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5th April 2024
10:59am BST
Parenthood is arguably the biggest life adjustment a person can go through, something that Katherine Ryan knows all too well.
The comedian candidly shared her experience of motherhood and touched on a topic that often isn’t talked about: Having to adjust to a new life, one completely different to the one you had before becoming a mum or dad.
Katherine shares two children, Fred and Fenna, with her husband, Bobby Kootstra, and is a mum to her teenage daughter, Violet, from a previous relationship.
In an interview with Women’s Magazine, the TV personality delved into the ways having children can alter your life, both personally and professionally.
“My children have enriched my life, they’re such a blessing and I would never trade them for anything.
“But I would be lying if I said they didn’t ruin the life I had before. But I rebuilt a better one and that’s fine.”
The famed comedian’s honest words go against the ‘fantasy’ that people are being sold on what being a mum is when the reality of the role comes with sacrifices.
“I would be pretending if I said that I could still do all the things that I could before and I think we’re selling this fantasy of what motherhood means if we aren’t honest about that.”
This refreshing and candid omission from Katherine comes after Lily Allen claimed that mums ‘can’t have it all’ during an interview with Radio Times, admitting that she felt having kids ‘ruined’ her career.’
While they both share the view that becoming a mum can have professional setbacks, they also believe children have enhanced their lives.
“Yes, my children ruined my career. I love them and they complete me, but in terms of pop stardom, they totally ruined it.
“I get really annoyed when people say you can have it all because, quite frankly, you can’t.”
“Some people choose their career over their children and that’s their prerogative, but my parents were quite absent when I was a kid. I feel like it left some nasty scars that I’m not willing to repeat on mine,” the singer continued.
“I chose to step back and concentrate on them. I’m glad that I’ve done that because I think they’re pretty well-rounded.”
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