Life in lockdown! WAG Rebecca Klodinsky is in the AFL isolation hub and says it’s ‘tricky’ with a toddler

Being a mum is all kinds of things – it’s a privilege, a challenge, a heart-wrenchingly bittersweet lesson of love and compassion, at times a bit messy, fulfilling, hard – it is all of this and so much more.

But, throw in running a multimillion dollar swimwear business through a crippling economy and global pandemic, being locked-down inside an AFL isolation hub with a toddler and partner who’s training schedule is in a league of its own and you’ve got a glimpse inside the life of 31-year-old IIXIIST Designer & Director, Rebecca Klodinsky’s life at the moment.

Rebecca is currently in lockdown inside an AFL isolation hub on the Gold Coast with her partner, Lachie Henderson, a player for the Geelong Cats, and her two-and-a-half-year-old toddler.

She’s been locked down for four weeks and has another nine to go, if the Geelong Cats make it to the Grand Final.

Sharing the hotel with 150 other guests – ranging players, wives and kids – the hotel has minimal staff, daily heath checks and a strict no-entry-no-exit policy.

Bounty Parents caught up with Rebecca to find out how she’s managing motherhood inside the AFL isolation hub while running a multimillion dollar swimwear brand, that’s loved by the Kardashians.

Tell me about the AFL isolation hub?
It’s just for players, family and staff. We’ve all relocated to get the season done. We’ve all relocated to Queensland and are living in hotels. We can interact with each other, it’s very much an insulated bubble. This situation is ideal for anyone, but we’ve just going to get it done. Lachie and the team need to finish the season and this is only way that can happen. But, it’s tricky. It’s a balancing act.

You’re in lockdown with a toddler. How are you coping?
He has lots of toys. My son is two-and-half and he’s into books. He has never watched TV, he has not been introduced to anything like that, I’m very much a book mum and we read to him constantly. He’s at an age where he likes blocks and putting puzzles back together.

Have you been tempted to introduce screen time while in the isolation hub?
I can see how it’s really easy to do but I’m quite a military kind of person with the way that I run my life and our life, so I would not like to do that. It’s like an iPad induced situation and because I’m in this tricky stage, I feel like it would be a cop out if I gave into technology.

What’s your son’s name?
I don’t print his name, I never mention his name. I just don’t like to have that information out there. I like to keep him as private and as close to me as possible. I share images of him with his face not facing the camera. I’m quite open with everything in my life, there’s no secrets but when it comes to him, that’s where I draw the line.

Being in social media exposed me to different sides of the Instagram platform and, of how social media works. I see so many ladies posting and so many kids being printed and it’s just not for me.

The Kardashians are fans of your swimwear label, IIXIIST. How did they find out about this Aussie brand?
It happened organically. We’ve got strong relationships now with their stylists and the girls will email screenshots of what they’re liking what they’re wanting to see. One day an email pops up and they might say Kim is going away… and that’s just how it happens. There has never been paid product endorsements, and I’m so grateful for that. It’s the power of Instagram and social media marketing.

With juggling motherhood, your business and life in the isolation hub, how is your mental health?
It’s a lot of pressure. I can’t quite articulate it yet because it’s not over. But it’s sort of like you’ll have a good couple of days, and then you really feel the pressure because it’s such an unusual situation to be in. And it’s not one you can just walk away from because it’s his career, and it’s like, you’ve got to do it.