Moms' Night Out: This One's for YOU!

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I went to see it. I had to see it!

Despite the fact that it was the first time leaving the baby alone with my husband, who, as it turns out, had reason to be panicked. Apparently my kids just don't take bottles. The baby had my husband frazzled and both kids were still up when I got home.

As the movie previews began and the reminder to turn your cell phone off came on, I was reminded to check my cell phone for any life-threatening emergencies. It seems obvious that in a movie titled "Moms' Night Out," they should just change the commercial to say "okay, go ahead and check your phone one more time before putting it on vibrate and keeping it in your pocket so that you can be nervous the whole movie long about that jolting vibration summoning you home immediately!"

The movie was apropos and much needed at this point (or any point I am sure) in Mommyhood. My friend, who has four kids, and I just sat there nodding and laughing as we watched a mockery of our lives unfold on screen. This was truly a case of art imitating life, and laughter is the best medicine!

I was surprised at how many moms feel the way that I do. Loving their vocation, but also questioning it regularly, asking themselves if they are happy or fit to do the job they have signed up for. I just had a moment last week, when I told my husband that I didn't want to celebrate Mother's Day. A rough week left me feeling like I wasn't doing a very good job at the whole mommy thing anyway, and didn't think I should be celebrated. I was shocked to hear that same conversation play out in the movie between the main character, Ally, and her husband. Surprisingly, I felt better, and validated rather than "psycho" (another word to describe some of Ally's mommy outbursts).

Okay, so maybe my house isn't the only zoo in town after all. Maybe there are other "good moms" out there questioning where they went wrong. Re-painting walls, pulling things out of toilets, cleaning up, cleaning up, cleaning up.

Maybe there are other moms out there holding onto their favorite flashy high heel shoes, just to admire (without seeing their impractical nature) and reminisce about a time when they actually had somewhere to wear them (and remembered how to without breaking an appendage).

Despite being labeled "anti-feminist" by the media reviews, Moms' Night Out has a 86% positive rating on the social media website Rotten Tomatoes. It is really impossible to explain the stay-at-home mom 'thing' to those who don't get it.

For instance, one critic's response to the movie was, "Mainly, you have to wonder why Allyson doesn't just hire a nanny, find a job, and get out of the house."

Do I ever feel this way? Yes, at least several times a week. Do I do it? No. Why? I don't know. Maybe because at the end of the day it is truly "all worth it," and I know that I will miss it when it's gone. Maybe because it is hard in the moment, as I am living it, but I am so thankful each night as I reflect and laugh at the day.

Produced by Jon and Andy Erwin, a team of brothers who focus on unique stories of hope and redemption, Moms' Night Out is the second success the duo has had teaming up with Provident Films, after their release of October Baby in 2010. Sean Astin, Sarah Drew, Patricia Heaton, and Trace Adkins bring a competitive "A" film quality to the Erwin's latest project. Moms' Night Out also features Alex Kendrick, the directer of Sherwood Pictures films, Flywheel, Facing The Giants, Fireproof, and Courageous.

As budget has increased for these projects, so has professionalism, writing, and acting quality, and networking and distribution. Moms' Night Out is their best combined effort so far, and a tribute to the Christian community in film, as well as stay-at-home moms everywhere!

If you haven't seen it, mostly because you are teaching, taxiing, cooking, pulling things out of toilets, and just don't have the time...make time. This one's for you!

[youtube_sc url="http://youtu.be/Leb6Vnhbp1A"]

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