I Don't Know How She Does It

Ptg semalam lepas keje, sambil2 nak lipat kain sbb nak masak tok leh sbb cik Insyirah kita takde org nak jaga. Cik HB keluar amik sikembar dr sekolah agama. I turned on to Fox Movie dan ternampak movie ini - I Don't Know How She Does It.

Sebab ada Sarah Jessica Parker, I stayed tuned walau kononnya pas cik HB dah balik, I nak masak. Tapi sedap la pulak layan movie ni. Boleh tgk full movienya disini.

Sebab apa? Sebab it reflects how my life is in certain points! How a working mother juggles her career and family at the same. Of course la wataknya adalah  an American lady, lived in Boston but surprisingly what she's dealing everyday at work, with husband and kids mcm sama aje.

So my review goes this way:

Kate Reddy is a working mother of two ( daughter 6yo, son 2yo) who works in a banking world. So setiap hari in her buzy schedule, she would try to manage everything done - works at office and works at home.

Kate's night routine: 

She would fall asleep while waiting for husband for intimate time then wakes up at 4 am and then thinking about "The List" - kid' birthday party, Emily (her daughter) playdate, fill up washer fluid, wax something...anything. On works: finish fiscal report, call Richard's mother (mak mertua!)

My version: Terjaga tgh malam dan dan teringat baju dalam mesin belum sidai, makanan Insyirah utk esok belum buat! Baju belum gosok...bla...bla...Esok meeting, aku dah siapkan semuanya ke belum????

Kate's morning routine: Then she wakes up next morning, get breakfast ready, get Emily ready for school sambil dealing with her tantrum, wait for babysitter to come (babysitter teruk, selalu dtg lambat tapi dia kena buat baik dgn babysitter sbb kalau babysitter berenti, xde org jaga anak!) send Emily to school (selalu kena jeling ngan cikgu sbb selalu lambat...hahaha). Then off to work.

My version: 

Bangun at 5am, pam susu, gosok baju, solat, buat breakfast, siapkan anak2 ke sekolah (sambil menjawab 1001 satu pertanyaan sikembar), siapkan semua beg - nak hantar kat babysitter/daycare, beg pam (7 beg semuanya!) dan hantar Insyirah ke rumah babysitter. Kembar - cik HB hantar...mujur!

Kate at work - Part 1: 

She tried to arrive at office before her boss arrived tp kalau terserempak tu she created reasons for being late...hahaha. She has a junior co-worker, Momo - a young single woman - a Harvard graduate whose hobbies - career...and career. She always sees Kate as a messy working mom - Kate doesn't comb hair properly, there is a stain on her jacket. Momo couldn't understand why Kate constantly checking on her kids - constantly calling her husband to inform she's gonna have late meetings, or be home late. Momo said she doesn't want to have kids and ends up messy like Kate and said "I dont know how she does it"

Another co-worker, or rival-to-be-exact- a guy named Bunce. Suka bodek bos dan takes credit on other people's works, always get the limelight sbb selalu entertain clients - at nightclubs and golf course. A male chauvinist dan selalu kenakan Kate.

Me at work: 

Selalu lambat juga...hehehe. But it's site, ada flexibility. Ada sorang co-worker cam ala2 Momo jugak (penah citer kat SINI). Tapi skrg sy dah abaikan dia sbb dah tak larat dgr komen2 dia pasal my looks, my dirty car, asik  sibuk ngan urusan anak2...bla..bla.

Tengahari akan pegi jemput kembar dari sekolah dan hantar pegi daycare. Then lunch kat umah sambil2 angkat baju dijemuran dan sidai baju yg basuh mlm smlm. Tak pon lipat baju.

Selalu sms cik HB utk bagitau "tengahari ni I x leh amik kembar sbb ada meeting", " I'll be late ptg ni, so tolong amik Insyirah".

Kerja sekarang, takde co-worker kaki bodek yg diketahui tp selalu kena jaga2 dgn taktik contractor yg kadang2 suka tikam belakang. Juga tahan sabar layan kerenah clients yg mcm2.

Kerja dulu - mmg byk species kaki bodek ni. Keje nak senang aje, part2 susah kita buat cam nak rak, tup2 bila dah abis design, suka dia je nak take cover. Projek cikai tak mau, nak projek mega aje...huhuhu.

