I Don't Know How She Does It

Kate Reddy?

I've known her six years.

Smartest girl I know.

And a heart of gold, too.

All us working mothers feel

like we're spinning 50 plates

in they air at once, but Kate,

you can give her ten more plates,

all the size of manhole covers,

and she just keeps going.

Big report due the

next day at work, done.

Sew some extra fairy wings

on for Emily's recital, she's doing it.

Last minute in-laws show up, she can

do it without mixing vodka and Xanax.

It's amazing.

I'm telling you, she's amazing.

For all of us moms, there comes a time

when you almost don't pull it off,

and, um, for Kate, that was

those three months last winter.

And all that trouble started

with the bake sale.

Did she tell you

about the bake sale?

Oh, my God,

the kindergarten bake sale.

I had just flown home to

Boston from a business trip.

But then I got the reminder

from Emily's school about the bake sale.

I promised Emily that I'd

make something homemade

and I was prepared to

stay up all night to do it.

But the deli was

out of baking supplies.

This pie was going to be homemade

if it was the last thing I did.

Why did I care?

Well, first of all,

the other mothers are like a tiny army

of mini Martha Stewarts.

Their contributions would look perfect.

Their daughters would feel proud.

I just wanted Em

to feel the same way.

I'm trying to prevent the newsflash,

20 years from now.

Friends trace the start of Emily Reddy's

mental problems to a school bake sale

where her mother, a shadowy

presence in her life,

humiliated her

in front of her classmates.

I was not

gonna let Emily down.

Spread out,

spread out, spread out...

Bigger, bigger, bigger...

You don't understand.

I still remember the looks I got

in 1974, when my mother

sent me to the school bake sale

with two cans

of sliced peaches.

You made a pie.

- Hi!

- Hi, welcome home.

Thanks. I... I thought maybe

the powdered sugar would help.

No. No,

we're way past help on this.

Come to bed. Listen,

we got Chips Ahoy here.

We can throw these in her backpack.

She'll be good to go.

Are you kidding me?

Do you have any idea what those

dietetically correct mothers

would do if I brought cookies with

high fructose corn syrup and salt?

Oh, my God, that sounds really good.

Can I have like a little?

Mm...

- Mm! Yeah.

- Hm? See?

- You worry too much.

- Well, you know, I just...

I just want Emily to feel proud

of what she brings to the bake sale.

I don't want her to feel different

from the other kids because her mother

has to travel for work, you know?

I just...

- I want her to know I tried.

- All right, I take it back.

Those are nice things

to want for her.

- Hey, how was Phoenix?

- Oh, it was fine.

You know, airport, taxi, meeting,

hotel, meeting, taxi, airport.

You must, be, uh... exhausted.

Oh! Well... a little.

But not completely.

# Does he love me?

I wanna know

I'm not one

of those wives who doesn't

wanna have sex

with her husband.

I still think he's

the cutest guy I know.

His adorable little frown lines,

his seaweed-colored eyes,

the way he smells after a shower.

There's just one problem.

# It's in his kiss ##

A recent study showed that

64 percent of women with young children

don't sleep through the night.

Researchers were at a loss

to explain why.

They could have asked me.

At night, I, like women

all around the world, do the list:

Emily's birthday party theme.

Pirates or pop stars?

Things to buy:
Paper towels,

toothpaste, pork chops.

Buy a present

for Jedda's birthday party.

Find out Jedda:
Boy or girl?

Call the guy about the thing.

Make a playdate for Emily

with that kid that doesn't bite.

Refill washer fluid in car.

Wait a minute.

Shouldn't that be

on Richard's list?

Who am I kidding?

Richard doesn't have a list.

Wax something, anything.

Call Richard's mother and say hi.

Orjust email hi.

Wash Ben's teddy bear.

Renew birth control pills.

Twinkies...

...Ambien while I'm at it.

Finish year-end fiscal summary.

Hamster. Oh, no,

start year-end fiscal summary.

...new ways to say no.

Kegels?

Bagels!

When I come home

after a trip,

Ben doesn't hold

my absence against me.

- Hey, baby.

- He's too little for grudges.

- Little buddy, hi! Boo!

- Boo!

I love being a mother of

a two-year-old boy.

It's like being a movie star

- in a world without critics.

- Hi, Em.

Unfortunately, my daughter

isn't quite as forgiving.

If I'm gone for too long,

she rewards me

with a game of snubs and punishments.

I want Daddy to take me to school.

Paula gives me a bath.

I don't like hugs.

Aw!

Any working mother who says

she doesn't bribe her kids

can add "liar" to her resume.

Who wants to watch cartoons?!

I got your

happy ending right here!

You swine!

Good morning.

Hey, we gotta call Beachwood Carpets

and get an estimate on those stairs.

Oh, you say the nicest things.

Something's different about you.

You're...

Not in a shirt with barf on it?

Your big meeting, it's today, right?

I'm getting the gig. Definitely.

Get a sitter.

Tonight, we are celebrating!

- Done.

- I mean it.

Who cares if I'm up against huge firms

with portfolios filled with

museum wings and hotel lobbies?

I have a fantastic bathroom in Back Bay

and a mind-blowing basement

renovation in New Hampshire.

- Not to mention a shirt without barf.

- Mm. I better get it.

I picked the worst time to go on my own.

It's like the economy was waiting for me

to start my own business and then tank.

- Richard.

- No, Kate, I am bankrolling this firm

with change from our sock drawer.

Well, that's gonna change.

It has to, because you're too talented

- for it not to.

- I hope so.

The pay isn't much,

but in the long run,

- it'll be great for both of us.

- You're gonna get it.

- Am I gonna get it?

- You are gonna get it.

I'm gonna get it! OK.

- I gotta go.

- No, no, wait, wait!

Can you just wait one second

- while I take a really quick shower?

- Where the hell is Paula?

She's been late every day this week.

Honestly, I'm gonna talk to her.

Oh, no, Richard,

please don't talk to her! Please.

If we don't keep her happy,

she'll leave.

Would that be the worst

thing in the world?

Uh, frankly, at this point,

it would be easier if you left.

You know what I mean.

- She's here! She's here.

- Good morning.

Men and women

look at childcare very differently.

- The surf was beautiful today.

- Richard sees an outflow of cash

we badly need at the moment,

and I see a person who knows

which blankie Ben likes.

It's a good job. I love the kids,

and Kate is a great boss.

What does Kate do for a living?

I have no idea.

Works in a bank?

Is she... is she like a teller?

Come on, Mom,

we're gonna be late.

Hey, Paula, can you put

this in a container for me?

Sure.

- You... made a pie?

- Yep.

OK, can I just say that I work

for a high-powered investment firm,

yet nothing scares me more

than being caught by my

daughter's kindergarten teacher

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