they already shot the finale. You are wrong. They shot the kids reaction to the the reveal but not the actual scene. This is because by now those kids are in their twenties and they wanted the kids to look the same threw out the series so they filmed all of the KIDS SHOTS in the beginning.
The mother is in the very first ep. When Ted first tells kids. He sees robin across the bar and points out to Barney. However, there is a blond woman with her back to camera talking to Robin. We assume Ted is talking about Robin as does Barney who sets them up ‘have u met ted’. But Ted may have been originally looking at and thinking about the blond.
Hey guys and ladies, hi5 🙂
I am watching in german and in english HIMYM, too. I am wondering often who is the mother, seriously so that’s why I look the full seasons till 5 twice. I try to collect the evidence to find who is the mother??
So?! I google a kind bit and I read some good infos who it could be. A name comes up “Tracy” and a “bump girl” from the models party can be. On the 5 seasons you see the bus toy the first time and a guitar and she’ve her yellow umbrella back mmh.. OK??! And one time there is agency who match for Ted a girl with optimum datails for him. Dogs like, 2 kids wants etc…..
– black-, brown, brunette hair
– should be a student
Finally I think it is Truedy 🙂 so put it together TRUE DY 🙂 LOL what ever. Truedy is a student and she is to see on the season 1 and continue with a three some, she likes Ted at all and nobody knows what happen till yet with the pine-apple. The pine-apple have something to do and it will surly also tell a story about it. Many Germanies like this films HIMYM, it is a good soul medicine after FRIENDS 🙂 The only point and maybe it is kind of buget what they need, they have to put more colours in the films and brightly the sourroundings, it is to dark often and if people watching after work and want have good time, they should have good storys in a kind of funny and interesting storys, but not in a to much dark place in the last season the actors from HIMYM looking kind of tired(really and old, was some of them pregnant?). And by the way, put more famous actors for a short time 🙂 could be Asthon Kutscher(Marshalls cousin could be), Taylor … new comers 🙂 and If you put more muisc actors in the films ask Fergie from the black eyed peas(that’s a women who the whole world like) Well bring the films on to germany we’re enjoying it.
You assume that if Robin is Aunt Robin, then its one of Robin’s relatives.
i think it might be lilly because she is the most susspected besides robin.!
there is 76 episodes left
it doesn’t have to be one of Robin’s relatives doesn’t Ted refer to Lily as Aunt Lily when he’s telling the story
my sister and i call a family friend Uncle Warren when he isn’t realted to us at all
the reason why the kids act surprised is he was joking with them that there mom was a stripper cant you tell the when the kids say what its like a mad what–heck the writers probably dont even know who the mother is yet but i was kinda hoping it was going to be stacy keibler
does anyone notice that the mother is in the class of economics the first time that ted teaches at the university? also we can assume that she was a friend or acquaintance to the girl called cindy at the university. that means if we find the girl at the st patrick’s day party, and look at one of the economic’s class’s shots, we can determine whether the girl at the bar is the mother
i think it has something to do with robin’s Don…
1) what about ‘works with carlos girl’ from season 1 episode 2 ‘Purple giraffe’
2) it wouldn’t be lily coz ted wouldn’t do that to marsall
one of my friends told me that there are advices in the first episode of season 1,so I watched it immediately a second time,and with the background knowlegde of the upcoming seasons like the st.paddys day ,the episode with teds nearly girlfriend form the university and so on, I regocnized something unusual in this episode…..namely the part of the colour green…….I think this color plays a huge role in himym….the door of robins appartment,the door of the burger place(annonced by marschall once,”the best burger in his life”),the st.paddys day,teds affectation for green olives,the mix between the yellow umbrella and the blue hooter from the restaurant deals with the color green…..it is demonstrative how often there are jokes with the word green had spoken by the others in the first episode and at last the pullover of robin ,when they first met ,is green:)….The reason why I connect the advice of the color green and robin is that shes playing a huge role in his life aswell as marschall do and the maclarens pub….check out the first episode! maybe his future wife is already in one episode hiden with a inconsiderable feature…hope so!it is more fun to watch the hole collection of the episodes and esteem especially for a green note!
(I think i ve done a lot of grammatical mistakes,forgive me,I am german:))
ha ha funny thing did ne one notice all of marshals t-shirts have to do with motorcycles??? weird just in season four now lol….amazing show….btw…..i
Hi I have already wrote everything i know on this site so im board so im just saying hi ! Ok i have an idea everybody should type in who they think the mother should be played by or should look like someone !
They call him dad in one of the episodes..season one- can’t remember which one