This week on "Modern Family," inter-family competition is taken to a new level, when Jay and Claire bring their competitive nature to a child project. For their class, Luke and Manny have to make a container that will protect an egg from a one-story drop. Alex refuses to give up the one she made when she was in his grade to Luke, and Manny turns the simple project into a deep examination of the human psyche. 

“Plus it’s a metaphor for the human condition, aren’t we all just fragile eggs hiding behind bubble wrap and bravado?” Manny said.

Claire and Jay’s competitiveness comes out with the egg dropping competition, when Jay calls her and tells her cryptically not to do his project first. 

Meanwhile, Mitch and Cam are meeting birthmothers to give lily a new brother or sister. One mother keeps them on their toes asking them to sing, dance, and take the baby to see all 52 states. 

Phil put together a seminar to recruit first time homebuyers for his new job as partner of a new agency. Claire has to bail to help out Luke, and Haley and Gloria miss the event as well when the car gets stolen, leaving Phil to frantically do the presentation on his own. 

Back with the boys, Claire and Jay learn that they were pitched against each other in order to take over the projects, and end up talking through their issues with competition.

This weeks episode examined the relationship between family and showed the strong bonds that lie between the (hilarious) modern family. 

Reach writer Sam Katzman here