Tell us a little about your family.
I live in Sydney with my husband James, our two daughters, Edie and Tully, and our dog Disco.
What was your biggest adjustment when becoming a mum?
Realising that my time was no longer entirely my own. I’ve always been quite ambitious and independent, so suddenly having someone who needed me for absolutely everything was a huge adjustment, and strangely – not something I’d expected.
How do you manage the juggle of trying to do it all?
I don’t! I just give it my best and hope that’s enough! And I think that’s one of the most liberating things I’ve learnt: you can only do your best.
Depending on the day, I try to focus on what matters; some days I nail it. Other days, the kids are eating breakfast for dinner – and that’s fine too! I’ve stopped trying to do it all and started asking myself what actually needs my energy.
What’s the best thing about being a mum?
Watching my girls become their own little people. Their personalities, their humour, their opinions — particularly the ones I didn’t ask for! I love that they often challenge my way of thinking – even though there are days I wish they wouldn’t!
There’s also something pretty special about being loved so completely by two little people who have seen you at your absolute worst. They don’t care about your job title, your achievements or whether you’ve washed your hair. They love you regardless, and that’s pretty incredible.
What has been your biggest challenge as a mum?
Without question, learning how to parent after being diagnosed with MS.
I’ve had to accept that in many ways, I can’t be the mum I’d like to be. There are days when my legs aren’t cooperating, the fatigue is overwhelming, or there are other symptoms going on which make it hard to run around with the girls. And the guilt and sadness around that can often be enormous.
But I’ve also learnt that being a good mum isn’t about being able to do everything, but about showing up in whatever way you can; so maybe I can’t run around and practise for your touch game with you, but I can play a game of Phase Ten with you (our latest card game obsession!).
I know that at the end of the day, my girls don’t need a superhuman mum, they just need me, even if that’s tired me.
What surprised you most about motherhood?
How much capacity you have to love these little people! I genuinely had no idea it was possible to love someone quite so fiercely. And then you have a second child and somehow that love doesn’t get divided, it doubles. It’s the most extraordinary, overwhelming, exhausting kind of love. They can drive you absolutely bonkers one minute, and the next you’re looking at them wondering how on earth you got so lucky.
Also…We talk so much about becoming a mother, but not always enough about remaining a person.
I love being a mum more than anything, but I’m also still someone with ambitions, interests, friendships and dreams that have absolutely nothing to do with school lunches. And I actually think that’s important for my daughters to see.
What do you wish you’d known before becoming a mum?
That you can love your children more than anything in the world and still desperately need a break from them. Those two things aren’t mutually exclusive. Neither is loving motherhood and occasionally finding it so completely overwhelming you hide in the pantry!
That everything is a phase, and it will all pass! The things you worry yourself into oblivion over — whether they’re still using a dummy at two, refusing to eat anything that isn’t covered in chocolate, or going through a particularly delightful phase of testing every boundary you’ve ever set — eventually sort themselves out. And most of the things you lose sleep over won’t matter in a year’s time.
But equally, I wish I’d understood just how quickly it all goes. Because the phases you desperately want to end are often followed by ones you wish you could have back. One day they won’t reach for your hand when you’re walking down the street, or climb into bed beside you in the middle of the night. So my advice would be to worry a little less and be present.
If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself?
Stop worrying so much about whether you’re getting it right.
Your children aren’t keeping score of how many activities you organise or how impressive their birthday parties are.
They’ll remember how you made them feel. And they’ll probably remember that one time you completely lost your mind over a missing school shoe…but hopefully they’ll forgive you for that!
What are your everyday tips for managing the juggle?
Lower your standards in the areas that don’t matter! Too busy to make lunches? Another day of canteen orders won’t damage them.
Ask for help before you’re completely overwhelmed – like breaking down in the fetal position on the kitchen floor kind of overwhelmed! If you’re doing it all, your partner will think you have it handled, so you need to speak up if you’re doing it at all at the detriment of keeping yourself sane.
How do you make time for your career, motherhood, relationships and yourself?
I think balance is something that is constantly shifting. Some weeks my work gets more of me. Other weeks my family needs more. And sometimes my health demands the whole lot!
