Why Workin’ Moms is really something for you
Every woman who has just had a baby says the same thing: ‘Why didn't anyone tell me this and that?’ My answer to that by now is: we did, really. You just didn't want to listen. Before your delivery, you dream about which stroller you will take, you iron onesies that you first washed in pH-neutral detergent, and you see yourself beautifully walking through the park. That happens too, but there's a chance that five minutes before that, you were spit up on and you smeared your ‘backside’ with Sperti because there are still a few things sticking out that should actually be on the inside. Something like that.
The Netflix series Workin’ Moms should be included with every pregnancy test, so you have an idea of what is about to happen. Approximately.
In the first scene, we see four women looking at their breasts. ‘Could have been worse, but could definitely have been better.’ Every episode opens with a scene in their baby class. I wonder every time where they find the time to go to that class, because the babies are already about nine months old, but so be it. I also think: why are you still breastfeeding? It's of course great for mother and child, but if you work so hard, what a trial. I always managed to pump at the office for exactly a week. Still awkward, that fiddling with those bottles in the public fridge, and of course, as soon as I drove out of the parking garage, I always realized that I had left everything at the office. And through that revolving door again, into the elevator, and be home a quarter later.
Workin’ Moms is realistic and progressive. Including stay-at-home dads, a lesbian couple, and women who are nice but not drop-dead gorgeous and polished. Women who pump during their break with two devices at once (I never managed that, how do you press that start button when you're holding those pumps with both hands? With your toe?), women who are no longer in the mood for sex with their own husband (because too much baby love and cuddle pleasure over hot sex), but then get very restless from their manager. How great is the scene where one of the women discusses her lack-of-sex issue with a colleague who then sends her an erotic story via email? And off she goes, to the pumping room. In the category of ‘being efficient with your time’ (mothers get very good at that), one hand goes around the pump and one hand, hop, into the pants. That she realizes exactly during her peak moment (yes, she could still do it) that she forgot to lock the door in her haste and the intern is shocked for life (because pump and orgasm don't feature in the fantasy of many men, I guess) she just takes for granted.
About feeling guilty towards your work, towards your child, towards your partner, towards yourself. About the need to be sick for a moment so that someone takes care of you again, but also about friendship, a lot of hilarity, and women with balls. Ah, it's just wonderful. And they have taken our schedule into account, because each episode lasts only half an hour. Fits into any schedule. And oh yes II, Catherine Reitman, one of the main actresses (the one with the distinctive lips that she also jokes about in the series), is one of the producers, the writer, and one of the main actors. Amazing woman. Anyway, you know what you're going to do tonight.
