Aussie mum-of-two who quit her job to become a stay-at-home 'tradwife' reveals what her new life is really like
Stacey Knight has built a loyal following on social media with videos of her in summer dresses making meat pies and finger buns from scratch in her idyllic kitchen.
Formerly a nurse, the 26-year-old gave up her job in 2023, swapping 'scrubs for spatulas and nappies', to raise her two young children.
'I got to a point where I was like, "Oh, I don't want to do this anymore",' she said about her job.
While pregnant with her eldest son, Dusty, she studied a postgraduate course in injectable and dermal science because she wanted to start her own business.
'I was really struggling with the thought of being a stay-at-home mum,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
However, after Dusty was born, her perspective shifted, and following six months of working just one day a week, she resigned.
Two years later, she said she 'absolutely does not' miss her old job.
Some of her content uses #tradwife, which is associated with women embracing traditional gendered roles at home and often associated with the archetype of 1950s housewives
'I much prefer to stay at home with my kids in these early years. I'd rather savour that moment,' she said.
Neither her husband, Tom, nor her friends cared about her decision to leave the workforce, she said.
'I have lots of friends that love going to work,' she said, adding that people just have 'different interests'.
'I think women are expected to get a full-time job, plus do all the stay-at-home, mum things – like meal prep and caring for the children – and never get much of a break.
'I think that expectation is unfair but obviously some people do not have the choice and have to go to work.'
Ms Knight chose to share her life on 'Staying home with Stacey' – a recipe website and set of social media channels inspired by her gardening and homemade meals.
Whether in a flowing, white skirt gesturing with a natural lollipop, or with a basket on her arm filled with vegetables from her garden, she is the picture of a 'traditional wife'.
The content is similar to that of other mothers in their 20s and 30s who have rushed to social media to create videos celebrating staying at home under the tag #tradwife.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Jasmine Darke (@jasminedinis)
The term refers to women who perform traditional gendered roles serving their husbands and children, often likened to the archetypal 1950s 'housewife'.
#Tradwife has divided many Australians, most recently parents of Year 9 students in South Australia who were shocked when non-profit competition organiser Debating SA suggested the lifestyle as a topic.
'The "Trad Wife" movement is good for women,' the debate was titled.
Australian influencer Jasmine Dinis regularly shares Christian and political values alongside videos of her baking sourdough bread, infamously earning criticism online for her post in January:
'Woke up this morning. Baby on my hip. Making some fresh sourdough. My husband is hot. Trump is the president of the US. Life is good.'
Several videos on Ms Knight's TikTok are captioned 'Husband's lunch prep with a side of flu' or 'snack prep for my two kids' with the hashtag.
But, for the Queenslander, her content is not about selling a lifestyle – in fact, she has only ever had one sponsorship deal so far for which she was not paid.
'I'm doing it by choice, not because it's expected or because I don't have any other options. I genuinely enjoy it, and I chose this path myself,' she said.
A TikTok video by Ms Knight was captioned 'Trad wife hobbies without the oppression' and some videos, including those prepping her husband's lunch, included the hashtag.
Asked how she feels about the term 'tradwife', she emphasised that, for her, it is about freely embracing the things she loves.
'I don't believe it's about going backwards. I do it because I love it and have a genuine interest in homemaking, cooking and gardening,' she said.
'I think the 1950s version lacked choice and freedom. I'm sophisticated, I still have opinions and am very involved in everything our family does.
'If I didn't stay at home with the kids, someone would be paying for childcare. It is definitely still work.'
And what about 'serving' her husband?
Ms Knight explained Tom dislikes cooking, whereas she enjoys it and places a higher priority on health.
'I do it because my husband would happily eat a servo pie and I'd like him to stay healthy,' she said.
