Life in Pieces

The Short family experiences the ups and downs of everyday life through four interconnected stories each week, exploring what makes life meaningful through small, heartfelt moments.

Following a surprising discovery by Matt, Joan tries to facilitate a group therapy session. Meanwhile, Jen brings in a breast-feeding consultant, Matt and Colleen experience an unusually pleasant bad date, and Heather and Tim relocate to a new house with the assistance of a moving company staffed by former convicts.

Matt helps Colleen prepare for a family brunch, hoping to ease her into the group. Meanwhile, John, Matt, and Greg attempt to demonstrate their toughness by chopping down a tree, Tim experiences a bad reaction to espresso, and Greg, exhausted from lack of sleep, encounters the police.

Greg is praised by his siblings for confronting Joan over her subtle criticism of Jen's parenting. Meanwhile, Chad seeks a final meal with Colleen's grandmother before his incarceration, Matt and Greg try to prevent Tim from intentionally losing a golf game to John, and Sophia ends up with a peanut lodged in her nose.

Tim and Heather inadvertently embarrass Tyler by making him uncomfortable when he introduces his attractive new girlfriend, Clementine, to the family. Meanwhile, Matt and Colleen are caught in a romantic moment at work by their irritating coworker Will, Jen and Greg promise to avoid becoming overly germ-conscious, and John secretly gives Sophia a cell phone without her parents' knowledge.

Matt and Colleen confront Chad after he attempts to take Colleen's dog, Princess, but he turns the situation into a pitch for his new business. Meanwhile, Jen and Greg navigate life after having a child by attempting to reconnect romantically, Heather ends her long-term relationship with her hairstylist, and Tim accidentally spoils Samantha's birthday celebration.

Jen and Greg struggle to find a trustworthy nanny for Lark. Meanwhile, Tim, Matt, and Greg go camping, Heather questions Matt about possible debt with Colleen, and John creates a wooden puppet for Lark that becomes a favorite among the rest of the family.

Joan extends an invitation to their recently widowed neighbor, Gary Timpkins, for Thanksgiving dinner, but the meal takes an unexpected turn when Colleen's cauliflower dish causes a negative reaction among the guests. Meanwhile, Tim and Sophia scramble to find a replacement for Heather's spoiled turkey, Jen and Greg discuss potential godparents for Lark, and John takes Samantha to the Harvest Festival, where she secretly enters the corn maze with her boyfriend, Aiden.

Jen and Greg spend quality time together when she cuts her finger and he takes her to the hospital. Meanwhile, John takes Samantha and Sophia to a restaurant with menu items named after emotions, Heather gives Tim a sensual anniversary gift, and Sophia faces consequences after being caught swearing.

Greg and Matt resolve to finish an unfinished ping-pong match from years prior, still holding a grudge over its unresolved outcome. Meanwhile, Heather second-guesses her advice to Tim about getting a vasectomy, Jen deals with anxiety over going back to work, and Joan becomes concerned when strange packages arrive, revealing her credit card has been stolen.

Colleen participates in John's annual Christmas caroling event with his Air Force friends, while Joan attempts to take over Lark's first Christmas celebrations from Jen and Greg. Meanwhile, Samantha is caught sneaking out with friends after a photo with a mall Santa goes viral, and Tyler reveals his college plans.

Heather and Tim bond with a new couple, though Sophia struggles to connect with them. Meanwhile, Greg insists on flying separately with Jen for safety, Matt and John take Gary on a dating outing, and Matt is unexpectedly visited by his ex-wife, Bonnie.

Greg becomes overly enthusiastic about joining Colleen's gym and begins training intensely. Meanwhile, Heather and Jen organize a secret garage sale that conflicts with Joan's, and Tyler and Samantha decide to throw a party in Heather and Tim's absence. The family also reconsiders their decision to have lobster for dinner.

Greg and Jen's couples massage turns out to be less relaxing than anticipated. Meanwhile, Tim, Heather, and the kids compete to generate the least trash, Colleen enlists Matt to help illustrate her children's book, and Jen assists Joan and John with their will.

Joan's nephew Mikey visits, causing tension as his boisterous personality unsettles the family. Tyler brings Clementine to visit his great-grandmother, while Greg and Jen discover a remedy for their sleep problems, and Matt steps in as Sophia's new soccer coach.

Tyler becomes uneasy when a flirtatious salesman at a guitar store pays excessive attention to Clementine, while other characters deal with their own Valentine's Day mishaps and personal dilemmas.

John tries to reverse the signs of aging, causing concern among his family. Meanwhile, Heather fears Sophia's piano recital will go wrong, Jen and Greg become anxious about Lark's future after attending an intense birthday party, and Matt meets Colleen's mother for the first time.

John adopts a pet to cope with Sophia's rapid growth, but it clashes with Joan. Meanwhile, Heather sends an unintended sexy text to Tyler, and Jen and Greg assist Samantha in reconciling with her boyfriend, while Heather and Jen support Colleen and Matt after their breakup.

John and Joan find themselves in a dispute with their neighbors, Jerry and Pam, over access to the hot tub following changes to property lines. Meanwhile, Greg and Jen host a dinner for their exterminator and his wife, Matt and Colleen attempt to improve their friendship, and Tim faces his fear of performing a minor surgery on John.

Greg becomes increasingly uneasy with Jen's new attractive assistant, while Tim and Heather conspire to pull off a prank of their own.

Tim wears a Cinderella dress during March Madness, believing it brings good luck for his alma mater's team. Meanwhile, Greg contemplates the perfect birthday message for his boss, Tyler navigates prom with advice from multiple generations of family, and Jen arranges a blind date between Matt and her coworker, Dougie.

The season finale features John and Joan confessing a long-held secret to their children, while Greg resigns after launching a public campaign to fund his invention. Heather and Tim attempt to make amends for missing Samantha's Student of the Month event, and Matt struggles to make his big announcement at his and Colleen's book party.