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- The murders and disappearances of an estimated 500 Aboriginal women in Canada over the past 30 years.
- A dark comedy about a cigarette smoker who wants to quit the habit as quickly and painlessly as possible. In his desperation, he tries a "foolproof" ancient method with sinister consequences.
- Swap is the story of two reluctant participants in a couple swap who spend an uncomfortable night together.
- "Wedding fairy" Scott Thompson and his team of five wedding gurus have only two short weeks to create a fabulous wedding for a lucky gay or lesbian couple.
- Documents the legacy of Joe Average - his life, his art, his attitudes and his activism.
- Single, carefree, ladies man Gil Gamboa picks up the gauntlet and accepts our challenge to be our weekend "crash test mommy" to the three young energetic children of his longtime friends Cathy and Cliff Empey in suburban Langley, British Columbia. As Cathy, imminently expecting child #4, is limo'd away for a dream weekend of pedicures and foot massages, lessons in watercolor painting, and a photo sessions with a professional photographer, Gil embarks on his odyssey of parenting chores and challenges. As if it's not enough feeding three finicky little kids, doing the usual mountain of laundry and perpetually cleaning the tables, chairs, counters and toilets, our devilish Crash Test Mommy hosts Dagmar Midcap and Charlie David make Gil's mommy experience even more frantic, surreptitiously emptying the cupboards of all instant foods. Gil parries by feeding the kids a potpourri of tuna-cheese-ketchup tortillas and fresh salad smothered in corn syrup, all of which, to the amazement of mom watching on the web cams, they eat. When the BC Lions Cheerleading Squad shows up at the house, Gil almost forgets that his priorities should really focus on the care of the household and children but he ultimately survives the challenge and looks forward to having his own family one day, as long as that day doesn't come too soon.
- What happens when you take a downtown career girl who epitomizes urban chic and get her to act as "crash test mommy" for her suburban sister-in-law's two little girls? Chaos, that's what! Jennifer Gill, this episode's candidate, travels out of Vancouver's downtown core into the deepest, darkest minivan territory of Delta, to care for Deb and Jeff Hutton's daughters: Evan, 5, and Megan, 2. While Deb luxuriates in the gigantic bed of a four star hotel, sleeping in and experiencing mud facials, pedicures and, best of all, adult conversation, Jennifer confronts a barrage of parenting responsibilities, including swarms of small children arriving for a block party, stressful supermarket excursions, crying duets by the little girls, cooking dilemmas, tea parties and, most challenging, keeping the kids happy without letting them watch TV or videos. War may be hell but, as Jenn discovers, parenting is right up there.
- Laid back surfer dude Jimmy Jamieson is about to get a crash course in Mommydom when he's picked to be this episode's Crash Test Mommy. His mission: to look after, for 48 hours, his sister-in-law Sharon's four young sons, ranging in age from five years to 19 months old, at their Chilliwack home. Our host, Dagmar Midcap, whisks Sharon off for a blissful, two-day getaway, enjoying a luxurious hotel suite, gourmet meals, a private yoga session, shopping sprees, and romantic strolls with husband, Leif. Back at home, Uncle Jimmy's four energetic young charges begin to run him off his feet, as he juggles chaotic family expeditions to the supermarket, messy adventures in home pizza-making, the disastrous combination of kids and room painting, a health medley of upset stomachs and minor injuries, and a haphazard regimen of nap times and housecleaning chores.
- Leslea Vinet agrees to be Crash Test Mommy to her cousin Sharla and Henrik Kragh's five kids, aged 14, 12, 9, 5 and 3, for 48 hours at their suburban home in Langley, B.C. From the get-go, the single, thirty-something Leslea, although up for the challenge, clearly has little concept of the chaos that awaits her. Our host, Dagmar Midcap, sweeps real mom Sharla off for two full days of the Cinderella treatment, including a night at the casino tables with her best girlfriend, one-on-one coffee brewing instruction from a world champion brew master and, with husband Henrik, a romantic salsa dancing lesson. Back at home, Leslea's philosophy of winging it seems to work for awhile, but then is stretched to its limits with the demands of putting on a birthday party for 25 six-year-old. Turns out the main attraction of the party is a visit by members of the Vancouver Giants, who stage a ball hockey exhibition, featuring Leslea's debut as a goalie. Battling exhaustion, headache, and ignorance about how to cook hot dogs, Leslea bends and bends, but does not break, despite mischievous ganging up from the kids and our co-host Charlie David. By the end of the 48 hours Leslea has won a small victory, but her bigger prize is a newfound knowledge and appreciation of the exhausting challenges Sharla deals with every day as a real Mom of five young children.
