While we know that Robin’s sister is old enough to be his daughter, there may be another sister who is closer to Robin’s age. What about Robin’s mother? We haven’t heard much about her. Maybe Ted marries Robin’s mother! Then Robin will be Ted’s step-daughter. Cool.

1. the mother is NOT robin!

she is aunt robin

she did not dissapear off somewhere and have no contact with the kids

future ted even says to the kids she goes on to appear in some very important art work – yours – and they show the pics that young children have drawn with aunt robin

2. this is a love story!

it is the story of how he met their mother – the story he promised his parents he would tell his children – ‘im gonna tell them everything!’

that is why its so long

as future ted says ‘there are two parts to every great love story – the day you meet and the day you marry – this is the story of how i met your mother’

although ted has been known to keep trinkets from past girlfriends – you would not fill a house with all the things your ex wife owned – she would have taken them with her – she is still there and they are still in love

it will probably end alla stella style – kids is your dad still telling this story?

no love story ends with and yeah she left/died and i was really in love with your aunt all along so i just wanted you to know that im marrying her now

3. barney has broken the bro code himself before – and nearly destroyed his and teds relationship permanantley – he is more likely to ammend the bro code – especially if he marries robbin – getting permission from ted – and giving permission for him to date the sister

4. there will be twists and turns

the old loves need to be resolved

victoria

the slutty pumpkin

etc etc

and the clues still have to be solved

the dating agency

the yellow umbrella

5. who says he gets introduced to carly at the wedding as barneys sister? he may just be talking to her and not know who she is – may even mis hear her name etc creating another twist

6. we know the mother owns a yellow umbrella – and that it gets away at the wedding – but perhaps he returns it to the wrong person – thereby creating another possibility for the mother

Maybe Nora is even the mother. Maybe Ted goes against Bro Code and sleeps with Nora realising that they are more civilised and more mature and more suited to one another. Barney is much more like Robin. He has a wild side to him and he loves laser tag. Robin has this side to her too. Ted is an architect and more mature and has wanted to settle down for ages. Nora and Barney split but its against Bro Code (The Bro Code 1. Thou shalt not sleep with your Bro’s ex-girlfriend.) to sleep with a bro’s ex. Ted may have had enough and may do it and end up marrying Nora. This then leaves Barney left without his wingman. As Lily and Marshall have moved away, Robin is the only person for him to speak to (shoulder to cry on) and they get closer together and the spark comes back. Thats how Robin and Barney may end up getting married.

I still think there is a big plot twist. Obviously the writers will say there isn’t to put you off. It makes sense. They want to keep you engaged. As for people saying ‘Robin is an aunt, not the mother’, thats stupid. Ever thought Robin finally had kids, couldn’t handle it and left Ted to bring them up alone? Then returned years later and Ted finally had to tell them the truth. This happens in life. Maybe she went back to Canada to find herself again then returned years later when she realised what she’d left behind. Thats possible and wouldn’t be shocking considering Robin’s attitude towards marriage and kids early on in the series. Okay, future Ted says Robin was never a mother. Maybe he means in the sense that ‘she had the kids, left instantly, and left him to be the parental figure’. She was never a ‘mother’ in the sense of a ‘motherly’ figure. Now she’s returned and he needs to tell them everything. I mean, Robin may actually have kids. People in life have been told they can’t then do have kids, some even multiple children. Stranger things have happened.

Who says Robin wasn’t in the first class Ted taught? He may have asked her to go along for moral support as a friend. Who says Robin wasn’t at that party? She was with Lily and Marshall but she could have easily ended up going to the party yet we never saw it. Showing her at these places would have given the game away a long time ago. Also, there was a stage where Robin went off and she could have been sharing with one of Ted’s students as a room mate so that could have been her too. There is so much that they could twist for it to be her and people need to think outside the box.

I honestly believe Ted breaks the bro code which will leave us with a bittersweet view of him yet we’ll love Barney because he’ll do something nice.

A. Was an ex-girlfriend. ( Nora)
B. Your Bro specifically told you he wanted her. (Robin)
C. Is you’re Bro’s sister. ( Barneys sister)

^ Its definitely one of them. Could be Barney’s sister easily as the ages fit with the years. Look at the times in the show and its also likely she could have been taking an architecture class. However, this doesn’t mean he’s still with Barney’s sister. The title of the show is ‘How I Met Your Mother’. If the mother was still around, why would he be telling the story on his own? Why? That’s just plain insane. Surely the mother would pop in now and again with her piece or at least make an appearance in the room to interrupt the story. It never happens which is why I’m convinced Ted is no longer with the mother and is explaining the story to the kids now they’re older and more understanding. This opens the door for the first theory I had. Its explained in more detail here.

