Small business owner, podcaster and mum-of-one Laura Byrne has already had a busy start to the day when WHO calls her at the home she shares with her fiancé, Matthew ‘Matty J’ Johnson, in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
WATCH: Laura Byrne reveals second devastating miscarriage with Matty J
Along with other activities, the morning’s schedule included using their 10-month-old daughter, Marlie-Mae, for a comical ‘brows tutorial’ for Instagram.
“It’s been a really productive day working from home today,” the 34-year-old laughs.
All jokes aside, the current global pandemic has changed the routine in the former Bachelor stars’ household, with Johnson, 33, on childcare duties and Byrne juggling the online store for her jewellery label, ToniMay, and recording her podcast, Life Uncut, with fellow Bachelor alum Brittany Hockley – all from the two-bedroom unit.
“I used to be able to go to work and now
going to work just means I go to my bedroom and sit next to my bed on a tiny little table!” Byrne tells WHO.
We chatted to the former reality star about her wedding plans, how first-time motherhood is treating her, and the couple’s plans for adding to their brood.
How are you guys coping in isolation?
Every day we’re so grateful that we are in a fortunate position in that I’ve always kind of worked from home and our office anyway, so our lives are pretty flexible. But Matt is a lot more hands-on with Marlie because a lot of his work has been postponed until the end of the year or put on hold.
Is Matty liking being a stay at home dad?
He’s so good, he loves spending the time with Marlie. He has definitely embraced making stupid videos for Instagram, which I think is keeping him occupied!
Marlie-Mae’s 1st birthday is coming up on June 19. Do you guys have any plans?
Well, we had planned on getting all our family and friends together for a big party
but I think it will be more making blanket forts and watching Wiggles reruns. Lucky she’s too young to remember it!
How are you finding the response to your podcast Life Uncut?
It’s been amazing, we just hit 1.3 million downloads – we never thought we would hit those numbers. Britt and I, we’re normal people, there’s nothing special about who we are. Yes, we did reality TV shows, but apart from that, we’re just two very normal women who have very different stories. But it’s been really fulfilling to hear from so many people and how the conversations have helped them.
You recently did an episode where you talked about your second miscarriage, which happened earlier this year. What made you want to speak out?
I really, really wanted to put it together as an episode because after I had my first miscarriage [before Marlie-Mae was born], I spoke about it publicly and the reason for that was because when it happened to me, I really felt like I was defective, and I carried that sadness and guilt around with me for quite a while. It’s something that is so incredibly common, but because it’s not spoken about. People live through it in silence, and they feel like they’re alone with it.
Were you hoping others would find comfort in your story?
For somebody else to feel supported is really important, because I wouldn’t want somebody else to feel how I did when I went through it. We are so privileged to have a platform and I think with that comes having some difficult conversations and not always putting out the best bits of life.
Do you and Matty have plans for more kids?
We want two, but maybe we’ll have three! As soon as it happens … We’re ready for baby number two.
Read the rest of our interview with Laura in this week’s issue of WHO – OUT NOW
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
