The new ABC comedy The Letdown had us all experiencing many flashbacks and feeling reassured this parenting gig is all very normal.

The story centres around new mum, Audrey and her baby daughter, Stevie. It follows the lives of several women who meet at a mothers group.

The title is a play on the term for the release of milk during breastfeeding, but also on the dark secret of the early months of motherhood.

In episode one Audrey is determined not to be defined by motherhood. In theory, this seems fairly easy. In practice, her career-focused husband, self-obsessed mother & fancy-free best friend, make it damn near impossible.

Episode two saw parents group trigger anxiety in Audrey when she realises she’s the only one who isn’t following a parenting book.

The episode also touched on “playdates”, parenting books, controlled crying and even a scene where one of the mums had an “accident” after an outing to the mum and bub movie session.

After a confrontation with a deaf man, the mum stands there totally shocked that her pelvic flaw has totally let her down and she is soaked.

While it may not be for everyone, I think it totally portrayed the true reality of parenthood.

One review of the show read, “Last night I tried to watch The Letdown and I found it really hard. Not that I didn’t think it was really well done and scarily accurate – but I could just NOT sit through the controlled crying. Couldn’t do it in real life and couldn’t listen to it on TV.”

“It was weird to me how triggering it actually was, I think we sometimes forget how hard those first years can be and the long lasting effect it has on us.”

I was flicking channels and stumbled onto this episode. Totally loved it!

Even hubby was having flashbacks to our first time as new parents.  The controlled crying was tough to watch, but it really highlights the pressures on parents and how much we punish ourselves to try and be perfect.

Did you watch? What did you think?

Share your comments below.

 

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