Hollywood doesn't get motherhood right, and you don't have to be a mother to figure that out. There are the happy moments between mother and child, the little moments of infant bliss, the tenderness of a mother's love.
What the silver screens are missing are the swollen ankles, the bloated tummies, the cracking and overstretched nipples, postpartum depression and sleep deprivation.
Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman have done it right with "Tully." The film stars Charlize Theron as Marlo, a tired mom of three and Mackenzie Davis as Tully, a free-spirited night nanny.
After an unplanned pregnancy and struggling to raise a son with severe emotional problems, Marlo finds it difficult to get out of bed let alone take her children to school.
Her husband is barely present, both as a father and partner, so Marlo must care for three children alone. She feeds her children chicken fingers and frozen pizza, which her wealthy sister-in-law scoffs at. As a gift, Marlo's brother hires a night nanny.
Both Marlo and Tully make a striking pair. Marlo is a 40-something-year-old mom who is uncomfortable in her own body and insecure of her own motherhood. Tully is a 26-year-old night owl with killer style and confidence to match. Most of what she says sounds like a chapter from a self-help book.
Having Tully (and sleep) changes Marlo's outlook on herself.
Tully becomes not a nanny to the new baby but to Marlo who doesn't see herself as a great mom. In her mind, only great moms "organize class parties and casino nights...they bake cupcakes that look like minions."
If all moms had to do that to pass as great, there would be very few great moms in this world.
This mom shaming is present too often in reality. It is the middle-class moms like Marlo who feed into what society considers to be the perfect mother. This makes all the mental breakdowns and leaky breasts seem like the exception and not the rule.
Tully makes Marlo see her pre-pregnancy self, but not everyone has the privilege of a night nanny.
A night nanny can easily set you back $180 to $300. Considering this adds up after two to 12 weeks, for six days a week, a Tully of your own is a hefty investment.
Imagine those non-Hollywood moms who must live without a night nanny. These moms should not be expected to sing "Call Me Maybe" at princess birthday parties or go out to hipster bars like Marlo.
This movie shows that motherhood can change you, both mentally and physically. Marlo and Tully are two completely different stages of life, but one is not better than the other. Yes, motherhood is beautiful, but it is also meant to be uncomfortable.
Especially with its twist ending, "Tully" is an honest look at motherhood and teaches moms to accept their realities, even those puke stains and maternity bras.
