Photo Courtesy E!
When reality TV gets it right, viewers catch a glimpse of something authentic. E!'s Giuliana & Bill, which follows one of America's favorite entertainment couples and airs Tuesday nights at 8/7c, gets it right.
Over seven seasons, the show has documented Giuliana and Bill Rancic's ups and downs as they transitioned from stylish, spontaneous newlyweds to occasionally frazzled, yet always doting new parents to baby Duke (the stylish part, however, never seems to change).
Giuliana says that this season is about navigating life with Duke and possibly expanding their family.
Giuliana, an Italian-American, has had an especially extraordinary journey. She is a staple on E! -- co-anchoring E! News and co-hosting Fashion Police, as well as red carpet events like the Oscars.
Her route to motherhood was a challenging and circuitous one, which included IVF; a diagnosis of breast cancer during the IVF process; winning the battle against breast cancer; and a successful pregnancy via surrogate that has brought her and Bill baby Duke, now one-year-old.
The combination of these major life events has forced changes in the direction Giuliana is taking.
I asked Giuliana if life after breast cancer affected her approach to motherhood. Her reply: "Breast cancer affected the way I live my life overall. I have learned not to sweat the small stuff and to savor each and every moment with my family and friends."
Of course, motherhood is a big, bright, beautiful jolt to most every woman. "To be honest, I was really nervous leading up to Duke's birth," muses Giuliana. "I was scared I wouldn't know what to do in certain situations, but it all came pretty naturally."
Along with the joys, a baby can bring relationship challenges for most new parents. Giuliana says, "At first it was difficult balancing our schedules and figuring out a system that works best for our family, but we worked that out over time. If anything, Duke has brought Bill and I closer than ever and we fall more and more in love as a family every day."
The way Giuliana is approaching the work/family balance is also changing. She says, "I am definitely trying to do a better job of leaving my work at work. So that means turning off the computer or putting away my phone when I am at home with my family. I am trying to do a better job of separating work and home life so that I can be 100 percent present when I am spending time with Duke and Bill and I know Bill does the same thing too."
So how does Giuliana advise young people who want to achieve the types of goals she has achieved? Her three career tips for newbies are: "1. Be the first one to arrive at the office and the last one to leave. 2. Be kind to everyone 3. Never play office politics. Stay focused on your own job and don't worry about what your co-workers are doing."
Giuliana emphasizes that, "Women can have it all. We can have the career, the amazing husband and children. It's all about finding the perfect balance. Work hard and be open to different opportunities and you will be surprised how things will start falling into place."