Learning tools for parenting
THE RIGOURS OF A TV RENO SHOW PROVIDED A GOOD PARENTING PLATFORM, WRITES RHYS O’NEILL
Maddi Wright calls her time on TV renovation show House Rules “the world’s shortest apprenticeship”, but it also delivered a shock crash course in parenting that was to follow. While the bright lights of the small screen appear anything but an environment for learning to look after kids, Maddi and husband Lloyd gained valuable tools during the pair’s 2015 appearance. “We learnt a lot but it was hard. Now we’re well trained at sleep deprivation,” Maddi said.
MADDI Wright calls her time on TV renovation show House Rules “the world’s shortest apprenticeship”, but it also delivered a shock crash course in parenting that was to follow.
While the bright lights of the small screen appear anything but an environment for learning to look after kids, Maddi and husband Lloyd gained valuable tools during the pair’s 2015 appearance.
“I call it the world’s shortest apprenticeship,” she laughed.
“We learnt a lot but it was hard. Now we’re well trained at sleep deprivation.
“I don’t know what I’d do if I wasn’t busy and that was me anyway but we learnt (on the show) how to organise ourselves and to work in a partnership and to communicate.
“It can bring out the worst in you and the best but you learn a lot about your partner and you learn how strong your relationship is.
“In terms of being parents, we’re now really tight and good at being a family unit. “It will make or break you.” True to her word, Mrs Wright has kept busy in recent years, even recently returning to work at Triple M radio station. The Cairns-based couple also have sons Carter, 18 months, and Marlow, four months, to look after, as well as building a new home at Brinsmead.
“This time we’re building new so that’s going to be a whole new ball game,” she said.
“I think it will be easier without a camera in our face.”
Mrs Wright, though, confesses the responsibilities of parenthood are a daily challenge.
With Lloyd one of three brothers who grew up in Cairns, the family moved up from Townsville three years ago to be closer to their family support network.
“Nothing can prepare you for parenthood, as much as you think you know it all and you think ‘yeah, I’ve got his’,” Mrs Wright laughed.
“With our first we learnt that when you think you’ve got them in a routine, then something changes.
“But it’s exciting to have two kids grow up close in age and in a cool place like Cairns.
“It’s been a wild ride. I think a puppy is next for us.”