Yes, I've also seen a male or female "breeder" go to the "alpha" female or male on the list. And it's not just for "embracing" it is for any of the actions that require a villager to be "waiting for someone." It was really frustrating in the game I had where the oldest male was also a runner. He kept getting interrupted from his tasks.

Another "cheat" I figured out (from comments on this board) is getting multiple mushrooms for each one discovered:

When I see a mushroom I pause the game (sometimes hitting the drum first so they are all "going to the school"--that makes it easier to distinguish the older kids from adults, or just maybe get the kids closer to a mushroom.)

Then I'll find as many kids as I can picking each one up and placing him/her on the mushroom. When the action stops saying "picking a mushroom" then the original disappeared from the board, but the kids who have already picked one still has his/hers.

I'll unpause the game and watch the crowds of kids all bring their mushroom to the food bin. Sometimes they get confused on the way and will stop and "drop" it, but most make it.

I'll get 8 food points for each kid that does, and it's even better when it is an orange mushroom!!!

This also really distorts my mushroom picking stats!