Ryan Libbey has revealed he shares a unique bond with his son Leo, formed during the difficult period after Leo was born in 2021. The former Made In Chelsea star, 35, became a father when partner Louise Thompson gave birth, but what should have been happier times as a trio turned into a devastating health battle for Louise, 36, who fell seriously ill after the birth and has faced significant health issues since.
Now happy and healthy, Louise's ordeal allowed Ryan to form a strong and unique connection with his son. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror as he linked up with kids' clothing brand Roarsome, Ryan said: "My story's quite unique in the sense that Louise was super unwell [when Leo was born], so she was kind of removed for that first 14 to 16 months, if you like."
A unique opportunity to bond
"It gave me and Leo this really unique opportunity to bond, and I had to kind of play the role of mum and dad for that first period, which is really hard, but it's given me this opportunity where me and Leo get on really well. We've got this connection, and that's never really stopped, and I hope it never does stop."
Ryan excitedly opened up on how he loves going on little adventures with his four-year-old sidekick and hopes it never stops. "I'm trying to be his dad," Ryan admitted. "But I'm also trying to be his mate. I'm trying to remember what that boundary is, and I'm sure when he's older that will become more clear. But yeah, ultimately, I love him so much, I just want I want him to never get bored of me."
Team-up with Roarsome
"There's parents all around me who are further down the line who are like, 'Oh, well, at some point they're going to think you're a loser,' and I'm like, 'f*** no! I'm not going to let that happen!'". It was this desire to continue his adventures that saw him keen to team up with the team at Roarsome.
"We [Ryan and Leo] love going on little adventures together," he said. "I think, more than anything, when I met the guys from Roarsome, it was just this mash-up of aligned alignment of values and beliefs. Their whole mission is to get kids off screens, to get them outdoors and kind of embrace the elements with the weather, and get muddy and sometimes feel a little bit cold in the snowy mountains."
Speaking of the character he has created with the brand - Grizz the bear - Ryan went on: "This is a representation of my son and my relationship, and what I'm trying to instil in him as a young man. In a time in the world where Leo's a little bit too young to talk this deeply, but young men need that guidance. We need them, we need good men around young boys to show them what that looks and feels like, and how to treat women, and and how to look after people, and be kind and all those good things.... Roarsome deserves a shot at being seen and being appreciated by everyone."
Different parenting styles
Now, Ryan says Louise's tough health woes are thankfully behind them and have helped them grow as a family. He admits that the duo have different parenting styles now, but not "wildly". He said: "Louise has done quite a lot of coaching with different therapists and life coaches over the years, and one thing that stuck with her most was this idea of really respecting the energy and the input from the male side as well as the female, feminine side. That's relevant even if you're not parents, actually, Just in a dynamic of a man and woman relationship, you need to respect that territory and let her be the woman, let him be the man, and there'll be some energy and some conduct of behaviour around that that you need to allow. I think that's healthy."
The Roarsome x Ryan Libbey Grizz The Bear collection is available now, at Roarsome's flagship store (SW11 6QP) or online at roarsome.com.
