The One Show's Alex Jones has opened up about after having her daughter, Annie, describing the pregnancy as a "huge surprise". The presenter, 45, gave birth to her third child last August.
Talking to OK! Magazine ahead of the TRIC Awards, Alex revealed: “Annie was a huge surprise, but she was very much wanted. I just love having the three of them. I always wanted a little gang. And Annie is a dream. She’s been the easiest baby." The presenter has been married to Charlie Thomson, who is from New Zealand, since 2015 and the couple share two other children -Teddy, five, and Kit, three. The couple met at a party in 2011.
Alex added: "She’s just lovely and I remind myself every day to tell her when she’s older that she was the most incredible baby. She’s saved us completely. You wouldn’t even know she was there, she’s so good.”
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She then talked about juggling her work and home life. She said: “If I’ve got half an hour I’d rather be with the children.
"It’s a seriously demanding schedule that evokes huge waves of mum guilt, particularly for missing Teddy’s school pick-up." Despite this, she said that she is grateful to have maintained her career, as she believes being a stay-at-home mum is a harder battle.
“My mum took the early years off until I was about seven,” said Alex, “She says to me at least with being a stay-at-home mum you know what you are. But I think it’s the hardest job in the world - it’s physical and demanding.
"At least I can have a cup of tea with colleagues, and a lot of my friends who work with me - Ronan Keating, Jermaine Jenas - they have children, and it’s a bit like therapy. We can talk to each other about all challenges, but stay-at-home mums, it’s full on. It’s not just going to a coffee and all of that.”
Talking about how she juggles her time, Alex said: “It’s trying to be as present as a parent and then trying to switch halfway through the day to try and do something entirely different. It’s hard to keep on top of everything because like most mums you want to be there for all the little moments, but when you’re a working mum that’s really difficult.
“At 7.30pm I pull my mics off and hop in the car and it’s back to mum duties. Sometimes I’ll go into the boys rooms and they’re like, ‘Mama, why have you got that red on your lips’, because I’ve come straight from the studio and I’ve got a bit too much makeup on.
“But on an everyday basis I miss school pick-up, which is huge. I’m trying to find ways of spending the time with Teddy that’s not at pick up but other times a day. We wake up and I try to have half an hour just with Ted to do some reading so that he feels we’ve had some one on one.
"Ted’s in school and Kit does nursery twice a week and then I’m with him the rest of the week. I think the youngest ones, they get a lot of me, but once Ted went to school things really changed and I really noticed. I take him every morning but sometimes I don’t see him until the next morning.”
The road towards children hasn't been plain sailing for Alex, who had a miscarriage in 2017. In the interview with OK! Magazine, she talked about the "special moments" she shares with Charlie and her children. "I think we’re resigned to the fact that is what life is at the minute, and it will change again," she said, as she described how her family has never been out for a sit-down meal.
Now that the couple have their daughter, Alex said that she feels her brood is complete. She touched upon how her third child also has some independence of her own. “The boys are very demanding and needy and clingy. Obviously, I enjoy it and I’m going to take it for as long as they want to cling on, but Annie - she’s just already a lot more independent. She’s happy to play on her own and be in her bouncer, or the high chair. Just completely different, and we’ve been really lucky to experience both.”
On making the transition from two to three, Alex said: “I think once you’ve got one child you’re committed,” she laughs. “You’re in the zone and your life will never be the same, whether you’ve got one or four. I think we noticed the difference with two - that upped a gear a little bit more, but with three - and thankfully because Annie has the temperament she has - we’re very lucky.”
The One Show airs on weekdays on BBC One at 7pm
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