This reminded me: when my husband and his mother were having their mother/son dance at my wedding, she had a choke hold on him like nobody's business (mind you we were going to be living 2 blocks away) and she whispered in his ear. Some time later I asked him what did she say to him at that time. My husband said, "Oh she was just telling me that wives come and go, but your mother is forever." At the time I took offense to it (naturally).
15 years later, we are as close as mother and daughter and by having my own son now, I can really understand that wives DO come and go and your mother IS there forever. I am blessed to love my in-laws as my own blood.

As far as Everybody Loves Raymond, I loved the show as well. BUT, one thing, even now, watching the reruns that bugs the absolute hell outta me is that when Marie or Frank are speaking to Robert or Raymond they refer to the other parent as "Frank" and "Marie". What parent doesn't say "Mom" or "Dad" or "your mother...." when talking to their children? It never made sense to me, yet it seems like it was done on purpose. It's done over and over thru the years.