I no longer have an unlimited energy supply, so I’ve had to become much more intentional about where my energy goes. And if I’m being honest, I wish it didn’t take me getting unwell to realise that, If I had realised this earlier, I think I would have been a lot less hard on myself.
Who is in your village?
My husband James, our families, my sisters and my incredible friends. I really feel like I won the friendship lottery. I live in a small town and have the most special group of friends here. We are each other’s family, and I honestly couldn’t do life without them. I live in a small town and have the most special group of friends here. We are each other’s family”
Chronic illness has also taught me a lot about friendship. The people who don’t need you to explain yourself, who understand when plans change and who turn up without being asked are absolute gold.
The five things Brooke never leaves home without.
- Lip balm: Vaseline usually! I’m fairly certain I have one in every handbag, jacket pocket and car compartment.
- Sunglasses: An excellent way to look vaguely put together when you absolutely aren’t – and to hide the tired bags under the eyes!
- Phone: Equal parts work tool, family organiser, camera and the place where I keep approximately 700 unfinished thoughts!
- Medication: I currently take around 15 tablets a day, and once you combine that with a menopause brain, I can’t live without an organised pill box!
- Minties: Because you never know when you’re going to need a snack!
Where is next on your travel wish list?
I’d love to visit Sri Lanka. I’d also love to explore more of Australia. There is so much of my own country I haven’t seen and I’d like to tick some more local boxes off.
What are your favourite fashion brands and why?
Ohhh this is hard! I love fashion. I love to get all dressed, but similarly, I love to be comfortable! I think striking the balance between feeling good and being comfortable is where it’s at for me.
Comfort and style should never be enemies!
A few of my faves: Sir, Rowie, Ceres Life, Henne, Zulu and Zephr.
What trend are you loving right now?
Oversized everything! Please God never bring back skinny jeans!!
I’ve become a huge fan of outfits that feel comfortable without looking like I’ve completely surrendered.
Is there a trend you just can’t get on board with?
Jorts! Some people can pull them off, I am not one of those people.
Although, after living through enough fashion cycles, I’ve learnt never to say never. There’s probably photographic evidence of me wearing something far worse in 2004.
What’s your latest brand discovery?
I love finding smaller labels that are doing something interesting, particularly Australian brands.
Starting my own business has given me an entirely new appreciation for what goes into creating a product. I’ll never look at a beautifully made bag the same way again.
Where do you do most of your fashion shopping?
My shopping philosophy is increasingly about buying things I’ll wear repeatedly rather than chasing every new trend. But always, online!! I avoid shopping centres at all costs, unless my tween is forcing me to follow her around every Mecca known to man.
However, there is a shop in Avalon where I live which I love visiting, Deesse. The owner, Rhi, always has the latest and the best. And if I need something last minute to wear to something (or I just want something for the sake of it!) I love popping in. I always know I’ll find something special.
Online – I love The Iconic, Zara, H&M, Sir, Rowie.
What does a healthy lifestyle mean to you?
This has changed enormously since my MS diagnosis.
I used to associate being healthy with exercise, productivity, eating well and having enough energy to do everything I wanted. Now I understand that health is much more complicated than that.
For me, it’s about listening to my body, respecting its limitations and doing what I can to look after myself – before things spiral, not after when it’s too late.
One of the hardest lessons has been accepting that doing less isn’t necessarily giving up, sometimes it’s actually the smartest thing you can do.
What do you do to keep your body moving?
My relationship with movement has changed significantly since becoming unwell.
These days it’s less about pushing myself and more about finding movement that works with my body – and each day can be different. I love to do strength training, and that’s so important for women over 40 to maintain muscle mass and bone density. I go to the classes at Gracefully Whole in Avalon – the owner/trainer, Felicity, ends every class with a meditation and she is like an actual angel.
What are your top five tips for a healthy lifestyle?
- Listen to your body, particularly when it’s telling you something you don’t want to hear.
- Stop comparing your health, energy or capacity with other people’s.
- Prioritise sleep and rest without feeling guilty about it.
- Surround yourself with people who support your wellbeing rather than drain it.
- Make room for things that bring you joy. Being healthy isn’t just about what you eat or how much you exercise.
What are your health non-negotiables?
Rest, good medical care, knowing my limits and having people around me who understand that my capacity can change from one day to the next. And increasingly, protecting my mental health.
