New mom Steph Claire Smith is defending returning to the office while her husband stays at home… after trolls called her decision “unnatural”.
Influencer Steph Claire Smith has defended her decision to remain a working mum after welcoming her son Harvey 18 months ago.
The 28-year-old fitness guru says she has faced criticism for returning to the office while her husband Josh Miller takes on the role of the stay-at-home father.
Steph, the founder of workout app Keep It Cleaner, told 9Now she’s frustrated with her critics’ ideas about what constitutes the “right” family composition.
Influencer Steph Claire Smith (pictured) has defended her decision to remain a working mum after welcoming her son Harvey 18 months ago
She said trolls called her parenting deal with Josh “unnatural” and that it “shouldn’t be done.”
“He’s an incredible father,” she said. “He’s doing a fantastic job… he’s very proud to be a stay-at-home dad.”
Steph said it’s important for all new parents to have a conversation about “who’s going back to work and when”.
Just nine months after giving birth, Steph was back in the office four days a week.
According to 2011 census data, four per cent of Australian families have mothers who work while fathers stay at home.
The 28-year-old fitness guru says she’s coped with the criticism for going back to the office while her husband Josh Miller (right) takes on the role of the stay-at-home dad
Meanwhile, the businesswoman said Josh was under scrutiny for his role.
“If you look at the groups of moms, there’s mostly zero dads in them,” she told 9Now.
It comes after Steph recently said she was tired of being asked when she was going to have another child.
Steph said it’s important for all new parents to have a conversation about “who’s going back to work and when”.
“People ask all the time. People close to me, people not close to me, strangers,” she said during her podcast KICBUMP with co-host Laura Henshaw.
Although she grew up dreaming of having two or more children, she said the amount of work she puts into raising one child has given her a new perspective.
Though she and Josh still want two, they won’t be having a second one any time soon.
Census data from 2011 shows that only four per cent of Australian families have mothers who work while fathers stay at home