We’ve been here before – we shot the couple for the very first time in their Dublin home when they first moved in almost four years ago – but this time walking through the front door of Ryan and Michaela’s house feels different. Everything feels more magical this time! And that’s down to one special little man; baby Rowen.
The pair, who met two decades ago on stage in the Panto, welcomed their son to the world on September 16th. Just three months old, the tiny tot is snuggled up, snoozing, while we catch up with the new parents in hushed tones, admiring their sweet little boy. “We’ve wanted this for years, dreamed of this moment and now he’s here. We’re so incredibly lucky,” proud dad Ryan beamed.
It’s been a whirlwind few months for the couple, not only adjusting to life as new parents, but it’s the busiest time of Ryan’s career, too. From Fair City to stage school and his Olly & Polly are Freezin’ Panto, it’s all go. Juggling up to six jobs at once, working on one project while on his lunch break from another and with the newborn in the mix, it’s been chaotic to say the least. “I’ve had one day off over the last few months, that’s the day he was born. It’s hard don’t get me wrong, but I won’t complain. We’re figuring out the balancing act, and having an end goal in sight definitely helps.”
Here, Ryan tells us all about it being a family of three…
Last time we met here it was just after you moved in, and the last time we spoke it was just after your wedding. So much has changed since then – particularly this adorable new arrival! How are you all keeping?
Ah, our life has changed in so many ways! It’s been beautiful and amazing – daunting in some ways as well but we are loving it, and Michaela is absolutely smashing it!
You’ve been together since you were 15. Could you have imagined it working out like this? Was this always the dream, to have a family together?
Michaela would say yes, immediately. I sometimes can’t think past tomorrow whereas Michaela, and she said this in her wedding speech, had a 30 year plan. From the house, career, family plans, she wrote it all down and it’s all come true.
So lovely! Baby Rowen is just three months now, but how quickly has the time gone by for you both?
Someone said to me before they are long days but quick months and I never understood it until now. It has just been a whirlwind, and I am still trying to catch up with myself. I don’t want to miss those moments, but I have to work as well and this is probably the busiest I’ve ever been in my life, so we’re just trying to get that balance.
How are you adjusting to this role as parents? It’s a life changing experience.
It is! I love kids; we’ve loads of nieces and nephews and work with kids all the time, but it’s different when it is your own. I’d never held a newborn before Rowen was put in my arms.
Were you terrified?
Absolutely! The midwives in Holles Street Hospital were incredible. They put Rowen in my arms when they were looking after Michaela and I didn’t move. I was so still, just staring at him for about ten minutes. I didn’t know how to get to the next stage, like lifting him or picking him up. Michaela is saying here that I’m still like that [laughs].
It’s all a learning process though, isn’t it?
It is! Every pregnancy and every labour is different, everyone has different experiences and every baby is different. This was the one time I didn’t research or look too deeply into something. I always plan every little thing, make sure I watch every single video, but this is the first time I didn’t – I’m just dealing with Rowen and his needs as they come. Michaela has the routine down, she’s doing incredible and I’m the supporting role here, doing the best I can.
That’s the thing, you just have to be there and support each other now because it’s so new for both.
Both of us are there for Rowen but what’s most important is that we’re both there for each other. I may be working all day, but she’s been with him so I come home in-between scenes and give her a coffee, make sure the house is clean and ensure everything is there that they might need. I want to support her as best I can. We’re still giving time to each other, doing all the same things that we did before he arrived so nothing in our relationship has changed in that sense. If anything I would say it’s just been enhanced. It is about adjusting from your old life to this new one. There’s definitely huge changes, but we are very lucky with Rowen; he is so happy and so placid. He’s made this change a whole lot easier and we are very grateful for that.
It takes a village, and you’re so lucky to have that village! All the grandparents must be besotted!
Ah, when we told them, you could see the emotion and the joy in their face immediately. Their transition from parents to grandparents has been amazing. They’re a massive support and we’re very lucky to have family around. I want to follow in their footsteps of how they reared us because they did a great job.
What’s your favourite part of parenthood so far, of being a dad?
Seeing Michaela with him. Just seeing how great she is and seeing her smile. She has always wanted to be a mam. She always wanted a baby, a little son or daughter. Seeing the two of them together is surreal, it’s still weird. I still feel like I’m 15 and shouldn’t have a baby! [laughs] I’ve a totally new perspective though. I want to impact him with nothing but love, happiness and positivity in his life.
You’re both great role models for him. And while Michaela is on maternity leave from teaching at the moment, Ryan you’re busier than ever on the work front. Has it been non-stop?
Non stop! I’ve had one day off since the day he was born on 16th of September. We’ve had Fair City which is scheduled every week up until Christmas, then corporate events all over Ireland and the UK, there’s the stage school, the normal Panto and the adult Panto and then I was doing the Late Late warm up every Friday until 11:30pm for six weeks so there was about six or seven things going on at once. I never complained though because I knew what I was doing it for. Michaela was so supportive; she pushed me because we want to create a life for Rowen that we’ve always wanted and dreamt of.
You must be exhausted though! Are you conscious of avoiding burnout?
Absolutely, that’s always on my mind. Now more than ever, having the reason to do it, has put everything into perspective. I am a lot more organised, simply because we need to be. When I’m in RTÉ, I’m working in-between scenes and on my break because I can’t work from home. When I’m there, I want to be present and spend time with Michaela and Rowen.
You’ll be living off Berocca and Revive Active for the foreseeable!
100 per cent, I’m absolutely dousing myself in them both!
