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Cassandra Thorburn says co-parenting with Karl Stefanovic is very “challenging”

The couple announced their split in 2016.
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Cassandra Thorburn has opened up about the highs and lows of co-parenting with her ex-husband, Karl Stefanovic.

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In a candid interview on this week’s The Juggling Act podcast, the beloved Australian journalist told Sarah Harris and Melissa Wilson that disciplining her three children— Jackson, 20, daughter Ava, 12, and son River, 12— the same way the former Today show host does is tough, even at the best of times. 

“Co-parenting I think is a massive challenge. Even if there’s an amicable agreement between the parties, it still becomes hard,” the former Dancing With The Stars contestant admitted. “You’re leading separate lives, you’re no longer in a co-environment. So co-parenting… that’s a big word.” 

While the 48-year-old revealed she and Karl have been forced to endure some difficult moments throughout the years, they’ve implemented an effective routine which works for their children. 

WATCH: Cassandra Thorburn opens up about co-parenting with Karl 

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“There obviously is a way to navigate it,” she said. “I don’t think there’s a textbook of instructions in point form (where) you can guarantee you’re going to get that end result.” 

After 21 years of marriage, Cassandra and Karl announced they were separating in 2016. Months after filing for divorce, Karl began dating 35-year-old shoe designer, Jasmine Yarbrough.

While news of his budding relationship quickly grabbed headlines, the couple eventually tied the knot two years after meeting in an extravagant ceremony in Mexico. During their stunning honeymoon, the popular Australia journalist was sensationally axed from his role as Today host. 

WATCH: CASS POLE DANCES ON LIVE TELEVISION 

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Following a trying two years, Karl revealed at Channel Nine’s Gold Logie recovery brunch in July, that he struggled immensely after being dumped as the breakfast show’s co-host.  

“It’s been about six months since I was on the telly, and I needed to have a rest. Towards the end of last year, I was cooked,” he began. “It had taken its toll, a lot of the attention — all the unwarranted attention I thought, and you can’t control any of that, I’m not going to complain too much about that, but what it meant was that in a work capacity I don’t believe for a second I was at my best. I think I was struggling towards the end of last year.”

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While his sensational exit came as a shock to thousands of Australian viewers, the Nine Network presenter said he knew the change was imminent and necessary. 

“So it wasn’t a great surprise to me — in fact, it was a relief in many ways — that I was taken off the Today show. Because I just wasn’t at my best and you can’t be doing that show unless you’re at the top of your game,” he said. “You’ve got to be sharp, you’ve got to be witty, you’ve got to be funny. You’ve got to see the angles, and to be honest, at the end of last year I wasn’t seeing much.”

Since his lengthy television hiatus, Karl revealed his headspace has improved and his marriage has been more “wonderful” now they’re able to “breathe without having too many paparazzi in the shower with us”.

“It allowed me to rest and think about life in a much clearer way and to come back and go ‘OK, when I do come back, I’ve got to make sure I’m OK’ and I think for a while there, I wasn’t sure if I was, to be honest,” said Karl, who was married to Cassandra Thorburn before meeting Jasmine. “It has eased off, which was the whole point of everything (Today axing),” he continued.“ (I’m) just breathing. Taking life in.”

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