Steph Claire Smith ridiculed for being a working mother fans say it is ‘unnatural’

Fitness model Steph Claire Smith has come under fire for going back to work while her husband Josh Miller stays at home with their 18-month-old son Harvey.

The 28-year-old co-founder of Keep it Cleaner defended her parenting style which has been branded ‘unnatural’ by some of her followers.

The couple previously revealed Josh chose to be a full-time dad while she returned to work as a fitness influencer and podcast host because she is more ‘successful.’ 

Steph and Josh are facing backlash since Steph returned to work and Josh remained home to mind their 18-month-old son Harvey

Steph recorded an episode for her popular podcast within weeks of giving birth to Harvey and returned to work four days a week nine months later. 

And while the family insists the arrangement works best for them, with Josh admitting Steph’s larger salary meant it was a ‘no brainer’, they continue to face backlash from fans. 

‘It’s very frustrating. I can’t believe there are still people that have it stuck in their minds that this is unnatural and shouldn’t be done,’ said Steph.

‘I really don’t understand it. He’s an incredible dad. He’s doing a fantastic job… he’s immensely proud that he can be a stay-at-home dad.’

The mum ‘can’t understand’ why people have an issue with Josh being a full-time dad, saying he is ‘fantastic’ at what he does

Steph explained she was ‘so ready to be so deep in motherhood and embraced it all,’ but she didn’t want to completely abandon her business.

‘When you run your own business that’s your first baby, so I wasn’t okay with completely stepping back,’ she said.

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‘I think I’ve found the perfect balance where I can get enough time with Harvey, really fill out my family cup and balance that guilt of missing out at home, and also still be a part of the team and get everything that we need to get done every week at work.’

Despite Josh’s eagerness to stay at home, the couple previously opened up about how ‘isolating’ it can be as a stay-at-home dad.

They explained that he’s in a position none of his mates can relate to and is ‘alone always, with a person that can’t speak’.

‘It’s hard for him and super isolating because when you look at mother’s groups, more often than not there are zero dads in them,’ said Steph.

‘And if there are dad’s groups, they’re traditionally for the dads that also work, so throughout the week it’s not like he can catch up with them.’

Steph went back to work nine months postpartum because she was more ‘successful’ with her thriving modelling and podcast

However despite the difficulties Josh wants to stay at home with Harvey, and the couple plan to keep an open conversation about their roles and responsibilities. 

‘It should be that way in every relationship, heterosexual or not, that there’s a conversation about who’s going back to work, when that is and those sort of things,’ Steph commented.  

Although the comments about their parenting choices take their toll, Steph does not give into the pressure to physically bounce back quickly after giving birth.

‘All that pressure, I really don’t understand where it comes from and it does make me quite angry because everyone’s body is going to react differently,’ she said. 

‘Everyone’s body is different from the beginning. Everyone’s body goes through a different change throughout pregnancy, everyone’s birth is different, everyone’s postpartum period and lifestyle and help they get – all of that is different… it’s just super unfair that everyone is held to the same expectation to’ bounce back.

‘I don’t know any other circumstance where your body would go through such an ordeal… but you’re also supposed to look the way you did before,’ she said. 

Discussing his decision to stay home to be a full time dad, Josh said ‘it was clear as day from the start that was the way we probably should have gone and did go’