- Barry Tildsley, concrete truck driver from Pitt Meadows, B.C. and friend of Ruth-Anne and Dennis Fanning, doesn't believe that being a parent is as hard as going to work. Barry thinks Ruth-Anne, who has four young children under the age of six, presents herself as a martyr; she thinks he's arrogant and doesn't respect what she does as a full-time mom. The next 48 hours, with Barry on board as our "crash test mommy", will prove one of them right.... but which one?
- Kathy Mitchell thinks the atmosphere in her Surrey, B.C. home is like a circus - five kids under the age of eight will do that to anyone. Her easygoing, garrulous husband, Greg, talks a good line about parenting but hasn't really had to do mom's daily grunt work. But that's not a problem for Greg: "It's easy," he declares, "and it's only for a couple of days." Famous last words. This weekend, as our Crash Test Mommy, Greg is put to the test. Kathy is whisked off by private plane for a relaxing weekend with her friend Carla to a stunning resort on Vancouver Island's west coast. By the time Kathy comes home after 48 hours, it's Greg who looks like he's been through the wringer. He claims to have learned a lot about being patient, about breaking old habits and about learning to be more organized. More than anything he's happy to have his wife and the mother of his children back at home and on the job.
- Twenty-nine year-old dental assistant Sandra Guay thinks her cousin Wendy Colville allows son Matt, 8 and daughter Taylor, 4, to get whatever they want. This weekend, with Crash Test Mommy Sandra in charge of Wendy's North Delta brood, things will be different and the kids will follow the rules!...says Sandra! Right from the bell, Drill Sergeant Sandra has a running battle trying to keep sugar fiend Matt away from the sweets in the kitchen, monitoring princess Taylor, and planning and executing a disco-themed backyard BBQ for the neighborhood kids - all while the world's worst dishwasher repairman simultaneously wreaks havoc in her kitchen. As Matt covertly gobbles candy from his secret bedroom cache, and Sandra continually sets off the smoke detector with her culinary prowess, Wendy enjoys a lifesaving hiatus from 24/7 motherhood. On mom's return home, Sandra admits to a newfound respect for how hard Wendy has to work as the real mom, but Wendy repays the compliment, congratulating her cousin for a doing a pretty decent job as this episode's Crash Test Mommy.
- Über-organized single woman Christine Ferreira likes things to be just so...all the "i"s in her life dotted and her "t"s crossed. But she's about to learn that no amount of planning can prevent the mayhem of parenting, after accepting the challenge to parent friend and colleague Willow Yamauchi's two young children, Sophie and Flynn.
- Between the long hours she puts in at her film industry job and caring for her three young boys, Alysse Leite-Rogers is desperate for a vacation...even a weekend away would be a life-saver for her. Into the breach steps old friend Helen Taraviras, who bravely agrees to be our *crash test mommy*. By day, Helen is a nurse in a cosmetic surgery clinic; by night, a carefree single woman who jokes that she's more accustomed to 'making reservations than making muffins.' After we ferry Alysse and husband Shawn off for a weekend of pampering at a luxury resort on Vancouver Island, Helen is immediately thrown into the belly of the beast called motherhood. Preparing separate meals for the baby, the kids and the family dog, packing the brood off on rounds of shopping and to soccer practice, learning to milk a cow and preparing for a party attended by a group of rambunctious seven year-old pirates, Helen gets a brutal lesson in multi-tasking. By halfway through Day One she's already eager to throw in the towel. But she gets her second wind - the second of about 5 Helen will need over the 48 hour period - and re-enters the fray with pluck and aplomb. By the time Alysse returns, Helen has learned a lot about setting limits on the kids and juggling priorities, although she confesses that parenting 'is harder than work!'
