Manny is the son of Gloria and the stepson of Jay. Gloria left Manny's father Javier, who was generally absent and not a great influence when he was around, yet Manny enjoys maintaining a connection with his father and visiting him when he's in town. Still, Manny realizes how much better his and his mother's lives are with Jay and the Pritchett Family.Manny is, by most standards, an amazing kid. His only possible flaw, which makes him that much more adorable, is that he's too serious and often looks at life more analytically than a young kid should, possibly missing out on some of the carefree joys of childhood. Manny is a pensive little fellow who often challenges Jay's gruff, no-nonsense attitude. He drinks espresso and enjoys poetry, both reading and writing it, and is puzzled as to why other children don't seem to understand him. He's a full-blown romantic and sees no reason why his babysitter would not take his candlelight dinner and confessions of love seriously.He has a great relationship with Jay, who tries to help Manny recognize the more fun aspects of being a kid while Manny also helps soften Jay's hard exterior with his own observations on life. Manny feels, at times, smothered by his mother, but resists making this clear to her for fear of hurting her feelings.