Shayne Ward, Sophie Austin and their children by Tom Pitfield © BROOD Magazine

Shayne Ward and Sophie Austin © BROOD Magazine

It was during his time on Coronation Street that Shayne met Sophie Austin, an actress who was playing Lindsey Butterfield in Hollyoaks at the time.The couple had a whirlwind romance and welcomed their first child, daughter Willow May in December 2016, and then announced their engagement in 2017. Sophie had just announced that she was going to leave Hollyoaks, finding out shortly after that she was expecting the couple’s first child, so she was unsure as to what this would mean for her career, but she still went on to star in ITV’s Tina and Bobby, Call The Midwife and Casualty. After a long and emotional journey to add a second baby to their family, the couple were blessed with their beautiful boy, Reign. Only 6 weeks after Reign was born, Shayne was offered a career opportunity that was too good to miss, playing the lead role in Channel 5’s The Good Ship Murder, but it meant that he had to film abroad for 3 months; with a new baby, a 5 year old and University studies Sophie had to juggle like never before, so with Shayne soon to embark on filming the second season abroad we sat down with the lovely Shayne and Sophie, to talk all about all things parenthood, career and their lovely family. 

At what point in your career did you become parents and did it affect your career at all?  

Sophie – “I fell pregnant as I was leaving Hollyoaks. I’d decided to leave Hollyoaks because I wanted to do loads of other things and then I found out that I was pregnant! It sounds awful but at the time I thought well that’s it, I’m not going to be able to progress from here for a while. But my agent was brilliant and got me two jobs really early on in my pregnancy so actually I worked throughout my pregnancy.

Shayne – “So I was working at Coronation Street, and I met the lovely Sophie – and we know how that goes! [We laugh] No, but honestly it was the best feeling in the world, but it was also scary at the same time. I think just experiencing such a wide range of emotions because you know from that moment that it would change both of our lives forever. This little miracle came into our lives and now she’s eight.”

Sophie – “No she’s not eight, she’s seven, Shayne!” [We laugh as Shayne pauses and thinks for a moment] 

Shayne – “Yeah. she’s eight this year.’ 

Sophie – “She’s just turned seven”

Shayne- “You didn’t let me finish, I was going to say she’s eight this year…” 

Sophie – “In December” [We continue to laugh]

Shayne – “This is real-life couples y’all! The best thing is you actually do find yourself going – how old is she?”    

And how different has it been since Reign has come along?

Shayne – “There’s a big difference!” [They both laugh] “He’s just a little wreck it Reign!” 

Sophie – “Willow would come along to jobs quite a lot, when she was a baby, we could just take her anywhere, but he would cause havoc!”

Shayne – “He’s just a little ball of energy, he’s really strong too! He is an absolute joy though”  

Sophie – “And also workwise for me, a lot of it is to do with the fact that Shayne goes away a lot. And I have a lot of anxiety when I leave them and even though there are still lots of things that I would love to do, my attitude is that – maybe not right now but it will happen in the future. I feel a bit mixed with it at the moment, because there is so much I would love to do, so there’s that battle of wanting to do it, but the need to always have one of us at home.

How did Willow find becoming a big sister?

Shayne – “The bond between them is incredible. You do worry about what the oldest child is going to feel about the second coming along. Worrying that we’re not paying her enough attention. But, Willow instantly got it. Of course every now and again she had moments where you could see she was missing her time with just us, or her and mummy time, you know, but overall she loves being a big sister and watching them together is amazing!”

What has been the most challenging time that you have gone through since becoming a parent”

Sophie – “The most challenging time has to be when Reign was 6 weeks old and Shayne left for 3 months [Shayne’s face makes us all laugh]…to do the show.”

Shayne – ‘It’s the way she words it, ‘Reign was born, and Shayne left!’ [We all laugh] 

Sophie – “I still replay that scenario. I was sitting on the couch, breastfeeding Reign and Shayne comes in and says I‘ve got an audition, but don’t worry they don’t start filming until November – this was in the June – and then he comes back in and says, ‘Oh no, sorry, it’s filming until November’ And I said, ‘well when are you flying?’ And he said, ‘Next week!’ I don’t think I spoke to him for 24 hours, purely because I was in shock. Then of course I realised it was an amazing opportunity, but having just had a baby, that was definitely the most challenging time.”

