'You can't do it all, it's not physically possible' - The Traitors' Frankie gets real about motherhood expectations

Frankie from The Traitors chatted all things motherhood and the expectations that come with it in a candid chat with Gabby Logan

Francesca Rowan-Plowden
(Image credit: BBC/Studio Lambert/Paul Chappells)

Women are told from a very young age that having it all is totally possible, when the reality is far different. Frankie from The Traitors just got very real about this expectation, in conversation with Gabby Logan.

Frankie from The Traitors was the unexpected breakout star of season 3. She remained quietly but confidently in the background of the game, building relationships and unassumingly placing herself as a confidante of many group members to make it to the final.

The Traitors star moved on to talk about how the 'having it all' message presents itself to women as having to have all of the things all at the same time. Her message is clear - you can definitely have it all, but life and just being plain sensible, dictates you just need to spread 'the things' out.

"That's why I'm lucky that this experience has happened now, rather than younger," Frankie said, alluding to her appearance on the show and everything happening in the aftermath.

"You have to prioritise. It doesn't mean that you don't have those dreams to do something adventurous and different, it just means you can't necessarily do it all at the same time.

"It's prioritising as you go along, and I think that is more of an example to set to your kids, rather than saying you can try these things but have to rush to do it all now," she says, to the relief of women balancing unrealistic expectations everywhere.

Frankie asserts the very real need to realise when you no longer have capacity and have to acknowledge there are things you just can't do. In this instance, her advice is to say to yourself, "I can't do it right now, I don't have the confidence or the energy, but it doesn't mean you're not going to feel that way later."

We adore the calm, collected, assured way Frankie delivers her perfect arguments - you can be a role model to your children in whichever way suits you, your situation and your feelings - and you certainly don't have to work yourself into the ground to prove you can do everything all at once. Thank you Frankie - your voice never was irrelevant, and it's being heard now more than ever.

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Lucy Wigley
Entertainment Writer

Lucy is a multi-award nominated writer and blogger with seven years’ experience writing about entertainment, parenting and family life. Lucy worked as a freelance writer and journalist at the likes of PS and moms.com, before joining GoodtoKnow as an entertainment writer, and then as news editor. The pull to return to the world of television was strong, and she was delighted to take a position at woman&home to once again watch the best shows out there, and tell you why you should watch them too.