Amber Stevens West and Tichina Arnold from HAPPY TOGETHER and THE NEIGHBORHOOD Talk Motherhood!
I was recently invited to interview two of the coolest moms that are on my favorite TV show on CBS. Amber Stevens West and Tichina Arnold, two of the coolest woman I’ve met thus far, so when I was invited to mom talk roundtable, I’m in!
Talking to these two moms that make it look easy, working on a tv show, moving, running their everyday life made me think, I really need to get my shi*t together. Here’s the thing, what I learned during our “truth talk” which means they laid it all out. No mom has it together, fake it till you make it. What I loved and appreciated was the honesty and candid responses both woman had when we asked questions. I asked Tichina Arnold what words of wisdom she had for moms that feel guilty working or the stay at home moms that feel that they should be working, mom guilt is real and it’s consuming. Tichina, with all heart, which I agree, believes that as moms we need to stop placing pressures on ourselves and we must believe that we’re doing the very best that we possibly can for ourselves and families. We need to release the guilt, shame, and unrealistic expectations and embrace our lives for what it is. That life, however messy it is, it’s beautiful, welcome it and embrace it. Build your tribe and allow the help, it takes a village to raise a child and help keep your sh*t together.
What’s a mom tribe? It’s a small group of mommy friends that turn into family, a sisterhood of woman that support, love, encourage and uplift each other. A tribe that will help build your strength physical and mental, keep your sanity on the most difficult days. We need our mama tribes. I need mine. You need yours. We all need each other. Be there for one another, be kind, loving, understanding and nurturing. Thank you Tichina and Amber for taking the time out, I had a wonderful time hanging out with you two.
Mamas need a good laugh? Make sure you tune into CBS every Monday nights at 8 pm PST and 8:30 pm PST to catch HAPPY TOGETHER and THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
CAST: Damon Wayans, Jr. (Jake), Amber Stevens West (Claire), Felix Mallard (Cooper James), Stephanie Weir (Bonnie), Victor Williams (Gerald), Chris Parnell (Wayne)
HAPPY TOGETHER stars Damon Wayans, Jr. in a comedy about a 30-something happily married couple who begin to reconnect with their younger, cooler selves when a young pop star drawn to their super ordinary suburban life unexpectedly moves in with them. Jake, an accountant, and his dream wife, Claire, a restaurant and bar designer, are very comfortably settled into their marriage, enjoying evenings together on the couch watching TV and scheduling time to change their outgoing voicemail message. Their tame routine gets a makeover when Jake’s client, exuberant music superstar Cooper James, arrives on their doorstep looking for refuge from the paparazzi following a high-profile breakup with his girlfriend. Jake and Claire quickly discover there’s no way they can keep up with their world-famous houseguest’s effortlessly cool, fast-paced lifestyle. Cooper, however, enjoys Jake and Claire’s more relaxed way of life, discovering that a touch of ordinary can be extraordinary for all three of them. Stephnie Weir stars as Claire’s mother, Bonnie; Victor Williams stars as Claire’s father, Gerald; and Chris Parnell stars as Cooper’s agent, Wayne.
CAST: Cedric the Entertainer (Calvin Butler), Max Greenfield (Dave Johnson), Sheaun McKinney (Malcolm Butler), Marcel Spears (Marty Butler), Hank Greenspan (Grover Johnson), Trichina Arnold (Tina Butler), Beth Behrs (Gemma Johnson)
THE NEIGHBORHOOD stars Cedric the Entertainer in a comedy about what happens when the friendliest guy in the Midwest moves his family to a neighborhood in Los Angeles where not everyone looks like him or appreciates his extreme neighborliness. Dave Johnson is a good-natured, professional conflict negotiator. When his wife, Gemma, gets a job as a school principal in L.A., they move from Michigan with their young son, Grover, unfazed that their new dream home is located in a community quite different from their small town. Their opinionated next-door neighbor, Calvin Butler, is wary of the newcomers, certain that the Johnsons will disrupt the culture on the block. However, Calvin’s gracious wife, Tina, rolls out the welcome wagon; their chipper younger son, Marty, thinks the Johnsons could be good for the community; and their unemployed older son, Malcolm, finds Dave may finally be someone who understands him. Dave realizes that fitting into their new community is more complex than he expected, but if he can find a way to connect with Calvin, they have an excellent chance of making their new neighborhood their home.