Charlize Theron in Tully will pull at your heartstrings – out in theaters May 4th.

Moms Night Out!

Two weeks ago I was invited to a “Moms Night Out” party hosted by Refinery 29 and Focus Features and early screening of Tully – a new comedy from Academy Award®-nominated director Jason Reitman (“Up in the Air”) and Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (“Juno”). Marlo (Academy Award® winner Charlize Theron) by Focus Features.

Charlize plays a mother of three including a newborn and is gifted a night nanny by her brother (Mark Duplass). Hesitant to the extravagance at first, Marlo comes to form a unique bond with the thoughtful, surprising, and sometimes challenging young nanny named Tully (Mackenzie Davis). This is the premise of the movie but oh boy, is it a whole lot of movie to take in for any mom.  It brought back so many memories of when my daughter was a newborn and all that being a new mom entails.  Right before I got pregnant with Kate, my neighbor had just had her first child and would tell me how hard it all was.  I remember thinking to myself  “how hard could it be?”  I hate to admit that now, but I really couldn’t understand what she was complaining about or why she looked so frazzled most days I would see her walking her newborn in a stroller. Ha!  Fast forward to my own newborn stage and I can safely say I not only got what she was talking about but couldn’t understand why more women didn’t talk about how hard that newborn stage can be.

I’ve never shared on the blog about my own postpartum, but this movie really brought those memories back like a flood and I wanted other moms to know they aren’t alone! From the sleepless nights, to breast-feeding issues (I had the wonderful experience of having two breast infections (mastitis), to horrible postpartum that presented itself as anxiety issues, I was a total mess.  But I was so set on putting on a strong front that only a few really knew what a hard time I was having.  Even our pediatrician wrote on my daughter’s file “mother and daughter doing beautifully.”  I wanted to scream out to him “no I am not” but I wasn’t even in a place to ask for help.  Anyone who has gone through postpartum can attest how lonely a place it can be and many times we don’t even know to ask for help – or what is wrong with us that we are having such a hard time when it seems like everyone else is handling motherhood so well.  If you or someone you know is suffering from postpartum be sure to check out Postpartum International.

What Charlize does for us in Tully, is allows us to rally around other moms and say “this whole mothering thing is hard work!” About midway through the movie I may have had to go to the theater bar to grab (another) drink because as I told my friend, Kathy, sitting next to me “this shit just got real.”  Yep, those were the exact words that came out of my mouth because ladies, whether you have one or eight kids (or more) parenting is a tough job and it is SO important we support one another and not pass judgement.  Everyone is doing the best they can and what is right for your kid might not work for another’s child.  From how long you breast feed (or don’t), to letting them cry it out at bedtime (or not), to wearing cloth or disposable diapers – we all do what works for us and our families.

Director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody do such a wonderful job at bringing out the humanness of it all.  That there are days we can barely get food on the table and can completely understand when Charlize’s character places microwave pizza and frozen broccoli  to the kids and calls it dinner.  There are so many moments like that about what mothering can and does look like.  But the message here is that we are all torn from time to time.  That some days we adore motherhood, and others we might crave for our other life – days where we had only us to take care of.  This is a movie you want to see with your girlfriends (cocktails are recommended) because it gives you all a chance to talk about the hardships and immense joy you find in motherhood.  As any mom can attest, those sweet moments you have with your child can make your heart burst.  The love we have for our kids is quite indescribable but that doesn’t mean there are some days you want to lock yourself in the pantry or bathroom and get away from it all!

Tully is really such a wonderful movie and it shines a spotlight on parenting and shows us the good, bad, ugly and immense joy one feels as a parent.  Charlize is spectacular and the Reitman/Cody duo brings us another movie that will pull at your heartstrings as only these two can do.

Out in theaters May 4th!

 Thank you Focus Features and Refinery 29 for a memorable and fun night! And a big thank you to Bailey 44 for dressing me for the Moms Night Out party!  Always fun to get dressed up out of my yoga “mom” wear!

Bailey 44 Top and vegan leather skirt

Gold Michael Kors shoes

Ember Skye clutch

Running Time: 94 Minutes

Rating: R

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