The book and, very likely, the show, explores the different facets of motherhood from the points of view of different mothers. Mia is a more laid back mom and a sort of ally for her daughter. Elena, on the other hand, finds it hard to really connect with her four kids. When Mia befriends a Chinese immigrant, Bebe, and learns that she is looking for her daughter who she left at a fire station as a baby, it brings in another layer of motherhood.