Rebecca Judd releases parenting book The Baby Bible, defends claims of ‘sexist’ AFL culture
AS she prepares to launch her first book, Rebecca Judd says she’s won countless friendships and opportunities as a footy WAG, and can’t understand the bitterness directed at AFL culture.
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REBECCA Judd says she has won nothing but friendships and opportunities as a footy WAG, and can’t understand the bitterness directed at AFL culture by scorned WAGs Abby Gilmore and Cassie Lane.
Speaking ahead of the launch of her first book, The Baby Bible, Judd said her years as the girlfriend and then wife of AFL legend Chris Judd had brought her nothing but opportunities and friendships.
Gilmore is the ex-fiance of Essendon’s Jake Stringer, and Lane used to go out with Magpie Alan Didak.
And while Judd said she wasn’t fully across the women’s stories, where they describe a culture of sexism and hyper-masculinity underpinned by a hush hush attitude to players’ misdemeanours, she had never had such experiences.
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“I don’t know if it depends on the club you’re at, but it was always really positive,” Judd said.
“It was great. I was at two really amazing clubs and I’ve still got really long lasting friendships from the West Coast days which was 14 years ago or something, and the Carlton days as well,” she said.
“Even now some of my really close girlfriends, we met through football. Nadia Bartel is one of my best girlfriends. (We) have a common interest, led a similar life.”
Judd has regular gigs on radio and television, a legion of Instagram followers, and collaborations with Paul Bram diamonds and Adairs.
But the Perth export, also a qualified speech pathologist, hasn’t escaped public flak.
She copped plenty for her thin frame, dodging an awkward on-air kiss from Channel Nine reporter Tony Jones, and even her “ugly” recycled wood Christmas tree.
Her hubby’s profile gave her the platform to launch her career, but since then her hard work and business acumen have helped her star rise further and faster than his in some circles.
And where some have sought public attention for being a footballer’s girlfriend, it’s clear Judd, a 35-year-old mother of four who juggles roles as a Myer ambassador, a host on KIIS FM and Channel Nine’s Postcards, runs a popular blog, Rebecca Judd Loves, and who on Tuesday will be a newly minted author with the release of her first book, The Baby Bible.
With four kids under seven, the self-confessed “perfectionist” admitted she struggled in the past with feeling overwhelmed, particularly after the birth of her second child, daughter Billie.
She said she had strived to keep the book as real and relatable as possible.
Judd said the book delved into the nitty-gritty of parenting, including the good and the downright gross — all with a healthy dose of humour.
“I think most mums worry if they’re doing a good enough job, and I think if you’re even worrying about it then you’re doing a good job,” Judd said.
“I found going from zero to one harder than going from two to four, just because I had no experience. Oscar was awake and I just didn’t know how to get him to sleep.
“I hadn’t slept in six weeks. (The sleep consultant) came … and what do you know, he started sleeping straight through.”
Judd doesn’t skirt around the fact she’s been lucky to access the best medical services money can buy, but she said her book included information for parents on any income.
“I’ve been very clear in the book about the different types of help you can get. Even with sleep consultants; yes I had a private one, but there are public ones that are available. You go to your GP and you get a referral and Medicare covers it,” she said.
“People have access to it...you’ve just got to seek it out and ask for help.”
After twins Darcy and Tom arrived in 2016 Judd had her mum, Kerry Brown, stay with the family as a live-in nanny for a year, something Ms Brown said she loved because it gave her the opportunity to be a mum again without experiencing the hang-ups most young mums feel.
And while she often wonders how Judd manages her personal and professional commitments, Ms Brown said she wasn’t surprised her daughter, a habitual high-achiever who had always been an A-grade student and a dedicated netball player, was so goal oriented.
She said she raised both her daughters — Rebecca and sister Kate — to be independent go-getters, and she was proud of everything Judd had achieved.
“She makes sure she looks after herself. She’s got a really good balance and always has. We had a busy household too (when she was young). I always worked. And as the girls got older I took on more days,” she said.
“But I said to Bec and Chris, it’s always the toughest when they’re small. There’s lots and lots of work. But it’s so much fun being in a big family. And if you can’t push the boundaries and be driven in your thirties, then when can you? That’s the time to just go for it.”
Judd said she answered her children’s questions as honestly as possible.
“If we’re getting followed by a paparazzo ... (it’s) just about explaining to them why. Oscar’s old enough to ask, ‘Why is that man following us?’
“It’s explaining to them that they’re not baddies, it’s just because daddy was a really good footy player. So keeping them educated.”
But while one of the perils of success is it’s easy to get caught up in the search of the next big opportunity, Judd said she was at a point in life where she felt she could sit back and appreciate what she’s got.
“My cup is full. I’ve got my TV, I’ve got my radio, I’ve got my other things I do, and I’ve got my family. I feel like the balance is right,” she said.
“There’s been opportunities that have come up that involve a lot of travelling. And I would have done that ten years ago, but not now. I’ve got to put the family first. And I feel like career wise I’m doing everything I want to be doing.”
Rebecca Judd will host a book signing for The Baby Bible on May 3 from 10am at Chadstone Shopping Centre inside Robinsons Bookshop.
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