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 husband Josh Miller stays home with their 18-month-old son Harvey.

The 28-year-old co-founder of Keep it cleaner defended her parenting style which was labeled “unnatural” by some of her followers.

The couple previously revealed that Josh chose to be a full-time dad while returning to work as a fitness influencer and podcast host because she’s more “successful.”

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

And while the family insists the arrangement works best for them, and Josh admitted Steph’s higher 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 who have it in their heads that this is unnatural and shouldn’t be happening,” Steph said.

‘I really don’t understand. He is an incredible father. He’s doing a fantastic job…he’s extremely proud to be a stay at home dad.’

Steph explained that she was “so ready to be so deep into motherhood and embrace it all,” but she didn’t want to give up her business entirely.

“If you’re running your own business, that’s your first baby, so I didn’t feel like taking a step back at all,” she said.

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

Despite Josh’s eagerness to stay home, the couple previously shared how “isolating” it can be as a stay-at-home dad.

They explained that he is in a position that none of his friends can identify with and that he is “always alone, with someone who can’t talk.”

“It’s hard for him and super isolating because if you look at the groups of mothers, more often than not there are null fathers,” Steph said.

“And if there are Dad’s groups, they’re traditionally for the Dads who work too, so he can’t catch up with them all week.”

But despite the difficulties, Josh wants to stay home with Harvey, and the couple plans to have an open conversation about their roles and responsibilities.

“It should be in every relationship, heterosexual or not, that there’s a conversation about who’s going back to work, when that’s and things like that,” Steph noted.

While the comments about their parenting choices take their toll, Steph won’t give in to the pressure to recover physically quickly after giving birth.

“All this pressure, I really don’t understand where it’s coming from and it makes me pretty angry because everyone’s body is going to react differently,” she said.

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

“I don’t know of any other circumstance where your body would go through such an ordeal… but you should also look like you did before,” she said.