Step inside the Sydney home of news reporter Adene Cassidy and you’ll never want to leave. From the enchanted, dreamy garden to the charming white picket fence, it’s an idyllic place to raise children. And let’s not even get started on the chic interior or her phenomenal wardrobe. “I adore making a house a home. It’s how my love for interiors grew,” says Cassidy. “I believe you can make any space look good with a great colour scheme, statement furniture and flattering lighting. I love beautiful textures, white and neutral palettes and I like every room in my house to be used. My style is understated and a little bit eclectic.” Interior design isn’t Cassidy’s only passion. The mother to Lucinda, 9, and Arabella, 6, wanted to be a journalist since she was a little girl. “I’ve been on one career path since I was nine — to be a journalist. I feel lucky I had this goal and the drive so early on, as it made my work choices very easy,” says Cassidy, who is currently the only mother on the road as a full time news reporter with Channel 7 News Sydney. “I’d like to see more mothers on the road, but it’s a tough job when your children are really little!”. Cassidy took a break from her career after her daughter Lucinda was born. She returned to work part time nine months later. “It was a struggle. I found it very difficult to leave her and was quite distressed that I’d made this choice to be a mother but then I went back to work, which I also loved,” she says. During this time, her husband’s work took their family to Thailand and she took a two-year break. “I am very grateful I had this time with Lucinda, but it also made me realise that I’m a better mother when I work. I need that stimulation. When we returned to Sydney, Channel 7 took me back again as entertainment reporter and now I’m doing a full-time stint in the newsroom.” Now her girls are older, Cassidy says the juggle is easier. “It’s taken me a long time to realise that I could have a career and still be a great mother, without feeling guilty.” We spent the morning at home with Cassidy and her beautiful girls to talk everything from raising girls to interiors to careers…
Motherhood is the biggest and best thing I’ve ever done…
It’s given me perspective on the importance of family. My girls are very wise and they love without judgement, conditions or prejudice, so I hope it’s taught me how to love like this.
My childhood was somewhat of a rollercoaster…
I learnt how to become incredibly resilient, probably too resilient and tough. I would probably tell the younger Adene to soften up, slow down and to listen to her grandmother.
I always cleanse, morning and night…
Every other day I exfoliate. In the mornings, I follow up with my favourite tinted sunscreen from Ultraceuticals. At nighttime, I cleanse, then use a good Vitamin A night cream and rosehip oil around my eyes.
Exercise is so important to me…
When I don’t train I’m not happy! I do a mixture of running, walking, weight training and Pilates. When I was pregnant, I did lots of power walking, swimming and water aerobics. After my first pregnancy, it took ages for me to get back into a routine, but with Arabella I was back doing Pilates and walking quite soon after.
Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t sugar coat my pregnancies…
So I’m going to be brutally honest, I really didn’t enjoy either pregnancy. I was uncomfortable, I couldn’t sleep, I felt every stretch of my skin, I had indigestion, hip problems, I was grumpy and I complained A LOT! Both times the best part was when I found out and then the ultrasound check ups when I could hear the magical heart beat. The worst: during my first pregnancy I injured my back badly, and the only way I could walk was on all fours. I then ended up in hospital in traction, not fun!
Children are 100% happier with structure…
There are very few human beings, no matter the age who don’t like structure and routine, children are no different.
When the girls were younger, I followed the time the eat, play, sleep routine…
I followed that and tried to feed my babies as much as I could in the day so they would sleep through. It worked both times. A mothercraft nurse once told me, ‘Adults don’t want to be woken up to eat in the middle of the night, so why would a baby?’. But again, every baby is so different and what worked for me may not work for others.
When you’re a new mother, try and take advice from one person or one book only…
As hard as that may be. People mean well by offering advice when you have a newborn, but it can be very confusing and upsetting when it doesn’t work for you or your baby. Find somebody whose parenting style appeals to you and listen to their experience.
“ I love raising girls. I love having two of a kind, I watch and learn as Lucinda goes through her various stages and then I prepare myself for when Arabella reaches the same stage or milestone ”
They are both very girly in their own way...
and at the same time have different, strong and individual personalities! One wants me to choose her daily outfit, the other needs to line up the seams in her socks before she walks out the door.
I’ve been on one career path since I was nine…
To be a journalist. I feel lucky I had this goal and the drive so early on, as it made my work choices very easy. I finished university and went to work in radio, working for free at first from 4am in the morning to 9pm at night for three months (crazy I know). It paid off as I ended up as the station’s main producer for three years and from there it was straight into television with Channel 7 Perth. September 11 was a defining moment in my life, all of our senior Sydney reporters were sent to Afghanistan and New York for two months, so I was sent to Sydney, met my husband and I never returned.
I feel very fortunate because I’ve had so many career highlights…
My pinch me moment was being part of the press gallery at The White House. I was 25 and sitting in the West Ballroom with President Clinton and Hashimoto, wondering how on earth I’d got there! Later that night, I attended the White House Correspondent’s dinner, one of the biggest events in the US calendar. That was most definitely a surreal time for me. Now, I love that every day is different, every day there is a new challenge and every day I have the privilege of meeting new people from all walks of life. There aren’t too many jobs in the world where you don’t know what you’re going to be doing that day!
When I’m reporting, I love a good pair of black pants…
Either flared or straight leg. A beautiful coloured shirt and always, always, always a great pair of shoes! At home it’s jeans or baggy pants, a good T-shirt and trainers! In summer, when I’m not working I love a beautiful hat, a white floaty dress, denim shorts, striped singles, and this summer my new pink, cat-eye sunglasses by Fendi!
Finding time for myself is the hardest part of being a mother…
Time where you can completely switch off and not think about whether the uniform is washed for the next day! The best part? I have two little best friends who make me laugh every day.
Adene’s little list of loves:
Morning cuddles with my girls. Running Trawling for beautiful shoes and clothes on the net (especially The Net-a-Porter sale) I love the morning car ride to school. I put a playlist on that the girls and I have made and we sing all the way to the front gate. Tom Ford Fleur de Portofino fragrance. Aperol Spritz. The Steve Jobs biography. Suits and Harvey Spectre (not in that order) My Lalique Encre Noire Candle Family Monopoly Tucking my girls into bed. Photography: Grace Alyssa Kyo Hair and makeup: Michael Brown Words: Georgie Abay