Ted and the mother split up (possibly Barney’s sister) and Ted is ready to move on. He’s older now, the deal can be carried through. Maybe, he’s subtly telling the story to the kids in order to ease them into the idea that he wants to marry Robin. Now, he calls her Aunt Robin, from the very first show. Why the long story? To gentle the blow to them. Its going to be a shock to them. So whats the best way to make it easier? To make them understand why he cares and loves Robin so much and why he wants this all of a sudden, rather than getting back with their mother. I mean, he can’t just say ‘kids, I’m marrying your aunt Robin’.

He has to ease them onto the idea and show where his deep feelings for her come from so the kids can truly understand. Plus, these kids are at an age now where they’re more likely to understand this. Robin, if the story sticks, can’t have kids, plus it says she’s never a mother. Biologically she may not be, however, she may be ‘Aunt’ Robin to the kids as his partner. Just because her and Ted are married don’t make her a mother. The mother of the kids will have left but now is the time to tell the kids maybe why she left because he wants to move on and start a new life with Robin.

There are so many loopholes and untied endings that leave the possibilities wide open for the writers. This is why its so hard.

Either way, I’m convinced the bro code is broken which changes Barney completely. He then settles down in a relationship and that’s it. Ted breaking the bro code could crush him but in the long term turn out for the greater good. It could make Barney realise that the bro code isn’t an important part of his life anymore and that he needs to do what he really wants, settle down with someone who he loves, that person, could be Robin. (most likely will be)

You must be god bro. That’s what I have been saying this whole time. Get out of my head. But seriously, at the end of the episode “The Leap” Ted takes that leap because of what happened within that year. He lost his job, got left at the alter, got beat up by a crazy bar tender, etc. It is just that pureness of the show at times like that with Ted.

Also, the songs they add into the show are perfect for the time and moment. One of the best shows ever made.

Thank you! I shall do my best to uphold the values inherent in HIMYM: truth-ish storytelling, being awesome, and the New York Way!

As for poor Ted not being able to hold down a decent girl, I think that might be the ultimate turnaround that the creators are shooting for. In a sense, he is a loser, but also, he’s just being himself. That “himself” all those times and up to now weren’t the “him” that deserves to have the life that he’ll ultimately get with the Mother. Each time down the line there was something barring him or the girl to really hit it off and start a real life.

Mark my words, when he starts getting a real backbone, not pining about being alone (and chasing dreams and tail), not whining for girls or the future; when he starts becoming the independent man that is able to stand on his own as Lily and Marshall go off on their own ways, and can accept that Barney and Robin (that’s right, it’ll be Robin) are happy with the life that they’ll start; when Ted is shown on the show to be that confident (not douchey), caring (but not over-bearing), and honest (with himself) man that guys want to be and women want to be with…THAT’LL be when you know the Mother will be showing up soon.

Which brings me to a thought as to how it might play out to have Barney’s sister be a red herring:

***Didn’t mean to make this long, just a train of thought***

The creators say that by the end of the season, we’ll know the bride to Barney. I’m guessing that it’ll be exposed sometime BEFORE the season finale. That’ll leave the rest of the season to create and develop the necessary conditions FOR the wedding to happen (commitment, proposal, etc.) which will culminate for the season finale (end on a good note, ya?). This allows the end of one mystery (the bride) and the creation of another: Ted running into Carly at the wedding!

A few innocuous comments establishing her as Barney’s sister, and we have head-scratching for the summer!

Then, for season 8 we have the build up to the wedding proper. This will allow for more character development, growth, and maturity. More hints and more stories will lead to the wedding itself. Here’s the thing…it will NOT be the season/series finale. Far from it. Ted and the Mother’s story will just begin. And this, I think, is what the creators are hoping for.

Most likely, for the latter half of season 8 and into season 9 (potentially) they will allow the relationship between Ted and the Mother to be fleshed out to the point where we see Ted fall head over heels with her to the point of overcoming every single reason that keeps him and kept him from staying with any girl. They’ll get married super-fast, but be worth it. This will also give them the opportunity to expand it to a tenth season – if interest remains.

Then, in the season 10, and subsequent series finale, we’ll hear that the Mother is pregnant, get some gushy stuff about glow and happiness, and see the final scene that’s been under wraps for all this time.

So, to sum: I’m sorry, but the mother will not be revealed until next season. The show’s been renewed into an 8th season, with a potential for 9th, so the network might stretch it out a bit further, leaving the option to end in season 8, 9, or 10 (season 10 would end in 2015, right?).

Just thoughts. I’m grateful for a place where my outrageous conspiracy theories can be immortalized on servers for all eternity!

***End Thoughts***