Television personality Scarlett Moffatt has opened up about her family dynamic after her fiancé Scott Dobinson quit his job as a police officer to become a stay-at-home father to their three-year-old son, Jude.
The former Gogglebox star, who is currently pregnant with the couple's second son, revealed last year that she had returned to work after a two-year hiatus, with Dobinson taking over childcare duties.
Moffatt explained that the decision has helped her family navigate recent personal grief, including the death of her grandad just days after Dobinson's mother Janice passed away.
"I'm aware of how lucky and privileged we are to be able to spend so much time as a family," Moffatt told the Daily Mail. "A lot of my friends did it, but it's just the opposite dynamic, it's the girls doing it. We live in a family where isn't even a thought of like, 'oh well you have a penis so that must have mean that you have to go to work!'"
She added: "For us it just works and unfortunately there's been a series of events that have been out of our control that have meant that things have got really hard lately. I think actually, Scott being off was almost like divine intervention."
Moffatt noted that she originally intended to take only one year off work before becoming pregnant. "I think it was meant to happen because I think it's allowed us all to relax a little bit and enjoy spending time with each other," she said.
Financial concerns and potential TV return
Addressing potential concerns about fluctuating income while Dobinson is off work, Moffatt explained that her income depends on television projects but said she does not let it worry her.
"That's the thing with anyone being self-employed," she said. "I've got friends who are hairdressers, drag queens, aesthetic nurses etc. and it's actually quite nice that we all understand the dread of the tax bill."
While joking that the couple are too boring for a fly-on-the-wall reality series, Moffatt expressed strong interest in returning to Gogglebox, the show where she previously starred alongside her parents, Betty and Mark.
"We would never say no," Moffatt said. "If they came knocking then in a heartbeat I would do that because we had so many belly laughs doing that show. It was to the point where every bone in your body hurts because you laughed that hard."
She acknowledged that returning would feel different now that she is friendly with some of the show's stars. "So maybe I'd not be as sarcastic as I once was," she added. "But yeah I would really like that, I think that would be fun."
Family expansion and future parenting plans
The upcoming birth of their second son follows four years of trying to conceive her first child with Dobinson, making the pregnancy a welcome blessing for the couple.
Moffatt revealed that she and Dobinson are already discussing the possibility of expanding their family further in the future.
"Because it took us so long to have Jude and we were just so grateful that we had Jude, we honestly didn't know if a second child would ever happen for us," Moffatt said. "But actually, it happened pretty quickly for us. So I was like maybe we could have a third child. I wouldn't say no. I always craved that big family energy and I just love it. I'd have 10 if I could!"
Reflecting on her current pregnancy, she remarked on how quickly it has passed. "I keep thinking though, girl math, surely the transition from none to one is harder than one to two because because we already sort of know what we're doing," she said.
Summer holiday plans with Google Gemini
To help keep Jude entertained over the summer break, Moffatt has partnered with Google Gemini for its new Gemidorm campaign, which aims to tackle parental guilt during the holidays.
New research reveals that 84 per cent of UK parents feel guilty about not doing enough with their children during the summer holiday due to financial concerns, while 73 per cent of families spend more time at home due to cost-of-living pressures.
The campaign showcases how the Gemini app provides parents with instant activity ideas tailored to their family's ages, interests, budget, and location.
"No one talks about this side of parenting but parents struggle with coming up with ideas and they feel the pressure to keep the kids occupied and it's hard," Moffatt said. "I can't stress enough to people that it doesn't matter that you see all these elaborate holidays and destinations and things that parents do, as long as you are spending time with your child and they're having fun, that is all that matters."
She added: "And I think that's what's perfect about this, it shows you don't need to do crazy elaborate things, you can do stuff with loads of fun things with what you have in your shed or under the bed and have a laugh."
Moffatt explained that she is making the most of her remaining time alone with Jude. "I've had so much fun today using Gemini and there's already so many things that I've got planned to do with Jude," she said. "Especially because I'm in the zone of this is the last summer it'll ever just be me and him. So I think I I feel like I've got to make extra special moments and I'm hugging him tighter and stuff because soon it won't just be him."
Parents can download the Gemini app on Android or iOS, or visit gemini.google.com to learn more.
