In the spotlight:

Newshub’s

Melissa Chan-Green talks about motherhood and the royal family.

What’s harder – being at home with a baby or being at work?

They both can be challenging. But I’ll put it this way – the night before I went back to work, which was going to be quite a long day, my husband and I were like, ‘Right, who should sleep in with the baby and who will make sure he (Busby) gets a good night’s sleep? And who should sleep in the other room and get a really good night’s sleep?’ We decided that the person looking after the baby all day was the one who had to have a really good sleep.

What is one thing about motherhood no one ever told you?

Well that’s the thing. There are so many things you prepare for like sleep deprivation. I can nap anywhere but no one ever tells you that sometimes your baby just wants to be on you the whole time and it’s actually not possible.

Tell me about your childhood. Did your parents, or anyone in your family, work in media?

No. My mum is a nurse. My dad works on a farm. I don’t know where that came from. I was always interested in writing. I grew up with my mum and stepdad and three half-sisters in Pakuranga.

What was your first job?

I did children’s parties dressed as a fairy. I was probably about 16. I would drive to people’s homes and host a children’s

party for an hour and sing songs and have a fairy blanket with glitter and read stories and do face painting and all those sorts of fairy things. It was really fun. Because I had younger sisters, I felt comfortable about hosting children’s parties. It was always just a nice thing to go and do on the weekend. While my friends were stacking shelves and things, I was just off having fun. It was good. The leotard and everything wasn’t the perk of the job I don’t think.

Who makes you laugh every day?

My husband for sure. He’s a bit of a joker. He’s always been the king of dad jokes and now he’s really come into his own. We’ve always had a good laugh.

What show are you binge-watching?

Well I’m kind of a documentary junkie. So I love watching any documentaries I can get hold of like royal documentaries, crime documentaries. There’s one called Babies I’ve been watching.

Why royal documentaries?

I guess in my time in London, I covered so many royal stories, and I’ve met quite a lot of the household staff, so I guess I’ve just maintained an interest in those stories. And obviously there have been quite big developments recently within the royal family so I keep across that for reporting as well. Some of those commentators, they’re people I know so I like to keep up with what’s happening.

Do you have a favourite royal?

I think probably Prince William. He has a playful side and he’s very relatable to people. But I also think he kind of carries that degree of gravitas. He and Harry have been through so much. I think he carries it really well.

Have you met the Queen?

Yeah, I have. I shook her hand but I was so worried about how I was meant to curtsy that the kind of whole experience seems a bit of a blur.