Series Finale:     
Episode #124 — Markiewicz/Zusin
two mothers of families, each with opposing values, trade households, lifestyles and children (but not bedrooms) in a two-week-long challenge: In the first part of the exchange, each mom moves into the other’s home and agrees to follow a manual of “household rules” written by the departing mother, including how to parent, manage their social life, do house work, unwind and more. Everything changes in the second week when “new mommy” takes charge, introduces her own set of rules and runs the “nest” her way. At the end of the second week, the two couples meet for the first time in a raw and highly-charged exchange of views, making frank assessments of one another and discussing the experience.

April Markiewicz lives in Covington, LA with her husband, Mark, and 15-year-old son Alex, who has no respect for authority and is used to a complete lack of structure or discipline at home. Alex’s favorite activity is playing games from his extensive video game library for hours on end, which April and Mark allow. Mark is a stay-at-home dad who is responsible for the cooking, cleaning and management of the home. He’s eccentric and likes to spend his free time restoring old payphones and going over his Disney memorabilia collection. He can also often be seen in the neighborhood wearing only a towel as his clothing of choice.

Yelena Zusin is a Russian “Tiger Mom” from Pelham Manor, NY. She and her husband, Oleg, have three children, 9-year-old Aiden and 8-year-old twin girls Elizabeth and Annabelle. Yelena and Oleg feel American parents are too easy on their children, so their children’s days are filled with lots of after-school activities, including figure skating, gymnastics and piano practice. Yelena and Oleg believe their children should be the best in everything they do and never quit.

When April meets her new family, she’s immediately overwhelmed by their busy schedule and rigorous after-school activities. When it’s time for rules to change, April ditches schedules in favor of free time, and decides it’s time for the Zusin children to host a house party full of friends, junk food, silly string and goofy antics.

Back in Covington, Yelena is shocked by Alex’s lack of discipline and disrespectful attitude. She finds no structure or direction in the Markiewicz home, and thinks that April and Mark are lazy parents. Determined to get Alex out of his room and motivated to try new things, Yelena has him lock up all of his video games and replaces them with new, physical activities. (Courtesy ABC.)
First aired: May 2, 2013.