Instant Mom (2013)

Stephanie trades in cosmos for carpools when she marries a man with three kids. Her new role of full-time stepmom is challenging as she struggles to maintain some sense of her fun-loving, slightly irresponsible self.

Stephanie tells James that lying is acceptable if it makes someone’s day better, which leads him to tell a huge lie. When everyone is called to the principal’s office, the family must find a balance between honesty and shading the truth.

Stephanie’s determined to bond with the kids and uses her love of music to do it. But by forcing them to take up an instrument against their will, Stephanie learns a very public and embarrassing lesson in parenting.

Stephanie tries to intervene when Aaron is given a hard time at school, but she makes matters worse. Meanwhile, Gabby’s trying out for cheerleading and Maggie volunteers to coach her, but comes off more like a drill sergeant.

Gabby gets asked out by a boy and she wants to go, but Charlie doesn't want her to date until she’s 16. Maggie backs him up, but Gabby sneakily gleans advice from Stephanie on how to get around the rule.

Stephanie begins to feel old. Stephanie escorts Gabby to an audition for a rock band, and manages to get the gig for herself. James and Aaron try to bribe Maggie for money to buy a video game.

Stephanie attempts to get more involved by participating on the parents’ dance committee at James’ school only to find the other mothers mean and unwelcoming to the too pretty, too excited, binder-ready Stephanie.

Stephanie seeks parenting advice by starting an anonymous blog and receives helpful tips until she discovers that the “helpful” users are the kids living under her roof, who have an agenda of their own.

Stephanie surprises the family with a visit from her father at Christmas; Stephanie is surprised by Maggie's reaction to her father's visit.

Stephanie plans activities at home when the family gets snowed in on their vacation.

Stephanie leaves Gabby in charge when the babysitter cancels on the night of a big event where Charlie is the speaker.

When Charlie invites his boss over, Stephanie and the children make the wrong impression.

Aaron misunderstands Charlie's advice and gives Sam all of Stephanie's jewelry; Gabby decides to torment James.

Gabby and James both submit their own videos to win tickets to a sold-out Cody Simpson concert, but when Aaron wins the tickets with his own video, the family fights over who will go with him.

Stephanie cancels the maid service and gives the kids chores in an attempt for them to learn responsibility, but her plan backfires when the kids go on strike.

Aaron brings his class rabbit home to take care of it for the weekend but after it dies, Stephanie steps in and is determined to explain the nature of loss to Aaron, despite his teacher's objections.

Stephanie and Charlie take sides when Gabby is held for shoplifting after returning a pair of jeans with the sensor still on; James sells unopened wedding presents to make extra money.

The kids return from vacation with their mom Kimberly in Mozambique, and then they learn that they'll be moving there, far away from Stephanie and Charlie. Meanwhile, Stephanie is responsible of hiring a clown for a one year old's birthday party.

Stephanie goes on the family camping trip to help Aaron earn scout badges, but when Maggie shows up in the camping trailer, the family has no interest in being out in the woods, so Stephanie is determined to keep them out of there so Aaron can earn his scout badges the right way.

Stephanie is excited about celebrating her first Mother's Day until she learns that the family plans to celebrate her on Stepmother's Day instead; Stephanie takes her mother to a day spa and gets some unexpected "mom" advice from a few experts who attempt to cheer her up.

Stephanie organizes a charity auction to inspire the children to give back; Stephanie goes to extreme measures to beat the previous fund-raising record.

Stephanie's old pal visits when Charlie's on a business trip, and Stephanie struggles to deal with the kids while living up to her old party-gal reputation.

Stephanie bribes Gabby and James to keep a secret when she hires an old boyfriend to install a new sound system for Charlie.

Stephanie worries that she is working too much when Aaron's imaginary friend returns.

The kids' garden is destroyed by the neighbors, so Stephanie and Charlie seek revenge, and soon the kids follow their bad example.

When Stephanie and Charlie learn that Gabby has had a secret boyfriend, they meet him, finding him to be a bad influence.

Stephanie feels expendable on Halloween when the kids make their own plans. Meanwhile, Charlie tries to maintain his record for having the best decorated house in the neighborhood.

Aaron lands in hot water with his teacher, whom he calls a doofus—a word he heard Stephanie utter. Meanwhile, James uses Charlie in his plan to get out of doing his history homework.

James' video-game skills get him on a professional team, but then he regrets going pro, so Stephanie and Charlie try to get him out of his contract.