Shayne – “For me, it was being on the receiving end of that! That was very challenging!” [We laugh] “No, but it was scary and obviously I was heartbroken as well, as for me going away and not seeing my daughter or my newborn son, it was very tough. Being in a country and not seeing them every day, as silly as it sounds I kept worrying that they might not remember me.”

As you’re going away filming The Good Ship Murder again this year Shayne, how are you both feeling about it and have you put anything in place based on what you learnt the first time around? 

Shayne – “I hate being away from my kids, but knowing that I have to do it – I have to keep a roof over our heads, it’s just part and parcel of being in this industry, but I know I’m going to really, really miss them.” 

Sophie – “I think it will be harder for you this time” 

Shayne – “Yeah, it will be harder for me this time because my son is a lot and I’m used to spending every day with him. I have this amazing bond with him, just like I have with Willow”

Sophie – “Willow understands a bit more though doesn’t she?” 

Shayne – “Yeah, Willow understands, but for the little man, Reign, he’s not going to understand, god bless him and that kind of sits on my mind a lot. There’s no doubt about it, I’m sure I’ll have a few cries while I’m out there filming, but I think the positives of this time around is that we’ve had the experience from the first season, so we’ve already started planning and putting things in place for while I’m away.”

Sophie – “Yeah, I think this time is totally different, as Reign was only 6 weeks old the first time, so I wasn’t totally with it [she laughs] but this time around I feel a lot more in control and obviously there’s a bit more time to plan. Obviously, I’m not from up north, so all my family are down south, but they are all really good and they do rally round and my friends have done a rota for each weekend – so I just have to get through the week! [she laughs] Reign will eventually start nursery too for a couple of days, which will be amazing and allow me a chance to get a bit of order. But I think I’m just going to go into it, half expecting to fly by the seat of my pants, but also trying to have a bit more of a positive attitude about it than I had the first time around. I do think Reign will find it hard not having Shayne here, and of course, even though Willow understands it’s still hard for her too, but I’m trying to explain that it will be different to last time, as obviously last time a new baby came and then Daddy went away, but this time it’s going to be ok – I think [She laughs nervously]  ”           

What is your favourite thing about being a parent?    

Shayne – “My favourite thing about being a parent, without sounding too cliche, is exactly that, I just love being a dad. Everytime I hear my little girl saying ‘Daddy’ it just warms my heart and now I have a son, too and he’s saying ‘Daddy’ and honestly there’s just so many reasons why I love being a parent, there’s too many to name.”

Sophie – “I think my favourite thing about being a parent is getting to see the world again in a different light. You get to see the magic it holds, and all the adventures that you can have and the positivity that it has. I feel really grateful to witness the world again through their eyes because sometimes as adults you get so bogged down with stuff and negative thoughts you don’t always notice those positives. And there’s no judgement with little kids.”

“When you think of how excited Willow gets when we go on our adventures. We call them the Ward adventures” 

Shayne – “Yeah, we do this thing where we all put our hands in the middle and put our hands on top of each other and say, ‘Waaaarrrd Adventures!’ 

Sophie – “Yeah, you see that excitement and I think it’s just nice to experience that again!”

Shayne – “Oh, and of course being woken up at 3 am in the morning!” [We laugh]

Being a parent comes with constant pressures, what do you feel is the biggest pressure that you’ve felt since becoming a parent and does that pressure come from yourself or society?  

