Ben Foden on co-parenting with Una Healy – from new baby to transatlantic Christmas visits
After moving from the world of rugby into real estate in America, Ben Foden and ex-wife Una Healy have been navigating transatlantic co-parenting.
The couple – who were married for six years but split after it emerged Ben, 38, had been unfaithful – share Aofie, 11, and Tadhg, 8, who live with Saturdays' singer Una in Tipperary, Ireland.
Ben now lives in New York with his wife Jackie, also 38, and the couple have just announced they're expecting their second baby together. The couple, who met through mutual friends in 2019, are already parents to three-year-old Farrah, and have worked hard to build a blended family with Ben and Una's children.
Speaking exclusively to OK!, former professional rubgy player Ben said he wishes his ex wife nothing but "happiness".
Following her divorce, Una was later reported to be involved in a 'throuple' with boxer David Haye and model Sian, but she went on to say she was led to believe she was only dating David, but he was also involved with Sian.
Speaking to Vogue Williams and Joanne McNally on their My Therapy Ghosted Me podcast, Una said: "Dating HIM is the right term because that's how it was, it wasn't a throuple. We had a lovely relationship."
Regardless of what did or didn't happen, Ben said he wishes his ex nothing but the best
“The most important thing is that she’s happy and we wish Una happiness in every way,” he said.
Ben and Jackie raised some eyebrows when they tied the knot on the day Ben's divorce from Una was finalised.
“It’s been a process since I moved over here four and a half years ago. Since then, Una and I have just been trying to figure it out,” Ben admitted.
“Then Jackie obviously came into the equation, and she’s brilliant with the kids. We’ve now got a good routine."
He continued: “Una has been very accommodating because she wants Aoife and Tadhg to have a relationship with Farrah. She sends me their school schedules as soon as possible so we can get flights booked for them.
"But I know the distance and the fact their mum and dad aren’t together any more isn’t ideal."
It was important to them, Ben said, to keep Aoife and Tadhg fully involved in the arrival of their new little brother or sister, and they've already planned to spend Christmas together.
“We told Aoife and Tadhg that they would be having another sibling when they came over to visit for a month during the summer,” he told us.
“They’ll also be coming over for Christmas, just before the baby is born. We usually go back to England for Christmas and rotate every year with Una in Ireland, but Jackie won’t be able to travel then, so the kids will come here.”
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