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As parents of a newborn and baby, you could forgive Alex and Olivia Bowen for feeling a little overwhelmed and exhausted.
But although the couple, who met on ITV love island In 2016, accept custody of three-and-a-half-year-old Abel and three-month-old baby siena While it may be “hard work”, they both agree it’s getting better and better.
“It’s hard work, there’s no two ways about it,” says Olivia, 31.
Affectionately explaining, she added: “Sienna is smiling at me when I’m talking, laughing at me,” she adds: “But it’s just the little moments that make everything worthwhile – you can have a hard day, and then you see their little faces, and it’s worth every minute.”
And Alex, 34, adds: “Don’t get me wrong, sometimes it can be difficult, like when Abel is running around and you’re trying to do some housework or cook, and if Liv comes out you’ve got to look after the baby too. That’s the hardest thing.
“But seeing their faces light up, or seeing Abel do something really sweet – it gets better every day.”
And part of the reason the pair are so attracted to parenting (as well as each other) is because their two young children are so wonderful, Alex explains.
“I don’t want to spoil it, but Sienna has been absolutely golden – she’s sleeping amazing, and she’s really happy,” says the proud dad.
“From Abel’s perspective, it’s been a little bit more of a difficult transition, because he’s still only three years old and he’s trying to control his emotions, it’s always been just me, him and Liv and then having another baby in the mix, he’s had to adapt, but he’s also been absolutely wonderful.”
Olivia says: “It’s really been a learning opportunity for all of us, hasn’t it?”
“This is the best part,” her husband declared.
After nine years together, seven of them married, Alex and Olivia are Love Island’s longest-surviving relationship. Alex was a scaffolder before taking part in the series, and after making the most of her new-found fame through brand endorsements and public appearances, as well as modeling and TV appearances for former sales executive Olivia, fitness fanatic Alex has started her own fitness coaching business.
And it’s that love of fitness, shared by Olivia, that inspired the pair to champion the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s campaign Let’s Move! To make children more physically active.
The campaign that is supported sport england and famous fitness names including gymnasts Max Whitlock and Beth Tweddle and fitness coaches joe wicksaims to help parents find simple, fun and pressure-free ways to incorporate movement into daily life, starting with just 10 minutes of activity.
Olivia is particularly enjoying the 10-minute activities, explaining: “These little bursts have been really good for me, because I didn’t work out for a while after the baby was born.”
And Alex says: “Health has always been a big part of my life, so having my son and my daughter when she can actually run around, be active, is a step in the right direction. And Liv is just coming off pregnancy and birth, she’s getting back into the swing of things and fitness.
Olivia had Sienna just three months ago, via an emergency C-section, during which she bled and had two blood transfusions after losing three liters of blood, and she says: “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind, and the recovery has been quite difficult – I’m still not over it. But I’m definitely starting to feel better now – it’s just been a bit of a long journey.”
But she’s slowly increasing her fitness, going to the gym, and doing “run-walks” whenever possible, as well as 10-minute activity with her kids. “Because I had a C-section it’s quite difficult to get back straight away – you don’t have any strength in your stomach at all,” she explains.
“But I really love getting back into it, I’ve missed it so much. Alex and I both know how much it helps our mental health and how much happiness it makes us get moving.”
Although she couldn’t physically work after having Sienna, Olivia found almost no time off from her media work, shooting the reality ITVX show Olivia & Alex: Parenthood, which gave an intimate look into the family’s home life in the days before and after the birth.
She says, “It’s been a little more difficult this time, because I haven’t really had maternity leave. We were filming our show Parenthood until about two days before I gave birth and then about five days after. So it’s been absolutely crazy.
“It’s been quite challenging. Abel took a bottle at two weeks old, but Sienna obviously isn’t taking a bottle, so I’ve been exclusively breastfeeding her, which means she’s been doing all of our work.”
But Olivia’s postpartum limitations and baby care certainly haven’t stopped her eldest child in her tracks, pointing out that Sport England Research Revealing that more than half of children are not getting the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity, she says: “Abel is hyper-active, and we’re very active parents too, so it feels really important to talk to and promote other parents about keeping their kids nice and active,
“Obviously we understand as parents that it’s very hard to get outside, so it’s about trying to teach parents and their children how to be active in easy and accessible ways – whether that’s in your garden, or creating games in your lounge so everyone can join in and gradually work their way up to 60 minutes a day.”
And Alex suggests: “You can use household items for this – you don’t have to go out and buy things. It’s all stuff you’ve already got anyway.”
Because little Abel is so lively, instead of letting him run around “mindlessly”, Alex and Olivia play games with him, ranging from simple hide and seek to trying to throw a teddy in a bucket or dancing around the living room.
But Alex stresses that such activities not only benefit the child, explaining: “This allows parents to interact more with their children. As parents, we know we can be busy, and you sometimes leave your children to play on their own, but it’s also great to join in on their active play.
“It gives you an excuse to play with your kids, and it can increase bonding with them.”
The couple clearly love being mom and dad – so does this mean they’ll have more kids?
“No!” Olivia says decisively. And it’s definitely a joint decision – Alex insisted: “No, we don’t have anything else – I didn’t even have to think about it!”
Olivia and Alex Bowen are supporting the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Let’s go! The campaign, supported by Sport England, helps parents find simple, fun and pressure-free ways to bring movement into everyday life.