Sophie – “I think the biggest pressure I feel is to always get things right. I also feel a lot of pressure to make sure that my kids are happy all the time and try and navigate hard situations for them, but I’m starting to learn that I can’t do that all the time. That it’s part of their journey, especially with Willow as she’s getting older and things she’s coming across at school, like friendship dynamics and her expectations of herself. I’ve always wanted to try and fix things, but I realise that I can’t do that all the time and I find that really hard – I think that is just pressure that I put on myself. And obviously allowing her to have those big emotions and allowing her to be upset, learning that it’s ok for her to go through things and to be upset is hard. I think especially as a Mum, (I’m not sure if Dad’s feel this way), but I think Mum’s definitely put themselves under pressure within society, and a lot of the time we think we don’t, but we do. I remember with Willow making sure she only ate everything Organic and that she had every gadget and worrying – was she walking at the right time? Was she meeting all the milestones? But since Reign has come along I’ve realised that they all develop in their own time, and that my kids are happy and healthy and that is all that matters. That if they eat something other than some steamed veg and some organic milk, then that’s ok. What’s your biggest pressure? [She turns to Shayne]

Shayne – “That’s pretty much the answer. I think that it’s just because we stress because we want to be the best parents that we can be and we just want them to feel loved and protected. That they know they can come to us at any time at any place. I think being aware of how fast time goes too, and not wanting to wish time away is a pressure too.”

Sophie – “I think social media adds to the pressure too, that wasn’t around years ago, but now you can feel like you’ve got to keep up with things. I find that a pressure and I catch myself thinking, ‘I should be doing that.’ ‘I should be doing this’ 

Sophie you’re currently studying, how have you found juggling parenthood around your studies and what do you do to keep yourself motivated to keep going? 

Sophie – “I’ve always been interested in counselling, especially person centred counselling and the reason why I finally decided to start at Uni was purely because, it was taking a bit longer to fall pregnant with our second and I needed something to give me a bit of sanity around that time, as it was quite a tough time. So. I thought now is the perfect time to start this, Willow was starting school. And I loved it, and I was good at it. So I’m in my third year and I think the thing that keeps me going is – well first of all when I start something I find it really hard to stop! But I think what’s kept me motivated is that I actually really love Willow seeing me studying. I go every Thursday and she says, ‘Are you going to college Mummy?’ and the fact she sees me as an older person, not saying I’m old, but I mean as an adult she’s seeing me going learning something new and gaining knowledge, and I love that she sees that, and I love the fact that she’s proud of me. I also think a lot of my motivation just comes from the fact that I love it and that I enjoy it. I do find it hard juggling though, especially as Reign is not in a nursery and Shayne can be away at times working, but I just try and make it work. We don’t really have a lot of childcare up here, so we just try and muddle between the two of us and my mum comes up [from down south] to help which is great.”

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Navigating Divorce: Essential Tips to Support Your ChildreN

Divorce can be a challenging and emotionally turbulent time for all involved, especially for children who may struggle to understand and cope with the changes happening in their family dynamics. As a family lawyer at JMW, I’ve witness firsthand how parents sometimes struggle to navigate their children through these changes. However, I’ve also seen how parents can make a significant difference by providing the right support and guidance. Here are some tips to help parents navigate divorce while prioritizing their children’s wellbeing:

Consistency and Routine:

During times of uncertainty, such as divorce, children crave stability and routine. As much as possible, try to maintain a sense of consistency in their daily lives. Stick to regular routines for meals, bedtime, and other activities to provide a sense of security and predictability. This will help your children but the routine along with prioritising. 

Additionally, strive to maintain consistency in co-parenting arrangements to minimize disruption and confusion for your children. Collaborate with your ex-partner to establish clear schedules and guidelines for visitation, custody, and other parental responsibilities. Consistent and predictable routines can help alleviate anxiety and reassure your children that they are still cared for and supported.

Emotional Support and Validation:

Divorce can stir up a whirlwind of emotions for both parents and children alike. It’s essential to acknowledge and validate your children’s feelings, even if they may be difficult or painful to hear. Let them know that it’s okay to feel sad, angry, confused, or upset about the divorce.

Provide emotional support by actively listening to their concerns, offering comfort and reassurance, and validating their experiences. Encourage healthy outlets for expressing emotions, such as journaling, drawing, or talking to a trusted friend or family member. Let your children know that you’re there for them every step of the way, ready to listen and support them through this challenging time.

Minimize Conflict and Put Your Children First:

Perhaps the most critical tip for supporting your children during divorce is to prioritize their well-being above all else. While it’s natural to experience heightened emotions and disagreements during divorce proceedings, it’s essential to minimize conflict and maintain a cooperative co-parenting relationship. Apps such as OurFamilyWizard can help with his.