Kate at work - Part 2:

Her boss broke the news in the meeting that their client, Mr. Jack Abelhammer is interested in Kate's business proposal. So she is to go to New York to have a meeting with this guy. She was happy at first but felt reluctant sbb working outstation will frustrate her family.

Then she received email from her best friend, jokingly asking her to go out for fun night. They chat almost everyday ckp pasal life ans so on. Lepas tu email from Jack Abelhammer, saying that he's looking forward to meet her tomorrow.

She replied both emails, little did she know that the emails sent to wrong recipients!

Me at work:

Keje skrg: penah sekali nama naik utk pegi oversea FAT. Ikutkan mmg nak pegi tambah2 dah lama x naik flight. Tapi bila fikirkan keluarga, tak payah la. Cepat2 kata tak nak. Bukan ada sapa2 nak heran pon sbb mmg ramai berebut nak pegi FAT.

Keje dulu: After 2-3 tahun dok buat projek2 bermasalah, tinggalan sapa2 tah, akhirnya I was rewarded with a new project which I kena buat research and study then come out with design, memang la sgt happy - because you can see your initial printed on the drawings. But the price was - kena selalu outstation! Masa tu kembar kecik, cik HB pon selalu outstation, jadi diorg selalu kena hantar balik kampung. 

Chatting: Yes, I have chatting friends on Skype. Kawan2 zaman uniten. Tapi so far belum tersalah hantar email personal and kerja.

Kate back home on the day:

She broke the news to the family about outstation. Emily got angry. Kate found out her babysitter cut her son's hair without her knowledge. She was darn frustrated coz she never cuts his hair and she wanted to do it on her own. But she couldn't scold her babysitter because she needs to keep her happy!

So she went off to New York crying over the hair cut issue and being separated from the kids.....

In New York:

Together with Momo, they were getting ready for meeting with Jack Abelhammer. Kate was scratching her hair on the way and while Momo looking at her, feeling disgusted. They were in the office lobby when Kate  (on the phone with someone planning for Emily's playdate) had to take out something from her handbag and asked Momo to hold some stuffs from her handbag while she searching for it - you name it - toys, snacks, kids book, toy again, vitamin, girl swimsuit. And Momo looked at her in horror!

(Sama cam my handbag - penuh with kids' stuffs...hahaha)

Then at the lift, she noticed that Momo had a weird look on her, and Momo just said " I dont know how you do it". And Kate told Momo she would know how to do it once she becomes a mother. And Momo said she doesn't want to be a mother. Kate told Momo (while still scratching her hair crazily) " I promise you  that being a mother is the most rewarding and enriching experience one can have" and explained that her hair is itchy maybe because she got her eczema again due to stress.

And Momo looked at her in horrific even more!

Outside Abelhammer's office, she received call from her best friend, asking why she sent email about 'looking forward to see you at the meeting' and she realized that she sent absurd email to Jack Abelhammer. And the guy now standing behind her and she apologized profusely about the email thing.

To make things worse, she received sms "Emily sent home with LICE. Whole family must be treated"

(Part ni mmg hilarious, imagine she had an important meeting, she just found out she had lice on her hair and she kept trying to ignore the itchiness, while presenting her business proposal! Kembar pon kena kutu sebulan dua and sy pon terasa seperti dijangkiti...huhuhu)

But she still managed to make Jack accepted her proposal and he asked her whether she could put her full commitment to this project, working late, travel a lot - knowing that she already has busy life at work and at home.

And she said "Of course I can"

At the same her husband also just got a big project to handle. Kate promised she would manage everything successfully.

So there goes her new routine...

Stay back at the office, sambil keje, sempat dodoikan anak tido through phone (his client was impressed with this),balik rumah sambung buat keje opis lagi campur keje rumah. Ada satu hari tu sepatutnya Kate balik awal sbb husbandnya ada important tp Kate terlupa dan handphone pon off. Bila teringat, it was already late and balik rumah lintang-pukang, thinking the husband are waiting anxiously for her. Turned out, the kids were left with a neighbour whom Kate pon tak berapa kenal and she was sleeping on the couch masa Kate sampai.

Kate was angry but Richard said what she expected him to do? He has his own work too...then they started arguing about how much things one has to do, and another complained how much things one has to tolerate.