- Single gal Maureen Mackinnon knows she's self-centered but is nevertheless insulted when her girlfriends joke she'd make a lousy parent. Maureen is determined to prove them wrong and therefore agrees, for 48 hours, to be *crash test mommy* of Jenn Goodman's two, extremely active, little boys, Josh and Jacob. The confident Maureen knows how to multi-task - isn't that what parenting is all about? "Piece of cake... bring it on!", she says. Maureen takes hold of the parenting reins, while Jenn is transported from her North Vancouver home to Whistler Ski Resort for a weekend of pampering.
- What happens when a 25 year-old "walking Barbie", who loves shopping, margaritas and boys, has to drop all that and get down and dirty as a 24/7 mom? In this new episode of CRASH TEST MOMMY, Michelle Albas gets a rude awakening after agreeing to sub for 48 hours as mom for the three little kids of Michelle and Paul Gent of North Delta, B.C. The fact that real mom Michelle is the other Michelle's real-life boss makes our *crash test mommy* a little nervous, even though our young candidate figures this 'parenting' thing will be pretty easy. Arriving in a lovely and immaculate pink and white ensemble and with perfect hair and makeup, Michelle, who never met a takeout menu she didn't love, is horrified to learn that over the next two days she'll be expected to cook, from scratch, six complete meals for Lucas, 8; Natasha, 7; and Tyus, 3. Real life mom, Michelle, is already licking her lips in anticipation at what will transpire....and in fact, our real mom hasn't be gone two minutes when Michelle already uses her first SOS card to call a friend for help and advice.
- 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.
- Suzette Laqua, thinking about starting her own family with boyfriend Miles, is eager to play *crash test mommy* for the two young sons of childhood friend Kim Giles. But Suzette starts with two strikes against her: she can't cook and she's got a mouth like a Prairie trucker. Kim is limo'd away for a Cinderella weekend of pampering at a luxury resort, culminating in her joining members of the Canadian National Women's softball team in a spirited ball game against her former teammates from an earlier, more carefree era of her life. On the home front, a whole different ballgame is being played out, as Suzette has trouble getting food on the table and keeping certain bad words from spilling out of her mouth. Suzette also has a tendency to procrastinate on tasks and bribe the kids with chocolate. Just for fun, we send in a family friend who asks Suzette to pet-sit Fluffy, his big, furry tarantula, and then an avant garde interior designer, who gets Suzette working on some peculiar kitchen renovations. Whether donning full Hazmat gear of latex gloves, mask and goggles so she can change Ryan's diapers, following our designer's instructions to paint the kitchen window panes black, and even dealing with the trauma of Fluffy the killer spider escaping and going AWOL, Suzette never loses her cool. Nothing seems to faze this woman! Despite, or maybe because of, her 'play it as it lays' M.O., the unflappable Suzette survives the weekend with aplomb. Kim, refreshed and reinvigorated from her weekend away from home, thinks Suzette has done a pretty decent job, considering everything. As for Suzette, she begrudgingly admits to having gained insights into the complexities of parenting that give her a new and profound respect for Kim's daily routine. And Miles, Suzette's boyfriend, also thinks Suzette has done a great job - and appears ready to get their family started right away!
- You see them plying their trade every day as they provide the weary and red-eyed masses with their drug of choice - caffeine. Their job doesn't appear to be remarkably difficult, and it seems surprising that there could possibly be a coffee subculture complete with its own latte art competitions and barista championships. Bob will enter into this world when he enters into the Canadian National Barista Championships. He'll compete by making four espressos, four cappuccinos, and four signature beverages in fifteen minutes, in front of technical and sensory judges and a large audience. Bob will train with Canadian Champion Barista Sammy Piccolo, who warns that it is not as easy as it looks. However, with hard training, Bob might be able to compete after four weeks. Bob's challenge is to pack the training into just five short days. His reward? Entry into a unique and close circle of people who are passionate about the bean and live for the art of caffeine.
