Comedian Katherine Ryan on the challenges of being a busy mum and why her son might follow in her footsteps
KENZI DEVINE
As Katherine Ryan juggles parenthood and a booming career, she is the first to admit that life can be hectic. But chatting with
new, the Canadian-born comic explains why she’s taking the time to really enjoy being with her brood. “I’ve realised that life is so fleeting, which has made me appreciate those little moments with my kids so much more.
Because those moments will be gone so quickly,” she says.
Katherine has children, Fred, two, and 15-month-old Fenna, with her husband and high school sweetheart Bobby Kootstra, who she married in 2019. Bobby was previously in broadcasting, but is now a proud stay-at-home dad. She’s also mum to 14-year-old Violet, who she raised on her own for almost a decade before reconnecting with Bobby.
Here, the 40-year-old shares how “bittersweet” it is watching your kids grow up, reveals why Bobby is the head chef at home
— and opens up on whether more little ones are on the horizon…
Hi, Katherine! How are you juggling parenthood and a busy work life right now?
It’s so busy, my weeks go by too fast! I have no plans ever in my life for anything, I just panic, get it done, and panic again! Luckily I’m very calm but I’m also very disorganised with the babies and work. It’s fine though, we’re rolling with it.
Are you starting to see Fred and Fenna’s personalities develop?
Yes, it’s amazing. We have really funny kids. Fred is now understanding what being “funny” is. We filmed a family show not too long ago called Parental Guidance and Fred had just turned two and was kind of, without insulting my son, a nightmare. It’s like he hit his second birthday and was like, “This is terrible twos time.” My older daughter never had that, so I was a bit taken aback. But he’s graduated from that now and he’s hilarious. He likes rock ’n’ roll music and will gather us all to watch him do shows. I didn’t push him to be a performer – it has just happened. I feel like he’ll be a star. Nepotism will, of course, help him, but it’ll be off his own back. He’s growing up so fast.
You’ve spoken before about struggling with your eldest, Violet, growing up. How are you dealing with that?
It’s bittersweet. As a mother, it’s the greatest gift to watch your kids grow up. But at the same time, it is difficult for me because Violet is a reminder that everything the babies do is fl