What does balance mean to you?
I don’t think balance is about giving everything equal time. It’s about giving the right things your energy at the right time.
Some days that means work, family and ticking things off a list. Other days it means cancelling everything and going back to bed.
Tell us about your career and how it began.
I’ve spent more than 25 years in media – working as a journalist, producer, television producer – and now author!
I’ve always loved storytelling, whether that’s telling someone else’s story on television or finding a way to make people feel seen through something I’ve written.
Making the decision to resign from my role at Nine after my MS diagnosis was seriously hard. It took me a hot minute (okay, a hot year) to come to the conclusion that many around me had already reached: I wasn’t going to be able to keep it up.
What I eventually learned is that MS shows up differently for everyone. And it was becoming clear that for me, it wasn’t going to be straightforward. I was going to need to make some changes.
So I made the call. Resigning without knowing what came next felt completely foreign. Even as a teenager, I’d always known what I wanted to do. I’ve spent most of my life working towards it. Ambition and drive by the bucketload.
I expected to regret my decision. I expected to question what I’d done to my career. But it never happened. Instead, Instead, I slowed down. I rested. I spent more time with my family. I got clearer on what mattered.
And then I realised something I hadn’t expected:
Ambition doesn’t disappear when you leave your job title behind.
Mine was still there. But I was reshaping what it looked like.
And as it turns out, the work I’m doing now feels more purposeful than anything else I’ve done in my career. I think that’s the gift hidden inside so many midlife plot twists. The work I am doing now feels so meaningful and purposeful; I’ve just finished writing my book, But You Don’t Look Sick, working on my second book, and building my own travel bag brand, Elmaè.
I’m discovering that sometimes the most interesting chapters are the ones you didn’t plan!
What has been your biggest career challenge?
The above!
What’s one important lesson your career has taught you?
That your job is something you do, not everything you are. I spent a long time measuring my success through work, achievement and how much I could fit into a day.
Losing the ability to work in the way I once did made me realise how much of my identity I’d attached to being busy and successful. Ambition is a wonderful thing. But it shouldn’t come at the expense of yourself.
And perhaps most importantly, I’ve learnt that you will always be the most successful at the role that gives you the most purpose.
What advice would you give someone starting out in their career?
Be curious, ask questions, don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty, and don’t be afraid to use your voice.
Also, don’t underestimate the importance of being someone people genuinely enjoy working with. Talent matters, but so do kindness, reliability and the way you treat people. You can manage people and still be kind, and in my experience there is no better way to get the best from someone.
Also, careers are rarely as linear as they look on LinkedIn!
How has your health journey changed your everyday life?
In almost every way! I’ve had to completely rethink how I work, parent, travel and manage everyday life.
The hardest part is often the unpredictability. I can look perfectly fine on the outside while dealing with symptoms that make everyday life a challenge at times; nerve pain, nausea, trigeminal neuralgia, blurred vision, chronic fatigue – and lots more!
Things that used to be automatic now require planning, and sometimes the plans still don’t work out. But it’s also changed the way I think about time, priorities and what really matters. I can say I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my life. I never would have slowed down if I hadn’t been forced to, and I am so glad that I did. I get to spend more time with my little family and prioritise what’s really important.
What has helped you through the toughest times?
My people – my family, my friends.
Writing has also been really cathartic. When I started working on But You Don’t Look Sick, I wanted to explore all the parts of chronic illness that don’t tend to make it into medical appointments — the identity shifts, guilt, relationships, loneliness and the pressure to keep appearing okay. Talking to other people who’d experienced similar things made me realise how many of us were quietly navigating the same struggles. There’s enormous comfort in realising you’re not the only one.
And humour helps. Sometimes you have to laugh at the absolute absurdity of it all.
What advice would you give someone navigating their own health challenges?
Be kind to yourself, particularly when you’re frustrated by what you can no longer do.
You don’t have to be positive all the time. You don’t have to turn your diagnosis into an inspirational story. And you certainly don’t have to prove how strong you are by pretending everything is fine.
Find people who understand, ask for help and give yourself permission to grieve the things that have changed.
But also remember that your life can still be full of wonderful things, even if it looks different from the one you imagined.
Discover Brooke’s book, But You Don’t Look Sick, and pre-order a copy here.