- Bob Blumer loves spicy foods. The hotter the better (at least that's what he thinks.) Like a vigilante gunslinger in a western movie he'll journey to the hot, dusty heart of the hot chile empire: Hatch, New Mexico. Located in the plains of the Rio Grande Valley, Hatch is a chile-head's Mecca. Bob will work in the fertile fields of the surrounding Hatch Valley picking chile peppers in a 40°C heat discovering enough new varieties and various tastes to satisfy a steady throng of new converts. And then he'll go further. Bob's challenge is to prove that he really can take the heat by entering the hot chile-eating contest. He'll be going head-to-head with some extremely big guys who see their ability to eat insanely hot chiles as proof of manhood. His reward? Survival, and everything he needs to know to make his very own hot sauce.
- Making it to the finish line of a 26-mile marathon is a grueling test of stamina that few people are capable of completing. But what about a full-fledged marathon that includes runners in costume, 22 wine tasting stations and an oyster bar along the route? The Médoc Marathon, a raucous, wine-soaked run that takes place every fall in the heart of France's legendary Bordeaux region, is just such an event. Bob will need to get himself in top shape not just for an intense physical test - but for a psychological one too. How will he keep himself focused on the finish line when there are so many mouthwatering and potentially impairing temptations threatening his progress? His challenge is to remember that even though it may seem like a party (that's what the other 8000 runners seem to think), it's still a race - and a long one at that. His reward? A whirlwind tour through some of the finest wineries in the world - and the chance to win his weight in first-growth Bordeaux.
- Bob Blumer attempts the ultimate "Guinnes Diet". A challenge of having nothing but Guinness Beer during a period of 5 consecutive days.
- Twenty-something Jenn Rees lives in her parents' basement, while slinging drinks three evenings a week at a local bar. The lifestyle of this late-rising, vacation-taking Party Girl, is about to change, however, when she becomes the 48 hour 'crash test mommy' to her older sister Kim's two assertive little children: Bobby, five, and Ainsleigh, four. Both women have something to prove over the weekend. Kim says that Jenn insists on giving her parenting advice, especially about disciplining the kids better. Kim wants Jenn to appreciate the 24/7 work that goes into being a mother, and that the "Yes, Mam, No, Mam" approach, while it sounds good in theory, doesn't always work in practice. In addition to running a tight ship, Jenn also wants to prove to Kim (and to the rest of her dubious family) that she is capable of being responsible when called upon.
- Parents Erinn and Mark Kredba enforce strict rules for their children, but the children's grandmother does not believe in rules for kids.
- North Vancouver's Penny Merletti is a part-time ER nurse, a job that probably helps her keep her cool while almost single-handedly gripping the parenting reins over her two active young children: Ally, age 7, and Andy, age 4. Her amiable husband, Alex, who runs the family construction business, was raised in a traditional home and thinks that cooking, cleaning, grocery and clothes shopping, and taking the kids to soccer are all 'women's work'. Besides, Alex thinks parenting is easy - all it takes, as in his business, is better organization, delegation of tasks and better time management. As for Penny, she wants her husband to stop taking her for granted, to realize that occasional babysitting isn't the same as 24/7 parenting, and to start pitching in!
- Holly Gaden never gets a moment's rest. She had her first child at age 16, and now, at 27, she's got two more young children under her wing who demand full time care. It's a loud, chaotic household, with three girls, ranging in age from 16 months to 13 years, constantly competing for mom's attention. Holly's sister Becky Williams is always telling Holly that she needs to be more relaxed and calm when she's dealing with her kids. Becky thinks Holly gets too worked up and stressed out about her role as a mother, and this in turn creates a more stressful household. Of course, Becky says all this from her perspective as a nurse - where everything works according to established medical procedures, and where remaining calm under pressure is considered a cardinal virtue. Becky thinks she has the prescription for stress-free parenting: remain calm and the kids will magically "chill out." It doesn't work out that way.
- Career-minded hospital administrator Brynn Fominoff is the youngest of 3 sisters and the only one without children. Newly-married Brynn is trying to decide whether to have kids, and doesn't understand why big sister Michaelyn Hoven finds parenting her own 3 young children such an all-consuming, major deal. If Brynn were their mother, even for 48 hours, she'd use her business smarts and time management skills to mold the kids to her own schedule. "Definitely doable", she says, confidently. But, as Brynn embarks on her weekend as crash test mommy, she's about to find out what a handful it is to parent a girlie-girl princess, a boy in his 'terrible twos', and a teething baby.
