Real Mama Drama

TLC has devised another delightful means of making the At-Home-Mom suffer more guilt (and they said it couldn't be done). It's a wonderful program they're calling "The Secret Life of a Soccer Mom." It's hosted by Tracey Gold (She's still working?) and its basic premise is giving the "Housewife" a taste of the life she gave up to raise her family. They take a mommy, whisk her away to re-visit her abandoned career, all the while telling Daddy and the kids that she's at a spa all week. At the end of the week, Mommy is enticed away from her drudgy home life with the offer of a full-time position. Will she take the job or go back to full-time home status? The episode I saw featured an ex-chef whose passions were rekindled successfully, but who ultimately couldn't justify shelling out most of her new paycheck in exchange for child care. Tack on a husband who's now feeling horrible because he's watched his wife have to abandon her dreams TWICE and he can't afford to quit his own job to trade out for hers. What a feel-good hour. They're all so glad they came on the show. Granted, I've seen just one episode. It's my sincere hope that the rest of them feature moms who come out of the other side of the experience with increased resolve about their original decisions to put careers on hold. After all, it's not necessary to remind a woman of what she gave up for her family's sake. Chances are she's aware of that. It's always gratifying, however, for her to be reminded of why she did. We need to steer away from this stereotype of the "Desperate Housewife." Not all of us are huddled in front of the television in our sponge rollers, straining to hear "As the World Turns" over the wailing of toddlers, waiting for our lives to change.