FATHER'S DAY EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: MARC MOORE
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FATHER'S DAY EXCLUSIVE:
MARC MOORE
Marc Moore, the founder and creative director of Stolen Girlfriends Club, has recently embarked on a life-changing journey: fatherhood. In this candid interview, Marc opens up about his experiences as a new dad to his newborn daughter, Peaches. He reflects on the joys, challenges, surprises, and profound changes that come with welcoming a new life into the world. Wishing a Happy Father's Day to all those who play the role of a father figure in our lives. We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to the amazing mothers who are raising their children single-handedly. How has becoming a father changed your perspective on life or your priorities? "Most of my life, it’s been all about me. I’ve had a pretty good run of being selfish and focusing mostly on myself. Since the baby arrived, I’ve felt like a new person—more selfless. It’s not just about me anymore. I have this beautiful child that depends on me, and I want to give her the best life I possibly can. That means putting my energy and time into the right things that are more impactful and meaningful, and less time wasted on trivial or stupid things. Having a child has given me a much stronger sense of purpose; I know what I’m fighting for and why. I know what’s important." How do you balance fatherhood with your personal and professional life? "It might still be too early to tell! But so far, my personal life has taken a bit of a hiatus— sorry, friends! Being so early on, it’s all hands on deck whenever I’m at home. It’s been a huge adjustment, but for the first four weeks, we’ve just wanted to stay in our bubble. Balancing work has been the easy part because I have a great team in place that has been super supportive and understanding. I’ve definitely had to leave the oSice a bit earlier than I used to! This has forced me to be much more productive and eSective during work hours. Less time for chats at the ‘water cooler’ and more time doing. And I guess if I’m more eSective at work, it frees me up to have more time at home with my family so I can be the best dad and partner I can be. It’s been a weird feeling returning to work after being on leave. There have been times when the baby has kept my wife, Lucinda, up all night, and I’ve had to leave to go to work in the morning. I’ve actually felt really guilty walking out the door." |
How has your relationship with your partner evolved since becoming parents?
"Going through this experience has really brought us even closer. I’m just so blown away and enamored with how well Lucinda carried the pregnancy, how brave she was during the birth, and how she has evolved into this amazing mother already. She has been through such a crazy and intense life transition, and done it so elegantly. It’s given me newfound respect and an even deeper love for her. It’s such an incredible thing to witness. We are only four weeks in, so it’s still early days, but I have seen my role change into a much more hands-on support role for Lucinda. My priority right now is ensuring she has what she needs and feels supported and loved so she can nurture our child as well as possible."
What has been the most memorable moment you’ve shared with your child so far?
"It was when we gave the baby her first bath. It was such a beautiful moment! Seeing how she reacted to the warm water, her cute little facial expressions, and splashing her hands around in the water. Lucinda just looked at me and said, ‘Look at this beautiful angel we created.’ It really melted my heart."
What’s something you have learned in fatherhood so far?
"It’s taught me a lot about the value of time and being present. I can’t believe how much time I used to waste, scrolling social media, hanging over on the couch, watching lousy TV shows. Now, spare time feels like a blessing or a special treat. Time really is a non- renewable resource. Having a baby has taught me to make the most of every moment. Seeing how fast she is growing every day, you really need to be fully present to notice all of the amazing changes and growth taking place. Having a child has also taught me not to sweat the small stuS. I remember last week, getting home and realising some asshole had driven all over our front berm (lawn) and literally tore the whole thing up. I was sooooooo angry, like literally about to have a conniption. I walked into the house feeling really frustrated, Lu gave me the baby to hold, and instantly I felt calm like nothing else mattered."
What inspired the name Peaches?
Can we expect a Peaches-inspired collection?
"Never say never!"
One piece of advice for new or soon-to-be fathers?
"Get as fit and healthy as you possibly can before that baby comes. Get your mind and body right so you’re at your best, so you can deal with the mad sleep deprivation that awaits you. I started working out every morning and also stopped drinking around three months prior to the baby coming so I could better support my partner during the pregnancy and the birth. I also wanted to have the mental capacity to deal with things and make good decisions when it got challenging. I’m not going to sugar-coat it. Being sleep-deprived can be brutal! Nothing can prepare you for it, so it’s important you're as calm and clear as possible.
Initially, don’t have too many rules or expectations about how things are going to be. Your baby might sleep for 4-6 hours, or your baby might only sleep in 45-minute bursts. It doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It can really test you when you’re both getting no sleep and you’re also still stunned from the major life change that you’re both adjusting to. You just have to be as flexible and patient as possible. Because I feel like it all goes out the window as soon as you have a night of no sleep, or your child catches a cold. You just never know what can happen, and you can’t control a lot of these things. Don’t be so hard on yourself, and make sure you rub your wife’s back and tell her she’s doing an amazing job."
What traditions or values are you excited to pass on to your child?
"I think curiosity is really important. I want to encourage Peaches to be as curious as possible, to keep an open mind and to try lots of things, to learn and experience as
much as she can, and to find what she’s really good at. I really hope we can help with that. Following your curiosity leads you to your true passion and purpose. Both Lucinda and I love surfing, so I’m hoping we can share that with Peaches when she’s a bit older too."
What have you learned about yourself through the process of becoming a father?
"I’m amazed at how patient I am now. This was something I was really worried about leading up to the birth. I’ve always been quite an impatient person. But since Peaches was born, I’ve almost become a lot more zen-like. I think you have to be because nothing seems to go to plan right now, and it forces you to become a lot more fluid or flexible."
What has been the most surprising part of fatherhood for you so far?
"How much I fucking love it! Honestly, I was definitely very nervous leading up to the birth and wondering if I would be a good father. I’ve never had great father figures or role models in my life. And deep down, I guess I did worry that I might be a complete failure or just get it completely wrong. I’ve also noticed that I don’t care as much about what other people think of me now; perhaps this is part of having a renewed perspective and becoming more selfless?"
