When the Heron family landed in Europe, her daughter Emiko was 5 months old, her son Malachi had just turned 3 and her husband Stephen had stepped back from his career as a physiotherapist to become a fulltime stay-at-home dad.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought it would be a juggle, but I didn\u2019t realise it would be that much of a juggle so early on,\u201d laughs Mei, 32.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was running to a portaloo to pump in between live crosses and thinking, \u2018What is my life?\u2019 When I interviewed for the job, I had a 3-week-old \u2013 I joke that I was still high on the labour drugs when I accepted the gig!\u201d<\/p>\n
Mei experienced an incredible whirlwind few years covering world-shifting events: the war in Ukraine, earthquakes in Turkiye and Syria, the King and Princess of Wales\u2019 cancer diagnoses, Charles\u2019 coronation, riots in Paris, the Olympics and the Rugby World Cup. She visited more than 20 countries in that time.<\/p>\n
The reporter hit the ground running with some of the biggest news stories of our time. Photo \/ Woman’s Day<\/p>\n
\u201cThe travel was incredible \u2013 for work and family breaks,\u201d says Mei. \u201cWe got to see so much of the world. Malachi became obsessed with air traffic control. His dream is to be the controller at Heathrow or Beijing. His world view is huge now.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Mei reported to the nation, Stephen, 38, held down the fort at home \u2013 no easy feat with two kids under the age of 5 and no local support system.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did amazing,\u201d Mei enthuses. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t always easy \u2013 especially being the only dad at the weekday parent things<\/a> \u2013 but he feels lucky to have had that much quality time with our kids when they were that young.\u201d<\/p>\n Over time, the family found themselves welcomed by a supportive group of neighbours, friends and churchgoers.<\/p>\n She explains, \u201cWe had a big community and we looked after each other\u2019s kids, taking them to swimming and extracurriculars. I\u2019d come home to other people\u2019s kids running around our house and vice versa \u2013 we lived in that kind of lovely community. We were so lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t always sunshine and rainbows, though. At times, Mei admits she struggled with balancing her busy role and family life.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was a tricky dynamic with me working and Stephen with the kids,\u201d she recalls. \u201cSometimes it was easier when I wasn\u2019t there, dipping in and out, disrupting the routine. I\u2019d come home 20 minutes before bedtime and wonder if I should even go in. I\u2019d just stand outside the house, watching the clock. It was lonely.\u201d<\/p>\n But the positives outweighed the negatives and the experience has set them in good stead.<\/p>\n Mei explains, \u201cNow our understanding of each other is so much greater, and it\u2019s been amazing for our parenting and relationship. We both see what it takes to run the house. Stephen understands the mental load. He doesn\u2019t want to plan the dinners either!\u201d<\/p>\nWhile Mei reported to the nation, Stephen held down the fort at home. Photo \/ Nicole Edmonds<\/p>\n