What makes Netflix's Workin' Moms so relatable?

Netflix's Workin' Moms is a Canadian series written and directed by Catherine Reitman, who also plays the role of Kate Foster on the show. Workin' Moms revolves around four very different women in their thirties, who juggle their careers, social life, family and parenthood. Apart from being hilarious, the show is also relatable and appeals to many. What makes the show unique is that it is rooted in reality and discards the impossible expectations society often imposes on working mothers. The series brings to light several issues that are often considered taboo or are ignored altogether.

Here are a few of the most relatable moments on the show so far.

1. Dealing with postpartum depression

Reitman has openly spoken about her experiences with postpartum depression and how her struggles impacted the content of the show. In the show, we witness Frankie going through postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter and trying to accept the new changes in her life. She initially ignores what she is going through and denies having the condition. Many mothers go through the same struggles as Frankie and choose to remain silent about it due to the stigma that still exists.

2. Adjusting to work-life while being a parent

Kate, a successful professional at an advertising agency, has difficulty adjusting once she gets back into the working world. There is a scene in the show where a male co-worker asked her if her baby is calling the nanny 'mom' yet and Kate breaks down in tears. This incident is based on Reitman's personal experience and it speaks volumes about what society thinks of working mothers. We also witness Kate having an accident during a meeting she is leading after she can't find a few minutes in her schedule to pump. This portrays the reality of breastfeeding mothers at the workplace and the struggles they face.

3. Pumping in the bathroom

There have been a number of movements that have fought to normalize breastfeeding in public. However, for several women, this isn't a reality. There are still several situations in everyday life that are not well-equipped for breastfeeding mothers. The series shows us how difficult it can be for a woman to find a safe space to pump at work. Kate ends up having to pump in the bathroom, as there is no other room for her to do so in her male-dominated office.

4. Loneliness

Being a new mom comes with a number of challenges, one of them being loneliness. We rarely see a depiction of this in the media, but it is a very real phenomenon and must be addressed. Kate is a great example of this; although she has a baby she loves and a supportive husband, feelings of loneliness creep in. In fact, each mom on the show goes through this in some form or the other.

5. Finding it hard to trust someone with your child

Very few women have the privilege of being able to leave their child with someone and go to work every day. In the series, Kate has a hard time trusting anyone else but herself with her child and fires a babysitter for feeding the baby formula. She later hires and fires multiple nannies and finally asks her mother for help. Although her mother isn't the best nanny, Kate feels calm knowing her child is with family.

6. Relationship issues

We've often heard that having a child can fix the brokenness a couple experiences in their marriage. However, this series looks at the matter from a more realistic lens. Sometimes a child can end up putting strain on marriage instead of mending it. We witness this through Jenny and Frankie in the show. Frankie's marriage takes a turn for the worse as she is going through postpartum depression, while Jenny begins to make rash decisions under the pretext of self-exploration.

7. Mom guilt

Society often expects mothers to be looking after their children and tending to their needs throughout the day. But, what about the mother's needs? We often fail to consider that mothers have their own life too, that exists beyond looking after their child. In the show, we witness the moms feeling guilty for going out with their friends or staying late at work for an urgent task. However, one of the moms says something that must be remembered, "Nobody says we have to be connected to our kids all the time."

8. All moms are not the same

The moment we meet Jenny, we learn that she struggles to connect with her daughter and resents her husband, a stay-at-home dad, as he gets to bond with their daughter more. However, throughout the series, we see that motherhood comes in all shapes and sizes and Jenny is a great mom in her own way.