‘Being with my girls is everything’
Ben Morris-Eales is a dad and husband in a million. The 38-year-old devotes his days to looking after his three daughters, two stepdaughters and wife, Marie. The couple met when Ben, a single dad, moved to Southampton eight years ago with daughters, Sophie, then eight, Phoebe, five, and Isabel, who was just two. Inevitably, his social life was restricted to the school playground and the park. That’s how he met Marie and her two daughters, Mia and Jacqueline-Joan ( known as JJ), who were then aged five years and seven months respectively. Marie was in a relationship but, when JJ began to have fits at the age of eight months, it placed the family under huge strain. Matters took a turn for the worse when JJ was hospitalised on New Year’s Day 2011. She sustained brain damage and spent six months in hospital. Sadly, Marie’s marriage ended, although the couple remain good friends. After the split, Marie came to rely heavily on her friend Ben. Their feelings deepened and love blossomed in 2012. Doctors are unable to predict JJ’s life expectancy, but she has the devoted care of her whole family – especially stepdad Ben.
Marie and Ben married in August 2015, and JJ joined her sisters as a bridesmaid.
As the newlyweds settled into married life, Ben was working full-time at the Post Office and the bulk of the childcare fell to his wife.
It was an isolating time for Marie, now 41, who had once hoped for a career.
When she finally discussed her frustrations with Ben, the couple came to a momentous decision – Ben offered to be the stay-at-home parent. Marie now works for the South Central Ambulance Service.
Now, Ben’s day starts at 7am when he gets JJ ready for the day ahead, washing and dressing her, and making sure she’s taken her medication.
Then it’s a round of breakfasts before the girls head off to college and school. After that, Ben tackles the household chores.
For Marie, it’s a dream come true. And has Ben ever regretted his decision to put his working life on hold?
‘Not one bit,’ is his response. ‘Being with the girls is more than enough compensation.’
It’s an attitude, Marie insists, that’s typical of Ben. ‘He’s so modest that he refuses to see how special he is, but everyone around him can see it so clearly,’ she says.