Stephanie agrees to see a dentist to help Aaron get over his fears, but is nervous to discover the dentist is a face from her past.

James becomes popular at school after others incorrectly believe he's a bad boy, and when one of his new pals does something wrong, he's reluctant to tattle; Stephanie lectures James about doing the right thing.

Stephanie and Charlie plan a child-free weekend in New York, only to find that Aaron has stowed away in their car; James and Gabby make plans while their parents are away.

When both Stephanie and James face rejection, she signs them up for a bike race to prove that hard work pays off.

Stephanie plans a surprise party for Gabby's 16th birthday, but things don't go as she intended because of Maggie's mistake with the invitations.

After Aaron describes Stephanie as a 'yelly monster' when she tries to get the family ready in the morning, Stephanie realizes that she must do better.

When Stephanie's neighbor has better success getting the children to do things, Stephanie worries about what it is doing to them.

Noah asks Gabby to the prom, but she worries about fitting in at the after party; Stephanie and Charlie get overprotective.

After reacting to Gabby's desire to get a tattoo, Stephanie worries that she is becoming like Maggie, and makes efforts to prove otherwise.

Stephanie sees a horror movie with Gabby, despite Charlie's objections, and Stephanie winds up being frightened. Her fears then escalate when James tries to persuade her their house is haunted.

After facing her fear of swimming, Stephanie forces the rest of the family to face their fears as well.

Aaron learns that Maggie has a secret career as a romance novelist, but when she denies it, the family tries to get her to reveal her secret identity.

When Stephanie tries to teach James and Aaron about selfless generosity, the whole family starts helping Mr. Ebnetter for the wrong reasons.

Stephanie and Charlie stop punishing Gabby and James for fighting, in hopes that they will work things out by themselves.

With Gabby and the parents arguing, a smug Maggie takes Gabby for the weekend to straighten her out. When Gabby and Maggie get along surprisingly well, Stephanie must show Gabby the “real” Maggie she grew up with.

When a ticket means that Stephanie must ride with Gabby for her to drive, Stephanie begins to get too comfortable with Gabby's friends.

After Stephanie helps Aaron beat James at a game, Charlie worries that she has upset the balance of power in the family. Gabby gets caught in the middle of a fight between Stephanie and Maggie.

Maggie bribes James and Aaron to pretend to be her younger brothers; Gabby is punished for having Noah over.

After being humiliated by a girl at school, James runs against her in an election; Charlie asks Gabby to help him replace a lost wedding wing.

Gabby loans Stephanie's purse to a popular girl, but when it gets ruined, Gabby must scramble to replace it.

James gets a "get out of jail free" card from Stephanie and Charlie and the kids exchange the card among themselves.

The Phillips get a visit from their cousin, but Charlie worries he'll be a bad influence on James. Also, Aaron and Maggie help Gabby prepare for a date.

Stephanie asks Aaron to befriend a client's son, not realizing Aaron is terrified of him; Gabby saves Maggie's life.

Gabby uses a childhood friend to make Noah jealous; Stephanie tries to correct Aaron when he accidentally calls her "Mom."

Stephanie helps James lead a student rebellion when the principal cracks down on the dress code; Gabby teaches Charlie how to use social media.

Stephanie needs to get Gabby's help to stay on top of Aaron's homework so that she will not disappoint him.

The night before Gabby takes the SATs, a secret about Stephanie is exposed; James and Aaron have a hard time sharing a room.

James tries to trick Stephanie and Charlie into thinking one of his friends is actually a foreign exchange student.

James and Gabby try to make a business out of selling Grandma Maggie's fruit snacks, but when she finds out, she wants a piece of the action.

After Aaron is brought home by the police, family services must determine whether Stephanie and Charlie are doing a good enough job as parents.

Stephanie decides that Gabby needs to get a job and earn money for her car; Maggie and James try to teach the older generations how to speak like teenagers.

Stephanie blames the family for Aaron's alleged funk; they try to change their habits for a week but this only results in more trouble.

Charlie approves of a boy that Gabby's interested in, which makes her doubt her decision; James finds himself with two girlfriends at the same time.

Gabby is the group leader for her school project but when Stephanie discovers that she's acting like a tyrant, she gets involved; Stephanie somehow ends up doing all the work.

Gabby finds out that her ex's new girlfriend is using him and tries to expose the truth but everyone thinks she's jealous; Charlie, Aaron and Maggie search for a bat.

Gabby is leaving for college a year early and Stephanie and Charlie consider having a baby; Aaron and James want to live with their mother in Orlando.