Avoid arguing or speaking negatively about your ex-partner in front of your children, as this can cause them additional stress and confusion. Instead, focus on fostering a positive and respectful co-parenting dynamic, where both parents work together to make decisions in the best interests of their children. A word to the wise, the courts do not look favourably upon those who show clear signs of parental alienation.

Remember that your actions and attitudes during this time will leave a lasting impact on your children. By prioritizing their needs, providing emotional support, and maintaining consistency and open communication, you can help your children navigate the challenges of divorce with resilience and strength. With patience, understanding, and love,

Guide them through this transition and show them that they are not alone. Divorce may be a difficult chapter in your family’s story, but with the right support and approach, you can help your children emerge stronger and more resilient than ever before.

Remember, while divorce may mark the end of one chapter, it also presents an opportunity for growth, healing, and new beginnings for your family.

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THE LATEST EDITION:

INTERVIEW WITH LUCY MECKLENBURGH

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Tell me what your weekly work-juggle looks like?

“There’s always lots to do for my wellness app – which is 10 years old now, and I’ve also got the wellness treats that I work on, they’re new. Creating content for social media is a huge part of my job now. Whether that be for my app, or for brands that I work with. Doing photoshoots and attending events are as well. That’s kind of my juggle on a weekly basis workwise. Sounds quite a lot when you say it out loud! [She laughs]”

At what point in your career did you become a mum and how did you find that transition?

“Do you know what, I was at a really nice point in my career actually. I was late twenties – which was actually a lot younger than I thought I was going to be. I’d had my app for a long time, it was going really well, and I had got to the point where I was really happy with it and loved everyone I was working with. I had done a few TV shows and then me and Ryan met whilst we were doing the Bear Grylls show – which was probably one of biggest challenges to date, apart from having children! [We laugh] And I was very happy, moving behind the scenes into the business world a little bit more, then I fell pregnant. Having my kids changed my business in a huge way! We had a very small part of the app dedicated to pre and post-natal and now that is a massive part of RWL. I can remember looking at it as soon as I had a baby and just realising immediately that the existing structured-part of the app for post-natal, needed to go. I was like, ‘There shouldn’t be any pressure to work out three times a week and do this and follow this etc. I want there to be loads of information on there that offers information on sleep, mental health, breast feeding. I want there to be support and a community within the app so that people can talk to each other and share in their journeys.’ We have Midwifes, Doctors on there, and that came from me googling things at 2am and getting overwhelmed with information. I wanted a platform that I could trust – so I created it! And now it’s a huge part of the business that I’m really passionate about, and I’m really proud of that.”

What has been your career highlight to date?

“Oh gosh, that is so hard! I think actually getting my fitness app to 10 years was a huge moment for me, because it’s not easy – running a business is not easy and there has been so many highs and lows over the last 10 years within the business, so reaching that point was a huge milestone. I think especially as people would think, ‘Oh it’s just another celebrity fitness fad’ – particularly in the early days and actually I’ve seen a lot of brands come and go but we’ve stuck it out and we’ve got years’ experience now. We didn’t always make the right decisions over the years, but you learn from that and I’m really proud of it. It’s not been easy, it never is but if you stick at something and you work hard then you can make a success of it. Also, to branch out into to doing the retreats abroad and bringing that community together was really important too.”

What has been the biggest challenge that you have had to overcome since having a business?

“I think accepting that every decision that you make isn’t going to be the right one and being ok with that. Like at first when I made decisions that didn’t work out, I would find it really hard to accept that, but as I’ve moved forward I can reflect and go – ‘It didn’t work out for this reason and I learnt a lesson.’ And actually all the things that go wrong when you start a business are actually the best things to happen to you, because you’re better doing it then, rather than five years down the line because you learn so much. So yes, learning to accept the mistakes that you make and then turning them around into a positive, realising that everything that happened has happened for a reason.”

What have you found the hardest thing about being a parent?

