Parents' Guide to There Goes the Motherhood

TV Bravo Reality TV 2016
There Goes the Motherhood Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Melissa Camacho By Melissa Camacho , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Reality show buries solid parenting messages within drama.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

THERE GOES THE MOTHERHOOD is a reality series about the members of a high-end parenting group in Southern California. It features Jill Spivack, a therapist and founder of Mom Assembly, one of the most coveted mommy groups in the greater Los Angeles area. The moms, including free-spirit mom Meghan Conroy-Resich; Beth Fair, who used to sing with Fergie; old-school mom Leah Forester; recently separated Alisa Starler; divorced mom Jen Bush; and soon-to-be-divorced mom Beth Bowen meet once a week for eight weeks to discuss the joys and difficulties that come with being a mom. From talking about their various parenting styles to the many challenges they face on a daily basis, the women try to find some support among each other. But the relationship between them isn't always smooth, which only adds more drama to their already full lives.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

This reality series features privileged moms who are negotiating the common (but no less difficult) challenges that come with motherhood. Like many women, they struggle with discipline, finding time for oneself while balancing the needs of others, and feeling overwhelmed and underappreciated. However, like most Bravo reality fare, much of the show concentrates on the relationship drama among the women themselves and, on occasion, their spouses.

Parents will identify with the universal parenting challenges identified here, while the messages about how women's lives change after having children will resonate with mothers from all walks of life. But the cast also comes from a world of privilege, which they often don't recognize, that puts them in a category of their own. This disconnect makes it hard to take some of these women seriously but also buries empowering messages about women and parenting that it has the potential to offer.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the joys and challenges of being a mom. How does being a mother change women's lives? Who determines the right way (and wrong way) to raise their kids? For example, if moms (or dads) curse, smoke, or drink in front of their kids, does that automatically make them bad parents?

  • Do you think reality shows such as this one offer a real look at what moms do every day? What is being a mom like in your house?

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

There Goes the Motherhood Poster Image

What to Watch Next

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate