Mothers - arguably the bane of our lives growing up because they're constantly telling you what to do.

Yet, every year on Mother's Day, everyone cooks up plans anyway to express their gratitude to the matriach of the family for all the sacrifices they've made.

So, we thought that this would be a perfect opportunity to focus the spotlight on Singapore's favourite television mums.

With the premiere of the third season of Mediacorp's Lion Mums on Channel 5, we get to see a new dimension to these incredibly complex women - who are all rocking some serious power women hairdos.

However, this character development doesn't make them any less relatable. If anything, they remind us of the type of mothers that we're very familiar with.

CHAE LIAN: THE MISUNDERSTOOD MOTHER

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, yet, most mothers believe the benefits outweigh the methods. You know who we're talking about.

These are the mothers who will do anything to ensure the best possible outcome for their child.

While it ultimately comes from a place of goodness, their actions tend to be misinterpreted by their children; especially when they are older and more cognisant of their machinations.

Lina Ng, who portrays Chae Lian, plays this role to a T while serving Game of Thrones' season eight Cersei Lannister realness with her pixie cut and lying with a straight face to her son about his father's affair.

In the end, her character actually ends up being the most sympathetic of the mums as she chooses to shoulder the burden of being the bad guy in order to shield her children from one of life's harshest truths.

A tad too dramatic? For sure.

Relatable? H*** yes.

MIN YI: THE SINGLE MOTHER

Single mums have it tough in our society so when Min Yi (Vanessa Vanderstraaten) gets the chance to realise her rags-to-riches fantasy, she jumps at the opportunity faster than a celebrity does at an endorsement deal.

Assuming the chief operating officer position at her company, Min Yi gives us Naomi Campbell fierceness and shades the intern who forgot to put sugar in her coffee - without so much as a glance in her direction.

But with great power comes great responsibility, and as we're constantly reminded in every episode, the company's initial public offering (IPO) journey is taking a toll on her relationship with her son, Kai.

Despite trying really hard to juggle work and parental responsibilities, she's unable to be around for Kai as she works late nights and doesn't have time for his school projects.

DURRANI: THE "PERFECT" MOTHER

On the surface, Durrani (Nurul Aini) has it all. Her own business, a high-flying career, a doting husband, and loving children. But the reality is that the idea of "doing it all" is a fallacy and when she's succeeding at one aspect of her life, she's failing at another.

When she's killing it at work and channeling Kardashian momager Kris Jenner, she's missing out on taking her daughter shopping for a training bra.

When court overruns and the breastfeeding mum hasn't had time to pump her milk, it leaks.

(Yes, this actually happened on the show so you can pick your jaws off the floor.)

Was she embarrassed? Yes.

Should she be? No, it's 2019!

Anyway, this is the tradeoff. The is the deal these "perfect" mums make and we stan a television show that spills the tea on what motherhood truly is.

Bring out your finest china, honey!

IT MAY SEEM LIKE THEY ARE BAD MUMS...

However, the notion that mums have to be perfect and held to a higher standard of parenting is archaic, and frankly, sexist.

Lion Mums knows this and isn't afraid to give us a reality check on what it truly means to be a mother by thrusting our beloved characters into extraordinary (and incredulous) circumstances.

Yes, it does require suspension of disbelief, but perhaps it's also a timely reminder for some introspection on our end.

When we pen down our message on our Mother's Day card, do we truly understand what "sacrifice" means?

Can we really empathise with what our mothers have been through?

If these questions stump you, Lion Mums might just be the show you need.

#notsponsored #happymothersday

Lion Mums Season 3 airs every Monday on Channel 5 at 9.30pm

bryanlim@asiaone.com

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