TLC launched a new show last night called The Secret Life of a Soccer Mom. They are finding women who have been stay at home moms for several (many?!) years, and giving them a shot to ‘go back in time’ and regain the dream careers they left behind to raise their families.

Now, I’m not much of a TV kind of gal, but when I do watch, it’s usually TLC. With this new show they are finally shining a spotlight on one of the biggest under-served issues in motherhood :: leaving and re-entering the workforce (hello, why did it take so #$^& long?!). In fact, it’s such a strong need with women in their 30’s and 40’s, Shannon Hutton and I are going to be launching a blog soon dedicated to helping moms work through these difficult transitions.

I have to firstly give TLC and show host Tracey Gold a standing ovation for putting this show on the air in the first place. Interestingly, some moms that I consider some of my best blogging buddies in the industry aren’t so thrilled with the idea, and are being quite vocal about their concerns.

OOoooooohhh, controversy. Gotta love it.

Here’s the TLC show description:

Being a stay at home mother is an all consuming career – and while most moms are wonderfully fulfilled by this choice, other women may wonder about the dreams they left behind. TLC’s new series The Secret Life of a Soccer Mom takes a stay-at-home mom and gives her a chance to secretly live the life she gave up to raise her family. Each hour-long episode profiles the story of a mom as she experiences what her life could have been like if she had chosen to juggle career and family. Guided by Tracey Gol, Mom spends one week outside of the carpool lane and back in the fast lane. The Secret Life of a Soccer Mom gives moms a chance to get back into the careers they left behind.

Episode I :: Adrian Stark

Without telling her family, stay-at-home mom Adrian Stark secretly goes back to work as a high-end fashion designer, while her doctor husband tends to their three girls.

Let me start out by agreeing with Char and Elizabeth on the one thing I just don’t get – why does the premise of the show entail these moms being secretive about this week in career nirvana? Nobody likes to see family members lying – even on reality TV. I guess it serves up a ‘dramatic twist’, but I think it is both unnecessary and undermines the great intentions of the show – to help women pursue a dream they put on hold. And I have to say the Mr. Mom segments were a little cliche – it’s an old joke that reinforces stereotypes.

But that’s all the negative things I have to say about it – the rest of the show was exciting, uplifting, and it even almost made me cry a couple of times. Adrian left the fashion industry 10 years prior to the making of this show, and she was crystal clear about the fact that she enjoyed every minute of the privilege of being a stay at home mom for such a long period of time. There were moments in the fashion designer’s office in which she was freaking out, wondering if she could pull it all off – and when she not only earned the respect of her coworkers, but they wanted to include her designs in a prestigious fashion show, she had one of those brilliantly beautiful moments where she realized that she was not only living her dream but succeeding at it… ah, it brings a tear to my eye again just thinking about it!

Honestly, I think the show started off well, and I can only hope they touch more mom’s lives as they move forward. Will it reignite the infamous Mommy Wars? I guess we can only wait and see about that one, but I give the show creators kudos for respecting both sides of motherhood in this episode.

Want to get on the show?

From the looks of their preliminary TV schedule, they have filmed 5 pilot episodes. Makes me think that there’s plenty of room for one (or ten!) of you to jump on this opportunity and hopefully experience a life-career-changing week yourselves!

From the Get on TLC page:

Celebrating Stay-at-Home Moms!
Are you or is someone you know a stay-at-home mom? Is your life filled with driving the kids from soccer practice, piano lessons, dance classes and back home with barely enough time to get food on the table? Do you feel like everyday is for someone else with no time left for you? If your answer is yes, TLC is looking for you to be a part of a wonderful new show celebrating “soccer moms”.

If you’ve put your needs on the backburner to run a world of diapers, dishes and laundry, we want you! E-mail us your information at: soccermomcasting9@gmail.com

If any of you want me to put in a good word for you, I’ve got your back.