“I really struggled with the early days. Maybe more so as Roman was my first and a lockdown baby. I think its because you’re going from what is a selfish life – we don’t realise it but we all do whatever it is that we want and you only have to think about yourself and then all of a sudden you’re have this amazing thing given to you and your totally responsible for and suddenly everything revolves around them. You suddenly think – ‘What was I doing with all my time before I had children!’ [We laugh in agreement] I just found it really tough. Also, Roman was quite poorly and so I would also say the worry of being a mum was something that I hadn’t prepared for, and I think that it probably the hardest thing about becoming a parent. You have that worry because you love them more than anything you’ve ever loved in your life before.” [Roman was diagnosed with an unsafe swallow.] I think that the fact people don’t talk enough about how hard it is – especially that first 6 months – is really tough. Even at 6 months I remember thinking with Roman, ‘God, this is still really hard and I’m not feeling completely fulfilled.’ And then you start thinking, ‘why am I not feeling fulfilled ‘just as a mum’. And actually, being a mum is the hardest job in the world and we crave adult conversations and work environments and I think that’s really normal and natural. I think you need good friends around you, like I remember ringing my friend one day and saying, ‘I’m really bored! I’m watching Peppa Pig on repeat, I’m washing and ironing.’ It just felt like Groundhog Day every day and actually I needed to make a decision to change that, to reach out for help; share more between me and Ryan; to arrange some childcare so that I had some time for me – whether that was in a work capacity or meeting friends for coffee, you need that. I don’t think that day in day out ‘just being a mum’ wouldn’t work for me.”

Mum guilt is something that most people encounter in one way or another, what has your experience of Mum guilt and how have you dealt with it?

“Hugely! I remember going to work, quite early on – because I had my own business you see so I didn’t get a maternity leave as such and also I really missed it, and I really wanted to get back in and see what was going on because I have to run a business, and I can remember going in for a day and feeling like an awful person because I wasn’t pining for my child. I felt guilty for not worrying and missing my child. I can remember thinking this is ridiculous. We’re so hard on ourselves, if my friend would have said that to me, I would have said, ‘Well that’s good, you’ve been to work, your brain has been focused on other things and then you’ll go back to your child thinking I can’t wait to see them!’ But I felt so guilty. I think just being busy – I’ll have a week where I’m really busy with work and I always feel like I need to let them stay up an extra hour before bed, because I feel guilty because I’ve not seen them as much as I would have wanted to. Unfortunately, I think – especially for us women – because I’m sure Dad guilt exists but you don’t really hear of that as much, but the phrase Mum guilt is used so much and I feel like whatever we do whether we’re a working mum, whether we stay at home, or whether we do a bit of both, whatever we do there’s always going to be that guilt and that pressure put on us. You can’t wait.”

Do you think that pressure comes from ourselves, or societal pressures, or a bit of both?  

“I think it’s society and us. I think society can be too quick to deem things either right or wrong when actually we all just need to support each other more. Even like childcare, everyone has an opinion on childcare, when actually a lot of the time the mums and the dads have to go back to work, they don’t have a choice they have to, so they need childcare. But even if its not down to needing to go back to work, its that they want to that’s ok. Having childcare in place is absolutely ok and actually my son absolutely loves nursery, and he does way-more in a day than I could ever think up for him!”

Becoming a parent changes your life so dramatically that its can be easy to feel like you have lost of identity, did you experience that feeling at any point?

“Oh 100% you do lose your identity. I can remember thinking one day, ‘When was the last time I put make up on, I’ve not got out of my joggers or pyjamas for weeks – and that was probably even worse than it would have been because of covid – but me and Ryan tried to make an effort so that I would feel like myself, so we would do date night every other Friday for example. We have this thing now that we call a mini reset, where we look at what is working and not working in our week, what can we do to make this situation better? For example, childcare – what’s working and what’s not working, and what can we do differently. It gives us an opportunity to say, well next week I need to make time for this – be that going for a walk on our own, or to get a coffee etc. We try and plan our weeks as much as possible because our lives are so crazy and we don’t have a 9-5 job, the mini resets really work for us, and it helps us to improve our lives. Everyday is a real juggle and when you are putting your children first, it can be hard to make sure you get what you need out of your week as well, there never seems to be enough hours in the day to fit everything in!”

We usually ask what tips you would give to other parents, do you think that is your number tip?