- Ali Enns leads a hectic life as mother to three young children, but her biggest headache is her builder husband, Carl. When he comes home at night, Carl can't understand why the house is a mess, with unwashed or unfolded laundry covering the furniture, and toys strewn all over the floors. "I love Ali, but she needs to pull up her socks," says Carl! He thinks a little better time management, plus training the kids to clean up after themselves, will remedy everything.
- Lisa Roberts is a single, working mom with two girls - Andee, twelve, and Hannah, six. She believes in a strict regimen for her daughters, including a healthy diet of non-processed foods, lots of exercise, and the sharing of responsibilities. In her mind, this holy trinity makes life at home run more smoothly. Her ex-boyfriend, Dan McDermid, loves spending time with Lisa's two daughters but thinks she's way too hard on them. His mantra is "anything goes" - let them eat and do what they want; they'll learn from their mistakes. Lisa wants Dan to understand that parenting solo has unique challenges and requires disciplining the kids and getting them to pitch in. She gives Dan $300., a sum intended to last him through the weekend - including all the groceries, feeding the troops of girlfriends who come for a sleepover, and an expedition to the amusement park. Can Dan stay within the budget, get the girls to eat good foods, and survive to tell the tale?
- Karen Weeks' life is a hurricane, as she juggles a full-time job with solo parenting four kids, two daughters and two sons ranging in age from 8 to 15. It's a noisy, seemingly chaotic household, and Karen's affluent little sister Dana Weeks is constantly telling Karen that a bit more effective communication would bring added peace and harmony to big sis's home. Mind you, even though Dana has two little children herself, she also has a crew of nannies and housekeepers helping her out. As Dana takes the reins as crash test mommy, we witness what happens when two worlds collide, as the wealthy Dana is forced to get down and dirty while trying to persuade the kids to follow her agenda.
- Danny Cabral and his wife Susie have a toddler son, and are considering having more children. What better way for Danny to decide than a 48-hour test drive as parent to big sister Suzanne St-Germain's energetic three kids? Danny thinks Suzanne caves way too often to the desires of Talia, 8, Kyra, 6, and Elijah, 5, and that a little more emphasis on the tough in tough love would make life a whole lot easier for his sister. He's confident that, with himself at the helm, things will be different. As for Suzanne, she fears Danny's headed for a reality check that might make him swear off having more kids of his own.
- Terrie and Gord Bradwell have four boys, ranging from four to 11 years of age, meaning the chaos level is always at maximum. Gord's job as a commercial pilot often keeps him away from home, sometimes for as long as a week at a time, and his frequent absences mean it's Terrie who shoulders the majority of the parenting work, along with managing a part-time job. To keep one step ahead of the chaos that's always threatening to overtake her household, she's become an über-organized mom, making lists and using calendars and colour-coded charts to structure the daily life of her family. Gord, when he's home, is a fun dad, and feels mom needs to ease up on her obsessive organizing. He thinks Terrie would be happier if she just let things slide a bit, chilled out, went to the gym, and took a little more time for herself. Terrie thinks Gord's missing the point. He's good at following Terrie's flight plan for the family, but she's tired of being his Air Traffic Controller at home and wants him to get more involved and show a little initiative for a change. As Gord takes over the controls as a Crash Test Mommy for the next 48 hours, can he still be a fun dad while learning to make parenting decisions on his own, or will the pressure of flying solo cause him to crash and burn?
- Lesley Seitz, full-time mom, devotes every minute of every day caring for her three children, Gillian, 7, Lewis, 3, and little Claudia, 19 months. Lesley's younger brother, Gwil Roberts, 35, single and sociable, is a capable, 'can do' kind of guy. Lesley and Gwil were raised in an incredibly strict household, but now have differing attitudes on raising kids. Bachelor Gwil believes that, because of her own upbringing, Lesley has chosen to raise her children in a more relaxed, flexible fashion. He thinks that if her kids were put on the straight and narrow, and given less choice, they would be better behaved, leaving Lesley a happier person with a little time for herself and her own needs. Gwil sets out to prove this is do-able, while Lesley wants to show her well-intentioned brother that the situation's not as cut and dry as he thinks!
