Following the departure of Pierre Bruneau, it was announced that Julie Marcoux had been entrusted with the Friday newscasts at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. on TVA, a most exciting challenge for her. The antenna chief and mother of a four-year-old boy will be able to continue to realize herself on all levels.
Julie, how are you approaching this new information mandate?
When a chair that has been occupied for 46 years by Pierre Bruneau becomes free, it triggers a game of musical chairs. Sophie Thibault replaces Pierre from Monday to Thursday. For my part, I am happy to continue to host the afternoons at LCN from Monday to Thursday, but I also take on the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts at TVA on Fridays. I will also replace Sophie when she is absent. For me, it is the flagship newsletter of TVA Nouvelles. Completing Sophie’s week is an honor and a great mark of confidence. I really like Sophie, who is caring, rigorous, hard-working and straightforward. It’s a beautiful model. I have a lot of admiration for her.
How does this new schedule fit into family life?
My boy will be four in September. Before accepting this mandate, I spoke about it with Jonathan, my spouse, because I think it is a family decision. It implies that I do not pick up my son from daycare and that he will have already eaten when I get home. But all this is fine with me, because I have all my mornings and evenings with my family.
Do we deduce that you benefited from his support?
Yes. Jonathan is a very present father. Tasks are shared, no one matters who does what. He is very present in Alex’s life. He was very happy for me, because he knew it was part of my career goals. If I accepted the job, he was going to support me 100%. Alex will adapt, even if mom comes home later. When he was a year old, I hosted an evening show and I arrived at 8:30 p.m.
It lasted a year. I found it difficult, because I missed supper, the bath, bedtime. But arriving home a little later on Friday evening is not a problem for me. It’s a small compromise.
Does your schedule give you access to the best of both worlds?
Yes, because I still have my afternoon schedule from Monday to Thursday. We only have one child and we won’t have any more. The women of our generation want to do well everywhere: to be a super mother, a super blonde, to perform at work and to have an impeccable house… but it is not possible. It requires managing expectations and in recent years, I have learned to manage them better. If I come back later in the evening, I accept that my son has already had supper, that he has not been there, and that is very fine.
Do you see him happy through this?
Indeed. My son is doing very well in daycare. How many times have I thought to myself that I could pick him up earlier, but I remembered one day when I arrived at 4 p.m. and he said to me, “But mom, what what are you doing here?” (laughs) We have to accept that our children are very happy at daycare. Obviously, when you have a child, the guilt multiplies! You have to learn to deal with imperfection. Even though I’m not a perfect mother, my son won’t be more unhappy.
Aren’t our children also built from our imperfections?
It must! Our parents were much less present than we are. If the first test is passed at the age of 18, it will be difficult for the child in life. You have to develop resourcefulness and autonomy, qualities that do not develop when parents have been overprotective. I am learning to let go. On this level, there is a certain professional distortion.
What do you mean?
I’m only talking about the bad news: children drowning, being hit by a car on a bicycle, etc. We have to make the cut and tell ourselves that it is irrational to think that it will happen, but it remains in our blind spot. Does motherhood allow you to surpass yourself as a human being? It’s the most beautiful thing that can happen. When my son tells me he loves me, it’s great! Seeing him evolve, grow, speak, be skilled, it makes me so proud! Julie, you have a special mother story. Remind us in what context you became pregnant.
With his ex-wife, Jonathan tried to have children for 10 years; I tried with my ex-spouse for six years. When we met, it worked right away. We have a beautiful little Alex, whom we got late. I gave birth at 41. We have a healthy boy who is great. He likes to move, run, climb. He loves motors and helmets, he loves helping others. He is a thorough boy who always asks questions.
Has his arrival greatly improved your life?
It challenged me. No longer being self-centered is good. I think I’ve become a better person since we had Alex. It brought out the best in me, for my boyfriend too. My mother is living her best years thanks to Alex. I discovered an extraordinary grandmother! I see a side of her that I did not know and that I have a lot of pleasure to discover.