“Yes, I would say the mini resets, but just communication too – with your partner and people around you. That could be your mum or your mother-in-law, and you could say to them ‘this is what would be helpful for me this week. I think communication is so important and when you have kids you have to have that, you really do.”

How easy have you found asking for help? We all put ourselves under so much pressure, sometimes reaching out for help can feel like admitting defeat – that we can’t do it all. How did you find that?

“I think society puts so much pressure on us and you look on Instagram and you see everyone’s houses that supposedly look perfect and clean, I can tell you now, that there will be a pile of clothes behind the camera, and that it’s been placed at a perfectly placed angle to hide it! [We laugh] I’m guilty of doing it as well, because we try and live up to this expectation that we should be making sure that everything is picture perfect. I love that there is a change in social media though now because its real life is being normalised. There are people doing funny reals that are showing the reality of everyday scenarios that we can all relate to, and you find yourself going, ‘Oh my god, I’m so glad she thinks that as well, or she has to deal with that as well.’ I love that people are normalising the mundane and stressful parts of parenthood too. I think sometimes you wait until you’re at rock bottom before you ask for help, and it doesn’t need to be that way. I remember calling my mum once and admitting that I was really struggling and that I needed help, and of course she was straight around! I think it is really hard to ask for help though, especially when you’re a new mum.”

Do you think the same applies in business too, that it can be hard to admit that you need help as we feel the need to portray success?

“Yes, I think so. I’m 10 years into my business, it’s not been plain sailing, I’ve made lots of mistakes and that’s ok. Anyone who’s in business knows that it’s really, hard work and there’s going to be loads of things that come along to challenge you. But you shouldn’t feel embarrassed by that because you can grow from that and make better decisions going forward because you’ve learnt a lesson. It’s a bit like life in general, you have to grow certain things to grow, and it’s those things that make your stronger in business and as a person. And I couldn’t do it at the beginning but now I could for help if I needed it. Learning to delegate is a skill, to trust someone else to take care of things in your business can be really hard, but you learn that you aren’t always the best person to deal with everything and actually someone else can do a much better job, so you learn to trust them and let them get on with it.”

Did you feel more pressure to ‘snap back’ after having a baby and being in the public eye, as well as having a fitness app, and how did you deal with that?

“I think everyone presumed that I would be really small, really quickly but actually as soon as I had Roman, I didn’t care – I did not care! And I thought I really would, and I had put on 4 stone whilst I was pregnant and he was a big baby, but he wasn’t 4 stone, that would have been a hard if he was! [She laughs] But I thought I would really care but I didn’t. I had such little sleep, and I just was really kind to myself. I decided to just wait and then start to move once I felt ready, and I thought I would have had that 6 week check and be straight back to training, when actually I didn’t start training again until Roman was 6 months old. And I would always say to say anyone, please don’t put yourself under any pressure you’ve just done a huge thing. I mean obviously I would say please look after yourself in terms of eating good to make sure your well in all aspects, but if you’re not ready to train and you’re exhausted then it doesn’t matter. I’m a lot kinder to my body since having children. A healthy body is a lot more important than achieving this so-called view of perfection in any way possible! My biggest concern used to be my appearance, now it’s about making sure I’m as healthy as possibly so that I can be around for as long as possible for the kids. And being a healthy role for the children is massively important, and that goes past trying to encourage them to eat healthy food, it’s about how you talk about food and how you talk about your body in front of them. I would never talk about my body in negative way in front of my children. I don’t ever want Lilah to her me say, ‘I’m not going to eat that because I’m on a diet’ and so many people do without fully realising they are even doing it or understand the damage that can do to a child in the future. I think the best way to promote good health is by encouraging them to be active in a way that they enjoy.” 

And to end our interview on positive, what do you love most about being a parent?

“I think just all those proud moments. Like today when someone has said to me, ‘You should be so proud of Roman, he’s got amazing manners, he’s such a funny character’ and I started welling up. I think that being proud of them and watching them grow – there’s no feeling like it. As much as there is all the worry and all the other stuff, it’s all completely worth it! [She pauses] But I don’t want anymore! [We all laugh]”

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TIPS AND TRICKS FROM FELLOW WORKING PARENTS DOING THE DAILY JUGGLE…

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Since we first launched BROOD Magazine we have been lucky enough to speak to a host of parents, who like us and you, are doing the juggle between work and parenting daily. In each interview we’ve asked each person if they had any tips or tricks that may help the rest of us! 