*Typical argument of busy working parents...huh?*

Kate continued with busy schedule and went outstations....which meant spending more time alone with Jack Abelhammer (Pierce Brosnan) - a handsome, rich, middle-aged guy...and he's a WIDOWER.

Oh, Momo broke the news that she got pregnant and intended to abort it. Kate persuaded her not to.

Then Thanksgiving came. Kate vowed she would take leave and spend the holiday with the family and would not get the work involved. On the other hand, Bunce was trying to steal her project and told her he can take over if anything needed to be done during the holiday. She said " no, thank you".

But on Thanksgiving night, Momo called her and told her that Jack wanted her to call him back on important notes. Apparently she has to go for a business pitch on the next day because their client is only available on that day and will go off somewhere abroad for a long period. So they have to catch him on time to make sure they secure the business. Jack said if she can't, it's ok because Bunce can replace her.

Of course she said NO, she would go.

So off she went with heavy heart and seeing disappointment in her family's eyes.

Another promise broken.....

The business pitch presentation went well but later Kate was told her little boy was injured and in the hospital. She rushed to the hospital quickly.

Selingan: Statement by Allison (Kate's best friend)  :

A man announces that he has leave office early to be with a child, and he is hailed as selfless, doting paternal role model

A woman announces that she has to leave office early to be with her child on sickbed, and she is downed as disorganized, irresponsible and showing little commitment!

Hmmm...cam betul je kan? 

Kate and Richard argued again that night. Richard was angry because it was very difficult to reach Kate to inform her about the accident. The argument spread to how busy Kate is, she's always not there and even if she's there, she's not really there. Their life revolves around logistics, endless lists and making everyone unhappy and miserable.

Kate made a mental note to herself:

1. Get my life together
2. Stop making lists.

Next morning, while getting Emily ready for school they had a talk. She apologized for leaving them on Thanksgiving night and promised not to do it again. Since she has promised her that they would do snowman together during Thanksgiving, but she broke it, she promised again they do it when there's a snowfall again. But Emily shot her back and told her she made a lot of promised and all have been broken.

Sedih kan bila anak cakap macam tu?

That morning at work, his boss told her that she might have to go to Atlanta for a task and she was speechless.

Jack Abelhammer also came to see her and they took a walk. Jack told her they won the business pitch.

And also he revealed he has some feelings for Kate! And asked Kate whether she has the same feelings or not.

PLATONIC LOVE that is!

But calmly, not even surprised, Kate told Jack she has already Richard in her life and wished Jack will meet someone who will cherished his life. And while they were talking, snow started falling down.

Kate rushed back to the office and went straight to her boss. Bunce was there with some bunch of male staff - having meeting. Kate told her boss she would go to Atlanta on Monday. But her boss said "no, you are going on the weekend, the client is expecting you"

But Kate said "I can't, I am unavailable".

Boss: "Because?"

Kate: "I have to make a Snowman"

She was so determined she did not mind losing her job because:

1. Because she has 2 life and she can't enjoy either one of it.
2. Because trying to be a man, is a waste of a woman
3. Because my kids will be growing up in flash, and I will miss it.
4. Because somehow, somewhere, someday, things have to change

In the meantime, Richard picked up Emily from school and telling her mummy is not coming, not because she doesn't love her but she has to work.

And Emily said " She said she will make snowman with me when there's a snowfall. She promised - twice!"

And then they saw Kate on the school yard, looking for them.

Kate told Richard :

"I know things have to be different, and I know if I don't have this job, things would be better in so many ways, but me without that job, isn't me. And me without you, and Ben and Emily - is nothing"

She told Richard what she told her boss:

"Look, I've given everything I have to this job and I love it, I do...but I can't dump my family  on short notice anymore. If you think what I have given is not enough for you, then fire me but I won't quit, I will not and cannot give up".

Her boss said " Then get out" (She thought she was fired though)

Then her boss continued " Go out. You can go to Atlanta on Monday. Leave now before I reconsider".

And Kate was so happy.

She told Richard from that time on, she would rather making her bosses disappointed than letting the family disappointed.

Richard, on the other is turning himself to be like Kate - he makes lists now! hahaha.

Momo gave birth to a baby boy and instantly loves him...now she knows how does it feel to be a mother.

Movie ni walaupun x mendapat sambutan di US, for me it's a good movie. Biasa la movie2 parenting yg xde unsur2 seks, ganas mmg selalu x dpt sambutan.