If the couples of Married at First Sight season’s past prophesies anything for those set to embark on the brave scientific experiment themselves, it is, unfortunately, not an entirely positive outlook.
Almost every single couple from MAFS’ five seasons have split since their appearance on the love-matching reality program, which sees couples paired up by a team of love experts.
For season one fan favourites Zoe Hendrix, 28, and Alex Garner, 33, who met at the televised altar in 2015, it seemed as though they might last the distance.
After the show, the couple’s love blossomed off-screen. They moved in together and had a baby – two-year-old Harper-Rose.
However, in an Instagram post last April, the couple announced to the fans that they had separated.
Since their split, law student and writer Zoe has regularly spoken about her struggles.
“I never thought that the man I love so much would one day walk away. But he did. I never thought I would be alone taking care of our child six days a week in a suburb that no longer feels like home. But I do… We must learn to embrace our struggles and know that tremendous growth can come from our breakdown,” she once wrote in an emotional Instagram post.
And on Monday, Zoe opened up in a raw interview with NW magazine about the difficulties of co-parenting with an ex you’d much rather avoid.
“It’s hard. It’s really hard. I mean motherhood is hard, so I think single motherhood takes a real adjustment. I’m giving myself time to adjust to it,” Zoe said.
“We’re doing our best – the best that we can. It’s not perfect, but I don’t think anyone has the perfect co-parenting situation.”
She added: “It’s hard having to deal with a break-up when you have to see [your ex] three times a week. But we do put Harper first.”
Last year, Zoe gave a similar insight into the challenges of co-parenting with an ex when she appeared on the Single Mother Survival Guide podcast.
“Last night, I picked her up, and I just thought, ‘This is not healthy’, as in, this system. When you break up with someone, you’re meant to go your separate ways,” she said.
“You’re meant to just be out of each other’s lives. Like, fully gone. It’s really almost like a cruel system to have to see that person so regularly. It’s not right, but it has to happen like that.”
At the time, Zoe explained the arrangement the couple had put in place means Harper is with her “90 percent” of the time.
“He has her one night a week, and then usually for a couple of hours on another day in the afternoon,” she said.
In their break-up announcement last year, Zoe said Harper-Rose was “the most important thing in both of our lives”.
Top Comments
You're not a "single mother" or a "single father" if you are co-parenting with an ex.
I see your point, but one night a week and a few hours on another day isn't exactly co-parenting. It would still be very difficult for anyone to adjust to that.
I’ve never really understood this statement, my ex uses it a lot. Like Zoe I have the children 90% of the time, I am single and I do it all on my own. Hes 10% doesn’t feel like co-parenting, it’s one night a fortnight where they eat too much pizza and stay up till midnight. That’s not parenting.
Well, you're not a sole parent. If you have a child and are not in a relationship though, then you are a single parent, regardless of your co-parenting arrangement or lack thereof.
Yes! I'm not in your situation but totally can't understand that! Totally feel for people like yourself and zoe - what a tough road to travel. I take my hat off to you. One night a week or fortnight is not co parenting at all.