- Renee Nuttal and her longtime fiancé;, Jeff Ostafichuk, are finally tying the knot next week after seven years together. But big questions still remain in Renee's mind about whether 'big kid' Jeff is capable of being a responsible parent to their two sons, six year-old Zack and one year-old Kody. Renee worries that, if the lazy Jeff doesn't get serious about pulling his share, there will be major problems ahead in their marriage. Renee is hoping that in the next 48 hours, when Jeff becomes crash test mommy in the household, she'll see a Jeff willing and able to be a stronger husband and a more compassionate, involved father.
- Teresa Holoman not only parents five kids, ranging in age from 4 to 17, plus two dogs, but also helps out her husband John in the family's driving school business. Nevertheless, easy-going John somehow thinks he can do a better job than his wife at keeping the peace among the kids and getting the kids to help in keeping the house clean. Teresa thinks he's dreaming in color about all that stuff, but also thinks the more important issue is her husband's habit of disappearing into his den and disengaging from the family, who, like Teresa, need him to be closer and more involved in their daily lives. Maybe John's easygoing because he's got it easier.
- Single mom Christine Kennedy holds down a full time job, attends school part-time, and still manages to be a 24/7 parent for her two daughters, Samantha, 12, and Cassidy, 9. She thinks she's doing the best she can. But Christine's younger sister, Keri Boughton, a deputy sheriff by profession, thinks her big sis' house is an unholy mess and could be kept a lot cleaner and shipshape if the girls chipped in more with the cleaning and maintenance. Each sister is frustrated by the other's unwillingness to understand or accept her point of view. Will their entrenched positions change after Keri accepts the challenge of being crash test mommy for the weekend?
- Meet laid-back Lisa Boerescu and her more structured little sister Lori. The two women were firmly raised by their Portuguese-Canadian mother in true Old World style. These days, Lisa has her hands full with two kids of her own, Marisa and Danica, while Lori still lives at home with their parents. Lisa resents the fact that Lori is always sniping at her for the house being dirty, mealtimes late, and bedtimes non-existent. For the next 48 hours Lori, as crash test mommy, will try to impose her own idea of order and a rigid schedule on her young charges.
- Andrea Liske's mother, Markata Schober, doesn't think her daughter is teaching her two kids, Stephanie, 11, and Jordan, 8, the kind of life skills that will help them succeed as adults, and lets them all know it, to the misery of everyone involved. As for Andrea, she just wishes her Czech-Canadian mom would forget giving the constant lectures on "Old World" ways, and accept the children and Andrea's parenting style the way they are. Andrea thinks that Markata and her grandchildren would have a closer, more fun relationship if Markata would stop lecturing them and just try to enjoy them. That's the role Andrea's own grandmother played in her life and it was important to her. With Markata agreeing to be crash test mommy, the two women strike an arrangement. Day One will be done Grandma's way; Day Two will be done the kids' way.
- Jenna Losie is a stressed-out single mom with two young children and a job, who has recently separated from husband Matt Carnegie. Matt and Jenna could never agree on parenting issues when they were together, and it's not getting any easier now that they've split. Matt's like a big kid, and likes to have a good time, but as far as Jenna's concerned, he's not much of a parent. Matt wants the kids to visit him more often at his new home in Kelowna, B.C., which is four hours from their home. But Matt's general immaturity and irresponsibility makes Jenna hesitant about this. She doesn't have a comfort level with his parenting skills and doesn't feel he's working in tandem with her to impart consistent parenting messages to their daughter Chloe, 6, and son Reese, 18 months. Jenna needs Matt to step up to the plate and show that he can be a real parent. A lot is at stake this weekend, as Matt becomes the 48-hour crash test mommy to his two kids.
