S1 • E9 Mar 7, 2004 45m
Newlywed couple Susan Rae and Janine Davies are planning on having their own family, so they eagerly volunteer to be our *crash test mommies* and get a 48 hour test drive of motherhood with the two young daughters of Susan's longtime friend, Leah Bach of New Westminster, B.C. CRASH TEST MOMMY hosts Charlie and Dagmar throw in an unexpected bonus - 'Brutus', a life-like simulated baby that Susan must care for in addition to little Ashley and Danielle. Brutus has two speeds: asleep and, way more often, crying. While Leah is whisked away for a weekend of luxurious all-day makeovers, gourmet Asian fusion cooking lessons and shopping for cashmere sweaters, Susan is having a very bumpy ride on the home front. If managing a sleepover for half a dozen of the little girls' friends, tackling the never-ending housework, embarking on the constant expeditions to hip-hop classes and cliff-climbing sessions, weren't enough, Susan is irked by Leah's email jibes and reminders, is brutalized by an incompetent carpenter with a deafening power saw, and sleep-deprived by a fake baby who keeps her up all night with its crying jags. Finally, Susan has a total and complete meltdown....and walks! Only a cheesy bribe from Charlie gets her back into the house and caring for the kids. With Susan holding on for dear life, Leah comes home in the nick of time. Susan has gained a wealth of knowledge about motherhood and mountain of respect for Leah and the job she does as a mother 24/7 every day of her life.