Helen Skelton Images © BROOD Magazine

James Bye & Victoria Bye

Parents of four, Actor James, and Blogger Victoria Bye, have had a whirlwind few years, as their children came along at the same time as their careers started to soar. Having relocated from London to Cheshire just before they had their first child, James then got the part as Martin Fowler in one Britain’s best loved soaps – Eastenders. Consequently they made the decision to move back down south, so that James wouldn’t spend the majority of the week separated from his family. The couple have since welcomed another three boys to their brood over the years, with the newest addition arriving only in the summer of 2023. James took part in the 2022 Strictly Come Dancing. 

We had the pleasure of chatting to the lovely couple in 2023, about how their lives have changed over the last few years, how they juggle everything and their ambitions for the future.

What tips would you give to other parents who are juggling busy career schedules alongside bringing up their family?

James – “I think what really helps us during really busy times is we are very fortunate that we have a really amazing group of friends, and we all help each other out. I think you have to find the courage to reach out and ask for help, and once you start doing that, you can all work together. So, I definitely think that’s a really important tip – don’t be afraid to ask for help – especially reach out to those closest to you.

Victoria – “Yes, totally. And for me in terms of the family side of things, when you do get those moments together, to remember to put your work down, and be present. At the end of the day, work is just a job, it’s replaceable, family isn’t.”

Rebecca Adlington Image © BROOD Magazine

Charlie Condou

Charlie Condou is a successful British actor, columnist and LGBTQ+ rights activist – not forgetting his important role – a doting Dad of two, to Georgia and Hal. For as long as Charlie can remember, he always had an overwhelming desire to start a family and create the kind of upbringing that his own lacked.

What tips would you give other parents, in particular co-parents?

“I think my advice would be don’t take advice from anyone, find your own way. Everyone thinks that they know the right way how to be a parent, but everyone finds it out for themselves. And from a co-parenting point of view, the most important thing you can do is communicate properly, whether that’s talking about how things will work, logistics, making sure you do it with someone who has the same values and morals, and ideas about bringing up kids. And also, if something is irritating you, just get it out and just say it. That’s what us three do, don’t get me wrong it’s not easy but then it’s done, and we can deal with it. Because if you don’t speak up, these things just fester and before you know you’re screaming at somebody, about something so small! It’s much better for everyone when you can communicate well, and you move on.”

Emma Neville Images © BROOD Magazine

BROOKE VINCENT

Doting mum of two, Actress & Radio Presenter Brooke Vincent is best known for her role in one of the UK’s most loved TV programmes, Coronation Street, but in 2018 Brooke boldly ventured into the world of business launching her company Oh So B. After starting the business in her bedroom, whilst juggling her acting career, Brooke’s fabulous stationery brand has gone from strength to strength, and Oh So B has now become one of the go-to brands for practical and stylish planners for busy professionals. We sat down with Brooke last year to chat about what inspired her to step into the daunting world of business and how different she finds running a business now that she is a mum of two gorgeous boys – Mexx and Monroe.

Do you have any advice or tips for fellow working parents?

“If there are any tips out there you need to tell me because my life is just like a circus!” We all laugh and chat about life within our own circus’.   “I think even though it’s something I struggle with myself, I feel like I’m constantly learning, but you shouldn’t expect too much from yourself. You need to remind yourself just what good job you’re doing. That’s why I’ve included reminders in my planners that ‘you are doing your best’, as I think it’s so important for us to remember that.”

“IF THERE ARE ANY TIPS OUT THERE;
YOU NEED TO TELL ME BECAUSE MY
LIFE IS JUST LIKE A CIRCUS!”

Mike Toolan Image © BROOD Magazine

“IT ’S IMPORTANT THAT THE LAST THING THEY DO BEFORE THEY GO TO SLEEP IS REMEMBER ALL THE GOOD THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED”

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