- Katina and Mitchell Weiser are a happily married couple whose seemingly light-hearted disagreements and playful teasing signal deeper issues. Mitchell has the perception that Katina spends her day sitting around and procrastinating. She wants him to appreciate that from the moment her head is off the pillow, she's run off her feet. She home schools their two kids, runs a daycare out of the house, and cooks healthy foods from scratch. Mitchell's old-fashioned attitudes and values are likely behind some of the sore spots within the family. He's alienated himself from his daughters and made his wife feel he is unwilling to help. He literally shuts the door to them during the day by retreating to his home office, and doesn't allow anyone to see him through his work shift. Mitchell and 13-year-old Kaitlyn's relationship is already souring, as Dad wishes she'd stay young forever, limiting her access to the Internet and trendy clothing. Mom's worried Dad will soon be taking the same approach with their younger daughter, Ashley. During Mitchell's Crash Test weekend, Katina is hopeful Mitchell learns how much she contributes to the household. She also wants to see him re-engage with his daughters. If he doesn't, there is a very real chance their marriage could soon wind up on the rocks.
- Christine Neufeld knows her husband Norm has a demanding, stressful job as an undercover cop, but his long hours and lengthy absences are straining their marriage and making Norm a stranger in his own home. Christine feels their two young children, four year-old Kaleb and 18 month Adam, deserve better. And it gets worse. Norm doesn't respect Christine's job as full-time mom, thinking it's nothing compared to the nasty world he finds himself in every day. Things have to change in the Neufeld home if this marriage, and this family, are going to survive. Norm agrees to be crash test mommy and dives headlong into the task. He'll certainly feel the heat, but will he gain respect for Christine and her job as caregiver? Christine feels their marriage needs this mutual respect and that Norm needs to learn to make family a priority in his life. This very real family story plays out for our cameras in the 48 hours of Crash Test Mommy.
- Transmission specialist Phil Materi doesn't understand why his wife, Clare, is too tired at the end of the day to give him some "loving". After parenting their two kids all day, as well as doing some part-time cake baking and being a part-time fitness instructor, Clare says she's exhausted, and resents her husband's demands for, ahem, 'servicing'. Phil thinks he can show Clare that it's possible to do the parenting tasks in a more organized, efficient way - leaving her with more energy for bedroom fun 'n games with him. "She thinks she works harder than she actually does," says he. Clare thinks Phil has "no idea" of all the little things she does in a day to keep the household in order while taking care of their family. And she claims Phil is so thoughtlessly messy that it's like having a third kid to clean up after! They're both out to prove the other wrong, and their conjugal happiness is at stake.
- Andrea Corfield is going through a rough patch and could really use some help and support. In the middle of a trial separation, she's a single working mom with two energetic boys, 8-year old Juwan and 18-month old Kenyon, and three days a week she also takes care of Kayla, her 14-month old niece. Andrea would like to be closer to her big sister, Robyn Gamracy, from whom she has become emotionally distant. Robyn, a corrections officer at a maximum security prison, thinks better scheduling and more discipline at the home-front would make life easier for Andrea. At this difficult time in her life, all Andrea wants from Robyn is a little more help and love, and a little less criticism. Prison guard Robyn accepts the challenge of being crash test mommy for 48 hours, and the experience literally rocks her world, transforming her and creating an emotional connection between the two sisters, and marks a new beginning for them and for Robyn's relationship with her nephews.
- Julie Hoult and her sister Shawna Craig used to have similar lifestyles and were very close - that is, until Julie got married and had kids. Now their lives are moving in opposite directions, and both feel their connection is fraying beyond repair. Julie is surrounded by children all day, every day. Running a daycare out of her house, Julie's not only a mother to her own two children but also a caregiver to three additional young ones. Her husband does the outdoor chores and errands, but other than that, she's on her own. Shawna - single, carefree, and completely independent - shrugs off Julie's motherhood stresses as mere whining. Shawna thinks her own job is far more stressful: she works at a call center, dealing with delinquent credit card holders. To relax, Shawna hits the bars. Julie used to join her, until she became a mother. Shawna thinks she's neater, better organized, and more fun, and she takes every opportunity to let Julie know. Can these two women reconnect and renew their sisterly bond, or will the stress of a Crash Test weekend drive them both over the edge? The next 48 hours will change their lives - for better, or worse.
