7.3/10206 votes#1 - Mom's Away (1)
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 9/26/2001
Michael contends with multiple problems, including a positive pregnancy test, a sad six-year-old and Jr's basketball troubles.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: Don Reo
7.1/10181 votes#2 - Mom's Away (2)
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 9/26/2001
Jay visits her mom while Michael starts telling Kady the "story" of her birth. Meanwhile Claire's friend Charmaine is pregnant.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: Don Reo
7.7/10192 votes#3 - No Rules
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 10/3/2001
Michael decides to let the kids live a rule-free life, but on the condition that they do everything for themselves; including cooking and paying for their own phone calls.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: Dean Lorey
7.2/10172 votes#4 - Perfect Dad
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/10/2001
Fed up with Michael's parenting style, the children confront their father with a description of the ideal dad.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: Don Reo
6.7/10206 votes#5 - Thru Thick and Thin
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 10/17/2001
When Jay returns, Michael remains silent about her obvious weight gain. The episode builds to a dream sequence, in which Janet has a nightmare and the entire family is morbidly obese after Michael decides to grow big with her.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: N/A
7.6/10168 votes#6 - Michael's Garden
Season 2 Episode 6 - Aired 10/24/2001
Michael has problems in the bathroom and needs to have a colonoscopy; he has a dream that his doctor is singer Lou Rawls. Lou Rawls guest stars in an episode that takes a lighthearted but informative look at a serious problem: colon cancer. It's especially acute among African-Americans over 40 - and guess who's 40?
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: N/A
7.1/10167 votes#7 - He Heard, She Heard
Season 2 Episode 7 - Aired 10/31/2001
Michael looks to teach Claire a lesson after she sneaks out of the house and uses Kady as an accomplice.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.3/10171 votes#8 - Let Them Eat Pie
Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 11/7/2001
Claire, playing a dare game with Jr. and Kady, eats Michael's piece of pie. Michael's punishment: Let them eat pie (and only pie). Meanwhile, Michael offers to be the dieting Jay's "chubby buddy": He'll eat the same lo-cal food she does. Of course, he doesn't tell her that he plans to cheat.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: N/A
6.9/10157 votes#9 - Jay Gets Fired
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 11/14/2001
Jay's in for a surprise when she takes Claire and Kady to her office on Take Your Daughters to Work Day: She gets fired. After a bad business decision costs Jay her job and her self-esteem, she becomes a homemaker.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: N/A
7.3/10175 votes#10 - The Whole World is Watching
Season 2 Episode 10 - Aired 11/21/2001
Michael and Janet's romantic overtures are seen on the Internet after Jr. gets new computer equipment that includes a 24-hour web cam.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: Don Reo
7.4/10162 votes#11 - Letting Go
Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 11/28/2001
Kady has acquired a hamster and Claire has a crush on a boy named Tony. Both developments pose parental challenges for Michael and Jay. The hamster dies. And Michael wishes Claire's new beau would follow suit.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: N/A
7.2/10154 votes#12 - Learning to Earn It
Season 2 Episode 12 - Aired 12/12/2001
Michael is thrilled when the children start their own businesses after squandering their allowances in one day.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: N/A
7.1/10159 votes#13 - Quality Time
Season 2 Episode 13 - Aired 1/16/2002
Marriage counselors back Michael's belief that he's entitled to some time alone after spending time with Janet, much to her dismay.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: N/A
7.5/10168 votes#14 - Get Out
Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 1/23/2002
Chaos erupts when Michael tries to get his always-tardy family dressed and out the door to a wedding within just 15 minutes.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: Dean Lorey
6.9/10176 votes#15 - Road Trip
Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 1/30/2002
The family goes on an unpleasant road trip to Paul Revere's house, to find it closed.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: N/A
7.6/10197 votes#16 - Table for Too Many (1)
Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 2/6/2002
Michael, who dislikes going out to dinner because it's always an overpriced ordeal, allows Janet to convince him to take the family to a Japanese restaurant.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.8/10207 votes#17 - Table for Too Many (2)
Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 2/6/2002
The family goes out to eat at a Japanese restaurant. Once there, the Kyles must share a table with an incredibly annoying family, the Tylers. Michael feels like he's being ripped off at every turn; things get out of control between the two families and even the restaurant employees. The two families have been enemies ever since.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
7.2/10163 votes#18 - Double Date
Season 2 Episode 18 - Aired 2/13/2002
Michael agrees to let Claire go on her first date with Tony, but only on condition that it is a double date with Janet and himself.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: Don Reo
6.7/10162 votes#19 - Failure to Communicate
Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 2/22/2002
A huge argument arises when Michael's mother and father, who have not spoken to each other in years, visit the Kyle household. Note: This episode was originally intended to air in season one, but for unknown reasons, ABC pulled back to season 2 Episode 19. Which is why Jazz Raycole portrays Claire, making this episode her very final appearance in the series.
Director: Leonard R. Garner, Jr.
Writer: Don Reo
7.0/10166 votes#20 - Papa Said Knock You Out
Season 2 Episode 20 - Aired 2/27/2002
Junior asks his dad to teach him how to box so he can protect his sister's honor; Junior knocks out his dad in boxing on a lucky shot.
Director: Wil Shriner
Writer: N/A
6.5/10165 votes#21 - Return of the Wall
Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 3/4/2002
Competitive Janet and easygoing Michael use contrasting methods to coach Kady's soccer team. Michael takes over the coaching of Jay's girls soccer team only to find his opponents are Jay's new team.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
6.5/10147 votes#22 - Working Relationship
Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 3/20/2002
Jay badgers Michael into giving her a job, where she soon begins to get ideas above her station. Michael discovers that Janet's personality is not a good fit for his office, and Kady reenacts a memorable scene from `E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: N/A
7.1/10150 votes#23 - Jr. Kyle, Boy Genius
Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 3/27/2002
Janet and Michael are astounded when their often dim-witted son shines on an IQ test, ranking him as a genius. Junior thinks he got a 1600/1600 on his SAT's but gets it confused with a girl named Michelle Kyle. Junior got a 200/1600, even though you get 300 for spelling your name right.
Director: James Widdoes
Writer: N/A
6.9/10153 votes#24 - Back Story
Season 2 Episode 24 - Aired 4/3/2002
When the kids tease him about getting old, Michael pretends to have hurt his back in a game of Twister so they will have to cater to his every whim.
Director: N/A
Writer: Kim Wayans
6.9/10154 votes#25 - Make Over
Season 2 Episode 25 - Aired 5/1/2002
Jay gets a makeover after being compared to an old flame from high school. Meanwhile, Junior gets himself locked in a girl's locker after a misfortunate attempt to steal her bra.
Director: N/A
Writer: Dean Lorey
The Best Episodes of My Wife and Kids Season 2
Every episode of My Wife and Kids Season 2 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of My Wife and Kids Season 2!
Michael Kyle is a loving husband and modern-day patriarch who rules his household with a unique and distinct parenting style. As he teaches his three...
Genres:ComedyFamilyDrama
Network:ABC
Season 2 Ratings Summary
"Mom's Away (1)" is the best rated episode of "My Wife and Kids" season 2. It scored 7.3/10 based on 206 votes. Directed by James Widdoes and written by Don Reo, it aired on 9/26/2001. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Mom's Away (2)".