And you’re loving being a mum [to daughters Esmeralda, 8, and Amada, 6] obviously?
It’s maddening at times. It’s maddening. It’s insanity!
Really?
Yeah! Oh my gosh! But it’s beautiful. I had a therapy session the other day and it was so enlightening because I was talking about certain things about my children, and my therapist said, “OK well, now look at yourself because this is your issue. It’s not that your kid is doing this, it’s you.” She was so right. That was a really interesting, enlightening moment.
Has motherhood been next-level intense for you?
It’s very confronting at times, yes. And I really do think the best way for me to be the best parent I can be is by working on myself. I do that through therapy and self-care.
You’ve been busy as a McHappy Day ambassador while you’re in Australia, too.
I was a virtual ambassador for 2020’s McHappy Day, which I did via Zoom. At that time, I really connected with siblings Connor and his sister Lola. I really connected with them via zoom. I told my kids about them. My little one [Amada] doesn’t remember, but the older one [Esmeralda] does. Every so often she’ll ask me about the kids, and I’ll send them an email and check on them. My kids then wrote them this little note and it just melted my heart. Especially my older one who’s just turned 8, she wrote them a letter. I got here and finally got to meet Connor and Lola in person. I gave them my daughter’s letter and Lola gives me not only a letter, but two little gifts for my kids in return. It was so sweet.
How do you manage your own emotions when you’re meeting sick kids in your role with McDonald’s? Do you get teary?
It happened earlier. I just have to remind myself that it’s not about me. Especially now being a mother. It’s literally your worst nightmare, to have a sick child in any capacity. My cousin, her baby was diagnosed with neuroblastoma when he was 1. He’s doing great, he’s thriving, he’s in remission. Uprooting your family, needing a home away from home and a support system. That Ronald McDonald House is available to families is invaluable.
What’s next for you?
Surviving Christmas. I feel like that’s the title of something I could do!
It could be the title of a book maybe?
(Laughs) Yes! I’m co-owner of a company called Skura Style and it’s basically taking your kitchen counter to the next level. I’m not a clean freak, but I love cleaning. To me a clean house equals a clear mind. I love doing the dishes. I find it very therapeutic, and one of our products is a smart sponge.
Tell me more!
I’m gonna nerd out on you for one second. Most sponges are made of cellulose and that’s a bacteria hotel, basically. Ours is made out of polyurethane. It holds less bacteria, it rinses dry, it doesn’t smell. I’m the crazy sponge lady now!
Are you and the fam taking a break over Christmas?
We’re not sure right now. It’s really nuts. I still keep telling myself I have time [to plan for Christmas], but I don’t. I get overwhelmed if I have to plan too much. I get a lot of anxiety around planning.
You mean just around Christmas, right?
Planning big events and Christmas is huge. I can’t tell you what my last few Christmases have been like because we have just spent the day building these toys that are way too hard to put together. Thank God for YouTube!
What’s Christmas like for you as a family?
I’m serious! YouTube saved us. I did an Instagram Live with Camila Alves [Matthew McConaughey’s wife] two days ago. She’s an amazing woman. I told her about a picture my sister took of me last Christmas. I literally had one eye open. I was so exhausted. I slept for like an hour on Christmas Eve because of building the toys! But it’s worth it on the day and we love to spend Christmas together as a family – in our matching Christmas pyjamas, of course!