S4 • E1 Jan 11, 2008 46m
Tara Swim was neglected as a child and vowed she'd do better for her own two daughters, Tiana, 7, and Kiyra, 2. If she could give it, they would get all her love and attention 24/7, declares Tara. But she worries about her longtime best friend, Amanda Barton, who is considering starting her own family soon. Amanda had an English upbringing - all stiff upper lip and little outward emotion. As Amanda embarks on a 48-hour adventure as Crash Test Mommy to Tara's girls, Mom wonders if her friend will be able to show the love, affection and warmth she thinks are so important to parenting. Amanda thinks Tara is overcompensating for her own unhappy childhood and therefore spoils the kids, who, as a result, lack discipline. And, as an insulin-dependent diabetic, Amanda worries about whether her medical condition will allow her to cope with the stresses of parenthood. But she loves Tara and wants to prove to her friend, and to herself, that she can do a good job as a mom. There is a lot riding on the next two days for both women, as Amanda needs to prove to herself she has the stamina for motherhood, and Tara needs to see that Amanda is capable of the nurturing and empathizing with her kids that Tara so desperately feels is paramount to good parenting.
