Instant Family

Pete and Ellie, facing infertility, decide to pursue fostering and are introduced to Lizzie, a 15-year-old, along with her siblings Juan and Lita. Social workers Karen and Sharon explain the siblings' difficult background and the need for a stable home. The encounter plants the first seed of possible adoption, even as uncertainties remain.

At the initial meeting, there is no immediate chemistry between the Wagners and Lizzie and her siblings; the kids test boundaries and the couple reevaluate whether fostering will work. The professionals emphasize patience and persistence over quick certainty.

During Thanksgiving with Ellie's family, Pete and Ellie tell everyone they have decided not to pursue adoption. Relatives acknowledge the skepticism about it ever working out, signaling a tougher road ahead. The conversation leaves a lingering sense that the possibility remains alive, even as doubts persist.

After the family gathering, Pete and Ellie decide to officially pursue adoption, choosing to make Lizzie and her siblings a permanent part of their lives. They commit to the harder path despite concerns from relatives and social workers. The decision marks a turning point in their willingness to fight for these children.

Lizzie, Juan, and Lita move into the Wagner house, and life becomes chaotic: Lita has tantrums, Juan is emotionally fragile, and Lizzie resents Ellie's parenting. The couple seeks support from a foster parent group to navigate new challenges. The home both fills with love and strains under the weight of new responsibilities.

Sandy, Pete's mother, wins the kids over by taking them to Six Flags, providing a rare moment of joy amid adjustment. Lizzie sneaks away with friends and returns late, prompting Pete to ground her and reassert boundaries. The incident tests the family's ability to set limits and protect one another.

The next day, a crisis arises when Juan accidentally shoots a nail into his foot with a nail gun. Pete and Ellie rush the injured boy to the hospital, where they comfort both Juan and Lita. Lizzie steps up by taking the blame in front of social worker Karen, signaling a softening of her resistance.

After a heated argument sparked by suppressed emotions, Pete invites Lizzie to vent by demolishing the kitchen in the house being renovated. The release leads to a genuine apology from Lizzie and a healing moment between her and Ellie. The incident marks a turning point in their relationship.

Lita calls Pete 'Daddy' after he fixes her doll during Lizzie's soccer practice, a small but meaningful moment of trust-building. Ellie witnesses the moment with warmth, and the children begin feeling more secure with their foster parents. The scene underscores the gradual shift toward family belonging.

One night, Ellie comforts Juan in his room after a nightmare; he whispers 'Good night, Mommy,' and Ellie is overjoyed. The tender moment deepens the maternal bond and reinforces the sense that the Wagners are becoming a real family. It marks a quiet but powerful step in their unity.

Carla, the children's birth mother, is released from prison and returns to visit, disrupting the household as the kids become more unruly. Pete and Ellie voice their concerns to the support group, but the social workers explain that the system prioritizes keeping families together, even at the risk of returns to birth parents.

Seeking guidance after a troubling discovery, the Wagners learn Lizzie has been exchanging naked pictures with her school boyfriend Jacob. They reach out to the Fernandez family for support, only to learn Brenda has fallen back into rehab. The couple is reminded that hard things matter and that healing is ongoing.

At school the next day, a student named Charlie reveals that Jacob, a 22-year-old janitor, has been spending time with Lizzie. Pete and Ellie confront Jacob, and the confrontation escalates into violence; Jacob is arrested along with Pete and Ellie, and Juan and Lita are left unattended in the car. They post bail as Sandy urges them to reassure Lizzie.

During the children's court hearing, the judge reads a statement from Lizzie that casts Pete and Ellie in a negative light and prevents Ellie from reading her own statement. The children are returned to Carla, and Juan and Lita resist leaving the Wagners, while Lizzie is eager to go back. Karen and Sharon later reveal that Carla never picked up the kids, and that Carla is using drugs again.

Four months later, a second court hearing finalizes the adoption of Lizzie, Juan, and Lita. Lizzie calls Ellie and Pete 'Mom' and 'Papá,' and they celebrate with a family photo including the judge and their extended foster network. The Wagners have transformed from hesitant foster parents to a fully adopted family.