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Former Olympic swimming champ Giaan Rooney, 36, has launched her first children’s book, Lemon the Llama, just as she prepares for oldest child, Zander, 4, to start school.
Where did the inspiration for Lemon the Llama come from?
Originally, it came from my husband, Sam, who grew up on a farm surrounded by animals. I wanted to honour that part of my children’s heritage while also incorporating the idea that every single one of us is different.
What have been your favourite books to read for your kids?
I really want my kids to have the same passion for a good book I do, so we read most nights. Our favourites are Where is the Green Sheep?, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and Zander is loving The Wind in the Willows.
How does it feel having Zander start school in the coming weeks?
We are all excited. We are fortunate he has loved daycare so much that he can’t wait to start “big school” and is counting down the days until he can wear his new uniform.
Who’s more nervous – him or you?
I don’t think any of us are nervous. He has been in the daycare routine for five days a week for a couple of years and we have to drag him out of the centre every day. He almost seems in a rush to grow up. The only thing Sam and I are nervous about is that school hours are a lot shorter than daycare hours!
What has helped you juggle two kids and a career?
I’m not going to lie – two working parents who don’t have traditional hours (one who travels weekly for work and one who owns their own business) means the juggle is most certainly real. I’m fortunate Sam and I are an equal partnership when it comes to running the household. He is a fantastic dad and copes better with having the kids on his own than I do. My parents help out but I do feel a lot of the time like we are only just keeping all the balls in the air.
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