'He really would be happy with anything so I think I just care about his health maybe a little bit more than he does.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
33 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Jelena Dokic enjoys sweet date night with new boyfriend Yane Veselinov - after the happy couple teased huge relationship news
Jelena Dokic has fully embraced her fresh romance with Yane Veselinov. The 42-year-old tennis great, who scored her first Logie on Sunday, took to her social media on Thursday to share a selfie video of a night out with her new beau. Jelena beamed in the clip as Yane clung to his lady love and sang along to the hit Fleetwood Mac tune Everywhere. The romantic moment, which Yane also shared, was filmed at the Lightscape event, which is currently being held at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne. The loved-up couple dressed warmly in scarves and overcoats for the outdoor exhibit, which features installations and a walking trail decorated with lights. It comes after the pair separately teased their followers with hints of big relationship news to come. On Tuesday, Yane paid tribute to Jelena in a moving post celebrating the tennis champ's triumphant win at Sunday's Logie Awards. In the Instagram story, Yane could be seen holding Jelena's prize for Best Factual or Documentary Program. 'Honoured to be holding this incredible Logie award,' he said in the caption, hinting the romance could be getting very serious, or they may have even moved in together. Meanwhile, Jelena sent tongues wagging early last month when she visited a Melbourne bridal store and hinted 'something special' was coming. Only weeks earlier, she was spotted cuddling up to a 'mystery man' at Melbourne Airport, who turned out to be Yane. 'Something insane coming very soon...' she gushed in the post alongside images of bridal gowns from bridal boutique Alin Le' Kal. 'Something special in the works with Alin Le' Kal,' she captioned the second image. Finally, Jelena uploaded a video, panning the camera to reveal the entire bridal store. Jelena beamed in the clip as Yane clung to his lady love and sang along to the hit Fleetwood Mac tune I Want to Be With You Everywhere Daily Mail have reached out to Jelena's representatives for comment. Jelena went Instagram official with Yane late last month. The sports commentator shared a loved-up photo of herself and her dashing new man to social media alongside a sweet caption. 'You are my calm, safe, peaceful and happy place. So glad I found you,' Jelena wrote. Little is known about Yane, who is a hospitality operations manager, but his Instagram bio describes him as a 'food and wine enthusiast, pleasure seeker and life enjoyer'. Late last year, Jelena revealed she had been 'closed off' to finding love ever since she split from her long-time Brazilian boyfriend, Tin Bikic. The couple were together for almost 19 years before announcing they had ended their relationship in 2021.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Already trouble in paradise? One Married At First Sight couple steps out SOLO - as tensions rise during first week of living together
Filming for Married At First Sight season 13 is underway—and it's already clear which couples are thriving and which ones are having second thoughts about matrimony. Production for the popular reality series kicked off two weeks ago, with next year's much-anticipated TV husbands and wives tying the knot in locations across Sydney. Now, Daily Mail can reveal the cast of next year's series have all been married, gone on their honeymoons, and already moved in together. On Wednesday, the loved-up hopefuls were spotted checking into One Global Resorts Green Square in Sydney. Among them, however, there seems to be one couple already facing trouble in paradise. Despite living together for just one week, it looks like Melissa Akbay and Melbourne farmer Luke Fourniotis are not off to a great start, after the Canberra bride was spotted spending time alone while her groom ran errands solo. She kept it casual in a pair of jeans and a white tee, taking a moment to sit on a bench as she frowned at her phone, clearly deep in thought Melissa looked downcast as she took to the streets of Sydney, listening to music on a pair of headphones and chomping on a KitKat bar. She kept it casual in a pair of jeans and a white tee, taking a moment to sit on a bench as she frowned at her phone, clearly deep in thought. Meanwhile, her TV husband seemed to be in a better head-space while wearing a gym ensemble, a giant smile on his face and a flower pushed behind his ear. He could be seen stretching before going on a jog around the city. While Melissa and Luke may have had a rocky start, the same can't be said for Rebecca Zukowski and Steve Powell, who were all smiles as they popped out for some groceries. The Melbourne leasing manager wore a chic brown coat over a pair of jeans, while her partner was wrapped up in a knitted sweater and scarf. They looked like the perfect pair, effortlessly