Photo by Vicki Salemi

Ah, Motherhood. As in the movie, not the actual thing. Even though the movie actually resembles the real thing. Okay, as a singlista in Manhattan I can’t honestly say that I could relate to the film but I do know this: every mama I spoke with said it resonated loud and clear.

As this film was released into theaters nationwide yesterday, I couldn’t help but wonder how the blogosphere of mom bloggers would write about the flick. In it, Uma Thurman plays a multi-tasking madre and mom blogger, Anthony Edwards is her hubby, and Minnie Driver is her friend. As an entertainment reporter, I had the fortunate task of attending press day interviews with the celebs! It’s a tough job but someone’s gotta do it. <grin>

What I found interesting about the flick is how Manhattan served as a character. Minnie was super-sweet and dished about how your location can really create additional challenges to being a mother. Sure, women in suburbia have challenges, of course, but in a city like Manhattan there are additional roadblocks. Like the movie shows, buying tons of party paraphernalia for your daughter’s six-year-old b-day bash crammed in a bike as you trek up your fifth-story walk-up in one full swoop.

Another theme of the movie is about your identity. In the flick, it’s clear that Uma was previously a writer in her BK (”before kids”) life. Along the way she loses her craft of writing fiction even though she manages to squeeze in time for quickie blog posts on her blog, The Bjorn Identity (yes, a total play on words from the stroller company). As such, a resonating theme of the flick is a contest she enters defining motherhood. I specifically asked Uma what motherhood means to her and she responded, “It’s the greatest love I’ve ever known. Love is it.”

So, faithful reader, I’ll ask you the same question. What does motherhood mean to you?

Startraks

I truly love this time of year. There’s a briskness to the morning autumn air as children put on their backpacks (along with their thinking caps). It seems there’s no better time to talk about education than the present so that’s why I was surprised to hear that Erykah Badu said she felt compelled to homeschool her son when he was in kindergarten and first grade.

In an interview with Babble, Badu mentions that she wanted to give her son, Seven Sirius, special attention to give him an advantage. And it seems she’s super-thankful she did: through their efforts, she mentions he learned how to “solve problems in non-traditional ways.” Now that the 11-year-old is in school, Erykah mentions he developed an edge in his schoolwork.

I’m not an expert in homeschooling and certainly don’t pretend to be, but you know what? Props to the singer for getting involved in parenting full on. Snaps to her for instilling values in him which he apparently holds on to today, like not wanting to miss school or not have things in order.

She notes, “I don’t think it matters what school you go to, but I think it’s important for parents to be involved. And to know that when school stops, learning continues, and to continue teaching at home.”

Would love to hear you weigh in: Do you give homeschooling an A?

Startraks

Ah, Nannyhood. Nannyville. Nannydom. Whatever you call it, make no mistake about it: celebrities hire help. Sure, they may want you to think they’re a stay at home mom but when it comes to behind the scenes work, there are lots of extra hands helping out.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

But there seems to be something entirely right about going nannyless. As in, let’s do it ourselves, let’s drive our own children, feed them, bathe them, be with them 24/7, and raise them like the good ol’ days.

Enter Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck. Maybe I’m partial because I interviewed Ben a few years ago and thought he was cool, sincere, and smart, but this couple seems to be on to something. Perhaps they could start a new Hollywood trend without even knowing it?

Do they have the money? You bet. Do they have the resources? Most likely. Do they have the impetus to say the heck with the nanny world and just raise Violet and Seraphina on their very own? Yes, yes, yes!

Lovin’ it. Just because there’s an unwritten nanny rule in Hollywood doesn’t mean all the celebs follow it. And, we can only imagine by what we have seen of sweet Violet in photos there seems to be a grounded, adorable, well-disciplined, very much adored little girl. Just sayin’.

What are your thoughts? Do you think celebs should always have a nanny considering they can afford it or is it not at all about the money and instead about the time and good ol’ TLC spent on your very own kid instead?