Parents' Guide to

In the Motherhood

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Sitcom's humor is best for parents who can relate.

TV ABC Comedy 2009
In the Motherhood Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 13+

Based on 1 parent review

critique
critique Adult
March 27, 2009
age 13+

In the whaterhood? Please script writers, not struggling humor

Yes, this P/T writer's opinion, but writers can you not sqeeze humor into where little is? I'm not condemning this series. Trying to recommend its writing/directing to hold however many are NOT compelled to give time lameness. No, not the actors. They passed auditions then is up to production to attract viewing. Come one ABC, we know you can do it. How? Samantha Who follows this.
See all 1 parent review

What's the Story?

Three moms with vastly different views on parenting are the source of plenty of laughs on IN THE MOTHERHOOD. The show centers on free-wheeling Rosemary (Megan Mulally), newly single mother of two Jane (Cheryl Hines), and aspiring "perfect" mom Emily (Jessica St. Clair) -- three women trying to balance the challenges of family, work, and social life while also maintaining their sanity. Their different styles and situations sometimes put the women at odds with each other, but they're all working toward the same goal of surviving the rocky road of parenthood.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (1 ):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This series reaps the benefits of good writing and a strong cast, which includes Saturday Night Live alum Horatio Sanz as Jane's male nanny (or "manny") and RonReaco Lee as Emily's equally obsessive husband, Jason. The characters do a good job of representing the true spectrum of parenting styles, and adult viewers will easily find the humor in relating what they see on the show to their own circumstances or those of someone they know.

The show's frequent sexual references and occasional strong language aren't envelope pushing by primetime standards, nor are Rosemary's irreverent comments on everything from pregnancy to overweight people. That said, the show is best appreciated by those with first-hand knowledge of the ups and down of parenting, so teens who lack that experience will miss some of the context that makes the series funny.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about being a parent. Teens: Do you look forward to having kids someday? What challenges do you foresee as a parent? How do you plan to cope with them? How do you think your own parenting style will be shaped by your upbringing? Do you think the media does a fair job of representing the struggles that parents face today? Why or why not? How does family life in TV shows like this one compare to your own? Which shows portray the most realistic families?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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