Rob's workday gets rudely interrupted when Laura calls with a bit of shocking news — Ritchie has been telling his schoolmates the facts of life and his teacher would like them to speak to a counselor. Despite Rob's attempts to take his son in hand, the problem recurs. Can one more conversation straighten out the issue?
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- Big "WHAT?!": Rob yells, "What?" when Laura says the counselor wants to see them again.
- Brick Joke: The second time Ritchie starts telling his schoolmates where babies come from, he claims that parents pick them up from a baby supermarket. At the end, Laura is going to the store and Rob jokingly asks her to get a girl, a boy, or twins, whatever's available. Now that the problem is settled, Laura finds it funny.
- Continuity Nod: Mel still calls Buddy 'it."
- Cringe Comedy: The scene where Rob gives Ritchie "the talk" is a long sequence of him being uncomfortable.
- I'll Kill You!: When Rob thinks Jerry told his son misinformation, he mutters that he'll kill him.
- Let's Have Another Baby: While they're musing about how grown-up Ritchie is getting, Rob and Laura agree that they somewhat miss the time when he was a baby. Rob suggests they could have another.
- Lies to Children: The "facts of life" that Richie explained to his classmates turns out to be a
saccharine story about babies coming from a pumpkin patch; Rob recognizes it as the same story his own father told him. - Moment Killer: While Ritchie's teacher is fetching the counselor, Rob reassures Laura that their son has had a solid upbringing and kisses her to comfort her. Then the teacher and the counselor come in.
- Out-of-Context Eavesdropping: One of Ritchie's female classmates calls him, and Rob and Laura eavesdrop, thinking that he's giving another of his lectures on the facts of life. He says that the process usually takes three months, but it can take almost a year if the family doesn't eat much cereal. When they ask him about it, it turns out Ritchie was just talking about sending in box tops to get a toy helicopter.
- Shared Family Quirks: When Rob talks to Ritchie again, Ritchie protests that he didn't tell what Rob told him about the eggs. He came up with another version. When his parents ask why he had to tell them any version, Ritchie says the kids like his storytelling, and he's good at it, like his father.
- The Talk: Rob gives this to Richie (offscreen) after Richie starts telling false stories about where babies come from. Richie accepts the truth of Rob's talk but decides to continue making up stories about "baby supermarkets."
- Trauma Button: Rob's father apparently told him a fantasy-filled version of the facts of life, including a "Mr. Cabbage" who takes silver dollars from couples who want babies. Rob claims this is why he hates cole slaw.
