Expect the unexpected, say Tauranga parents following Jacinda Ardern's birth announcement

Richard Hills is looking forward to wearing shorts all year around.

It's Sunday, and tomorrow Rich starts his new job as a stay-at-home dad.

"I'm looking forward to tomorrow," he says with a grin.

He's wearing shorts already, sprawled on the floor with his youngest daughter, 11-month-old Molly.

Although Rich is keen on some of the perks of his new job, he's realistic about the challenges.

"People joke about it, that it's going to be easy at home, but it's going to be very challenging, but a different kind of challenge."

The Hills family is one of many in the Bay of Plenty region who - like the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her partner, Clarke Gayford - are opting for a stay-at-home dad arrangement.

For the Hills, having Rich at home with their two daughters was about "simplifying life".
Annemarie, an investment adviser, says she feels lucky.

"I'm going to be able to fully focus on my career knowing that Rich has got things sorted at home."

Annemarie says it's helpful having a supportive workplace, especially with flexibility around hours and remote access.

"For me, one challenge will be getting home in time to do the dinner/bath routine.
Hopefully I can make that work regularly.

"And if I need to log in later, having that remote access available [is helpful]."

She has some advice for Ardern and Gayford. "Expect the unexpected."

Brookfield family Hallam and Anna Woolfrey have twins, Atticus and Sophia, who are 4.

Hal, 47, has been at home with the twins since they were born.

Hal and Anna Woolfrey from Brookfield. Hal is a stay-at-home dad while Anna works. Photo / George Novak

Hal says being the stay-at-home parent has provided some unique opportunities.

"[It's] allowed me to … go, 'hang on, what the hell do I want to do with my life?' It's taken me out of the workplace. I've been able to upskill."

He says Gayford is going to enjoy being a stay-at-home dad.

"He's going to love it. He can be a kid again. He can play Lego without being embarrassed about it."

Hal's wife, Anna, has a government job that takes her all over the country.

She says "it does hurt" to leave the children for work and she thinks Ardern needs to make sure she looks after herself.

"I do feel for her because it is hard to go back that soon. She's got all this expectation on her as well."

She thinks there is still a stigma around stay-at-home dads and working mums.

"I had a boss and he made fun of Hal a lot. I had all of these comments about 'the little woman at home' and it was quite horrible.

"It was all done jokingly but it was quite undermining as well when what we were trying to do was quite hard anyway."

'Mummy has an important job'

Augustina Driessen is a semi-retired child psychotherapist.

She said Ardern and Gayford will make it work like any other family where one parent works.

"It is like anybody who does a lot of travel. You talk to your child, you say, 'Papa will be back [in] one more night's sleep, Papa will be home'."

She said the Prime Minister's baby will have little awareness of her notoriety until about 3 years old.

"In the first five years, they will talk about Mummy being away, Mummy has an important job, it doesn't mean anything to [the child when] you say prime minister.

"I'm sure [Ardern and Gayford] will tell them, 'We are just like anybody else, we are a family and that's what's important'."

While the child will be 2 during the next election, she said it was unlikely the stress of that would impact on the child more than any other young one with busy parents.

"I think Jacinda will keep that stress away from the baby. We all have stress in our lives, that is something that we can't avoid."

Driessen believes the family, while faced with challenges ahead, will be fine.

"It won't be easy for her, but ... I trust that all will go very well with the baby."

Driessen's top five tips for a grounded child

1. Availability
2. Communication
3. Routine
4. Clear boundaries
5. No devices