‘THERE’S A LOT TO BE GRATEFUL FOR’
‘I’ll have more balance and make time for myself’
The Real Housewives Of Cheshire star and model, Tanya Bardsley, 39, has been vocal about her struggles with anxiety and depression. Wife of Burnley footballer Phil Bardsley, 34, they spent lockdown with their kids Rocco, 10, Renz, seven, and three-yearold Ralphi. Tanya says, “The biggest lesson for me is that once the bars and restaurants are fully back to normal, I won’t be going home early from a night out! I will live my life to the fullest. I don’t normally drink because I find it sets off my anxiety and depression but I did have a few wines during lockdown and now I’m just looking forward to sitting in a beer garden or going to a spa with the girls.
“I will also never take school for granted. I used to hate the school run and now I can’t wait for it! I found homeschooling so difficult. My kids are a bit wild – or ‘spirited’, as I call it – and trying to teach them was a nightmare. I am definitely not cut out for teaching, I didn’t know what to do so I really struggled.
“I enjoyed having Phil home, though, and we got on really well. Normally if we argue, it’s about work and the stresses that brings but because we didn’t have any of that, we had good quality time together. I think that from now on I will try to have more of a balanced life. Having your own hobbies and independence is important. Imagine it like a pie: it’s better to have that pie split into different segments of hobbies, work, relationship, children, etc, than having the whole pie the same. So I’ll definitely make more time for myself.”
Turn to p29 for Tanya’s column