- Stacey Beeksma, of Langley. B.C., runs a hectic household with three kids under the age of six. Her sister-in-law, Sonia Beeksma, is a newlywed with plenty of time to focus on herself. Sonia wants to prove to her sister-in-law that having kids does not mean you have to lose all one's "me" time. After all, she trained her puppy to obey in a month; surely kids will be even easier, right? Stacey thinks Sonia needs a reality check and would like her to see that being a mom is not as simple as she seems to think!
- Rachelle Errington and Trish Connelly have been good friends for twenty years, but their lifestyles these days couldn't be more different, and it's straining their relationship. Rachelle is a busy, devoted mom who's always running late. She has five kids, ranging in age from two to 18, and they are the one and only priority in her life. Trish is a successful fashion photographer who is single, has no kids, and no responsibility to anyone other than herself. Trish wants Rachelle to reclaim quality time for herself, and to carve out more time for the two of them to spend together as friends. She constantly criticizes Rachelle for being late and believes that she could institute a more professional way of mothering, one that's based on scheduling, prioritizing, and putting the kids to work. As Trish begins her 48-hour stint as a Crash Test Mommy, she thinks the kids are in for a rude awakening. But it could be Trish who's in for the shock. Can she begin to understand the pressures and the joys of motherhood, or will she insist that there's only one right way to parent (hers) and destroy a lifelong friendship in the process?
- Deanna Zastre has a hard time living up to her husband Vince's expectations. After all, his own mother, Francine, raised 12 kids and kept the house clean and quiet, so why can't Deanna? From Vince's point of view Deanna only has three kids to parent - a daughter, Breanne, 11, from a previous relationship, Autumn 2, and Sheldon, 1. O yeah, and she runs a busy daycare business out of their home. But how hard can that be? Piece of cake, he thinks, and he wants to take charge for 48 hours to prove it. Deanne wants Vince to be her crash test mommy for entirely different, and more important, reasons than just making him understand why the house isn't always spotless. She wants him to get more involved in their family life. Instead of retreating for a nap, she'd like him to participate more wholeheartedly in the parenting duties at home. She feels he needs to bond with their children, especially Breanne, as she enters the difficult adolescent years. Can Vince keep the house in top condition for 48 hours? And will he come to understand that the most important thing is to be there for his family?
- Twenty-seven year-old former model Shanna Blanchard is exhausted and worried. Exhausted from doing nearly all the parenting of her three kids, two by a former marriage and one by her twenty-six year-old fiancé Adam Billingsley; and worried because she's pregnant with a fourth child and doesn't think she can cope with both the kids and the new baby unless Adam gets more involved in helping out with the parenting responsibilities. Frustrated from numerous fruitless discussions with him about helping out at home, and desperate, she's drawn a line in the sand. Removing the engagement ring he gave her, she has called off their planned wedding unless he can prove to her that he's taking the parenting of their growing family seriously. Shanna convinces Adam, a demolitions expert on road construction crews, to be Crash Test Mommy for the next 48 hours in order to understand, first-hand, the demands and stresses she's under, in hopes that he'll finally realize he has to pitch in more. Being the solo parent of Shelbey, 7, Katanna, 5 and Indica, 15 months, is sure to be a rough two-day ride for this 'me first' addict of sugar, nicotine and online poker. As Adam dons the 26-pound "sympathy belly" he'll wear for the next two days, the burning question is: will the explosives expert 'get it' and show respect for his fiancée and kids by showing he can be a more active and responsible parent, or will he let his family life blow up by doing and learning nothing from the Crash Test Mommy experience?
- 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.
- Corinne Burgess is a desperate housewife nearing her breaking point. With four kids ranging in age from 12 to 3, two dogs, and a cat, her life is in overdrive. Yet her carpenter husband, Chris, seems oddly uninvolved in his family's affairs, leaving everything for Corinne to do unless she nags him to death. Chris is a traditionalist, who believes the man brings home the bacon while leaving the parenting to the woman. As a result, Corinne often feels like a single mom. She's just about had it up to here and is ready to show Chris the door unless he sees the light, mends his ways, and participates more fully with the kids and in the work around the house. Nominating Chris as crash test mommy for 48 hours is her last ditch attempt to salvage the marriage. She wants Chris to build bridges with his kids, especially his adolescent stepson, Tyler, who needs a father to be there for him at this tricky stage of life.