matching each other's style while carrying home their groceries for the week. Influencer nurse Alissa Fay and David Momoh also looked chipper as they were pictured holding hands and walking around the city. They both rugged-up in tracksuits for the outing, with Alissa wearing a grey matching set and her husband David opting for an all-black ensemble. As for lovebirds Gia Fleur and her husband Scott McCristal, the couple were all over each other as they were seen picking up groceries from Woolworths. Gia, who has already been dubbed 'the wildest bride in MAFS history' by crew members, showed off her curvy figure in a skin-tight, bright pink top and shorts combo, with a large pair of sunnies, some sneakers and a white Gucci bag. Her hubby wore a North Face puffer and shorts, and was pictured putting a reassuring arm around his wife as they entered the supermarket. Leaving Woolies, Scott pushed a trolley full of goods while Gia carried a box of Moscato wine—a woman after our own hearts. Danny Hewitt and Rebecca Zacharia also looked strong, with the Adelaide socialite looking straight out of a fashion magazine as she wore a pair of leopard print pumps and a white cardigan. She carried an stylish bouquet of roses while her bearded beau carried the groceries, rocking a grey knitted sweater over a pair of jeans. Motivational speaker Filip Gregov and his wife Stella were also seen looking loved up, holding hands as they stepped out for a casual stroll in their gym clothes. Filip was all smiles as he held hands with his TV bride, who cut a slender figure in a Calvin Klein top, black leggings and bomber jacket. The duo are tipped to be big characters this season thanks to their fiery personalities and on-screen banter. While the show's signature drama is usually saved for the dinner parties and commitment ceremonies, this year's brides and grooms are wasting no time. An insider teased filming has already produced 'some of the strongest matches we've seen in years'—along with a few early red flags. 'There are couples with instant chemistry, and others who are clearly mismatched from the start. The tension is building—and we're only in the early stages.' Producers are said to be particularly proud of this year's mix of personalities—which includes creatives, professionals, tradies, and even a few wildcard entries that are sure to get viewers talking. 'It's a really bold cast. There's a lot of diversity in age, culture, and life experience,' one source said.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Real Housewives of Brisbane star lists stunning six-bedroom mansion
High-profile businesswoman Fleur Madden is set to put her Queensland mansion under the hammer. Madden, who was cast in the axed Real Housewives of Brisbane spin-off, has not listed a price guide for the two-storey, six-bedroom property she shares with her husband, mining executive Jimmy Gwisai. According to sales records, the median sale price for large upscale properties in Coorparoo, where the home is situated, is an impressive $2.5million The couple's property, dubbed The Palms, is inspired by the architecture found in Florida around Palm Springs. Highlights include a dazzling façade, stone archways, a pink blush front door and a private dining room that features a built-in 'wine wall' and spectacular chandelier. There's also a curved staircase, terrazzo tiling, oak timber floors, a beautifully appointed 'media room' and a home office that can double as a bedroom. The ground floor offers an open-plan layout combining an oversized kitchen and living space, which opens out to a covered patio and al fresco dining and pool area. Other highlights include soaring three-metre ceilings and a master suite occupying an entire corner of the top floor, which also features a grand ensuite and dressing room. Impressive 'classic' details are featured prominently in the appointments, including French doors and windows. It comes after Madden, who runs the Ginsburg Advisory business brand, was all set to star in reality spin-off, The Real Housewives of Brisbane. Announced in 2023, Foxtel dropped the Brisbane edition in favour of a second Sydney season. Madden was to feature in a cast including couture designer Sonia Stradiotto and jewellery designer Jimena Alejandra. Speaking to Adelaide Now at the time, Alejandra revealed that she was first approached in 2022. Also interviewed for the story was Madden, who said that the network had plans to make the series different and less frivolous than its predecessors. 'They were specifically looking for businesswomen and women that had their own success, they were trying to make it different,' she told the publication in 2023. It was earlier reported that The Real Housewives reality franchise would be moving to Brisbane and the Gold Coast. According to The Courier Mail, suitable candidates living in Queensland's wealthiest postcodes were being sought out. Producers had approached a number of high-profile women, and some reportedly declined the opportunity, opting to keep their lives private.
