Workin' Moms Season 5 Can Not Come Fast Enough

As a brand new mom, I remember being disappointed. The tabloids are absurd. Some of the blogs are fluffy and dumb. And the TV shows I saw growing up were NOT accurate depictions of motherhood. Just as I was considering ditching the screen forever, Workin’ Moms came along and, I kid you not, changed my life. With Workin’ Moms Season 5 coming out soon on Netflix (hello USA readers!) it is the perfect time for a love letter to what quickly became my favorite show. As an early motherhood coach, seeing real postpartum on TV matters A LOT.

What is the Deal with the Canadian Workin' Moms Show?

Workin’ Moms is a Canadian-based show that premiered in January of 2017 on CBC. The show is available in the US on Netflix.  Catherine Reitman, the writer, also stars in the show. Also, she’s a real-life mom goal. The show is in it’s 5^th season and it’s no surprise the cast and show have taken home numerous awards.

What sets Workin’ Moms apart from other shows is the real depiction of the struggles of early motherhood. From body image, to work, to making friends, to relationship roller coasters, Workin’ Moms is the show that goes there. It is like having your one trusted best friend around to tell you the “behind the scenes” of motherhood.

Which Workin' Moms Character Would I Be?

Since binge-watching the show after having my second child, I have spent way too much time analyzing which of the cast of Workin’ Moms I would depict.

Kate Foster

Kate does not want to let motherhood slow her down. She is professionally driven and I would assume, an Enneagram 3. Kate says over and over that she can handle it all and skirts around the issues that come up when she cannot handle it all. She does not want to be seen as a downgraded player in the workplace because she has had a baby. At one point she even disguises hersef to try to fit in at two different joybs. I see myself in Kate with her constant desire to achieve and have those achievements seen. Also, she says Fucc a lot and I can totally relate to that too. Remember when Kate dropped her pumped milk, oh boy did I relate to that feeling too!

Anne Carlson

For starters, Anne is the redheaded character so we have that going for us. Anne is the therapist who is kind of a mess herself. Her talk is straightforward and she does not tiptoe around other people’s feelings. Her overwhelm and feeling out of control can send her into a fit of rage. I see myself in Anne’s desire for control and ability to go into overdrive without 

Jenny Matthews

Jenny seems to have a major identity crisis after having her baby. The disconnect she experiences from her husband and her baby lead her to question so many things. Jenny sees and internalizes the different expectations for moms and dads and it leads her to rebel in some major ways. Jenny seems to be the person many of us could become without a well-balanced place to navigate the changes in motherhood. I see myself in Jenny when she is loudly declaring that she is still a woman and a fun person with an identity of her own.

Frankie Coyne

Through Frankie, Workin’ Moms brings the raw and real depiction of a postpartum depression struggle. We see how it impacts Frankie and how she thinks and acts. Additionally, we see how it impacts her partner and her job. Frankie is so kind-hearted and yet avoids addressing her own struggles in order to make things better for herself and her partner. I see early first-time-mom myself in Frankie when she tries to make light of her struggles and keep going on auto-pilot until it burns her out.

Alicia Rutherford

Alicia is how I picture myself in retrospection as a first-time mom. Naïve, unable to talk about the hard parts of motherhood, and wanting things to look and feel pretty and fluffy. Alicia does not quite fit in with the crass no bullshit crowd, but she tries to put rose-colored glasses on for the group setting to bring conversations back to a “happy place” often. That was me after my first because of the extreme discomfort and shame I felt in talking about the times when I did not love motherhood, my husband, my body, etc.

Val Szalinsky

Val might be who I become in 20 years. She is a group leader who wants to facilitate conversations and learning about babies and motherhood. Val is awkward but wants to hang with the group. We get to see her let out her wild side once she is able to let down her walls and not be the “professional” in charge. She highly values taking care of others but I love her best in the show when she shows up ready to party and make everyone a bit uncomfortable doing it.

Related: Zulily Blog- Why Seeing REAL Postpartum on TV Matters

Who Should NOT Watch the Workin' Moms Show

If masturbation, the word fucc, or awkward interactions make you uncomfortable, you are not a great candidate for watching Workin’ Moms. However, if you feel like postpartum life after baby is taboo AF and you are craving a place to see the chaos normalized, Workin’ Moms Season 5 is around the corner and you are in for a treat.

Want to get ready for Season 5? Tell your family you need a mini-retreat, buy your favorite snacks, and curl up with Netflix to watch:
Workin’ Moms Season 1
Workin’ Moms Season 2
Workin’ Moms Season 3
Workin’ Moms Season 4

In Canada? Catch Workin' Moms on CBC