Top 10 How I Met Your Mother Moments That Made Us Happy Cry
#10: When Lily’s Dad’s Makes Her a Promise
“Nannies”
While Lily and Marshall interview nannies for baby Marvin, Lily’s dad hovers in the background, offering to take care of his grandson. However, since he was never there for Lily growing up, she’s reluctant to trust him with her baby. That is until he proves that he’s actually a wonderful grandfather. Lily’s shocked to see how well he does with Marvin, but Mickey reminds her that once upon a time he was a great parent too. We can’t help but tear up, along with Lily, as Mickey apologizes to his daughter and vows to be there for Marvin, if that’s what she wants.
#9: When Lily Tells Marshall That She’s Pregnant
“Challenge Accepted”
To cheer up Marshall, Lily gets his favorite soup from the Blue Bowl. But after she gets sick, she rushes home to prevent Marshall from enduring the same fate - only she’s too late. As a result he almost blows a big job interview. So when he comes home, he delivers a tear-jerking monologue on how rough the last year has been before deciding to take a nap. When he wakes up feeling just fine, Lily shares some exciting news. It’s been a difficult year for the couple and we know just how much they wanted to start a family. Seeing them this happy is rather emotional.
#8: When Ted & Barney Make Up
“Miracles”
After Barney breaks the bro-code by hooking up with Robin, Ted decides to end their friendship. So when Ted gets in a car accident and ends up in the hospital, everyone rushes to his side, except Barney. After Lily tells him what happened though, we see just how much Barney cares for his friend. And when Ted discovers what Barney did for him, things get a touch emotional. While their reconciliation is played for laughs, their genuine friendship and love for each other is really touching to see. They realize that their bond can withstand anything because they’re not just friends, they’re family.
#7: When Barney Accepts His Mother
“Cleaning House”
Loretta Stinson is no stranger to weaving tales when it comes to her sons. This episode, in particular, provides a lot of insight into Barney’s childhood. But while we’re often led to believe that Loretta simply wanted to avoid difficult or uncomfortable questions, Barney has a lightbulb moment where he realizes that this wasn’t the case at all. Loretta was a single mom doing her best and trying to keep her boys happy. In this moment, we get a glimpse of Barney’s vulnerable side, which doesn’t often happen. Hearing him tell his mom that she’s the only parent he needs, leaves us all choked up.
#6: When We Meet Marvin Wait-for-It Eriksen
“The Magician’s Code - Part One”
Thanks to Barney and a group of senior citizens on a bus, Marshall makes it back to New York just in time for the birth of his son. It’s heartwarming to see the new parents introduce the newest member of the group to their friends. However, it’s his name that makes us tear up the most. Not only is it a beautiful tribute to Marshall’s late father, but it also shows appreciation for their alternate family too. Sure, Marshall did promise Barney that he could choose his son’s middle name. But, the fact that they honored his promise shows just how much their friends mean to them.
#5: When Barney Meets His Daughter
“Last Forever -Part Two”
When things don’t work out with Robin, Barney believes that he simply isn’t destined for love and returns to his womanizing ways. But at the end of a “perfect month”, disaster strikes when Barney discovers that “No.31” is pregnant. He worries that being a father will throw off his game and doesn’t even seem that bothered by the birth of his daughter. However, as soon as he lays eyes on her and first holds her, everything changes. It’s the sincerity and emotion behind Neil Patrick Harris’s performance during this tender moment that makes us want to bawl our eyes out.
#4: When Ted Cheers up Robin
“Symphony of Illumination”
After Robin learns that she can’t have kids, she’s clearly upset but isn’t ready to confide in her friends just yet. Nevertheless, Ted makes it his mission to cheer her up, but just ends up annoying her instead. Later, Robin comes home to an awesome light show set to AC/DC’s “Highway To Hell”. Ted also promises her that he’ll never stop trying to make her happy. We know that Ted would do anything for Robin, but this is definitely one of the most heartwarming moments of their friendship. And as Robin cries into Ted’s shoulder, we can’t help but well up too.
#3: When Marshall & Lily Exchange Vows
“Something Borrowed”
It was a bumpy road to Lily and Marshall's wedding and the big day didn’t go off without several hitches either. So instead, Ted proposes that they have the intimate, outdoor wedding that they had initially envisioned. It’s so romantic that even the vehemently anti-marriage Barney is overcome with emotion. When the couple realizes they don’t have their vows, they declare their love for each other instead and it’s simply adorable. If Barney can’t even hold it together, then what hope is there for the rest of us? Marshmallow and Lilypad always know just how to pull at our heartstrings.
#2: When Marshall Hears His Dad’s Voice One Last Time
“Last Words”
Season six brought us one of the most heartbreaking moments of the entire series. But this also led to one of its most heartening moments too. As the Erikens reflect on their final words with Marvin, Marshall worries that his last conversation with his dad wasn’t as meaningful as everyone else’s. He feels even worse when he finds a voicemail from his dad that turns out to be a pocket dial. However, Marvin comes through for his son one last time and we’re crying all over again. In the end, however, Marshall decides to keep his father’s final words for himself.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
When ‘Truth Serum’ Barney Confesses to Ted, “Unpause”
Barney Reveals Just How Much He Loves Robin: We’re Not Crying, You Are
When Ted Gives Lily & Marshall the Apartment, “Karma”
Ted Says Farewell to a Previous Chapter, While Lily & Marshall Start a New One
When Lily’s Dad Shows Up, “Tailgate”
Just as Lily Has Given up Hope, Her Dad Comes Through for Her
When Barney Makes Just One Vow to Robin, “The End of the Aisle”
Barney Proves Just How Important Robin Is to Him
When Robin’s Mom Arrives for the Wedding, “Vesuvius”
She Faces Her Fear of Flying to Be at Her Daughter’s Marriage Ceremony
#1: When Ted Finally Meets the Mother
“Last Forever - Part Two”
This moment was nine years in the making, so when it finally happened you can bet emotions were running high. For the entire series, we felt like part of the group, watching Ted find love and endure heartache in the search for his soulmate. While the series finale remains polarizing among the fans, there’s no denying that this meet-cute is pretty special. Ted and Tracy connect over the famous yellow umbrella and their chemistry is instant. It says a lot about how much we connected with these characters that we can’t help shed tears of joy as Ted finally meets the love of his life.
