He’s spoken openly about his desire to have more kids with partner Kate.
But for House Rules contestant Harry, the prospect of expanding his brood made him reflect on his own childhood.
“Mum was a single parent for a long period when we were growing up,” Harry, 32, tells TV WEEK. “She had four kids, and it was quite tough.”
The carpenter from Adelaide explains that, even on special occasions, he and his siblings would often go without – despite his mother’s best efforts to provide for them.
“At Christmas, we would get a footy and that was about it,” he shares. “We had the best upbringing, but it was still tough.”
Schoolteacher Kate adds that Harry was brought up in a “scary” and “rough” suburb.
“He’s got a very different background to me,” she says.
Kate and Harry are already proud parents to two-year-old son Xavier and say they can’t wait to have baby number two.
But it’s easy to see why Harry is keen to set up his family financially before they have any more babies.
“What’s important for me is to get Xav into a really nice school and to bring him up in a nice area,” the proud father says.
As it turns out, financial stability isn’t the only thing that’s brought the couple’s baby plans to a halt.
“It took us a while to conceive,” Kate, 28, reveals.
Partner Harry, who Kate met 10 years ago, says while the pair found things difficult at the time, they didn’t let it get them down.
“We’re pretty positive people,” he says. “So I knew it was going to happen.”
But the struggle to fall pregnant was just one of the hurdles the couple faced on the road to starting a family.
After being diagnosed with the dangerous condition pre-eclampsia, Kate was induced at 37 weeks and rushed into surgery for an emergency caesarean.
She then delivered Xavier naturally.
“It was quite scary,” Harry recalls. “The whole experience was very eye-opening.”
And considering the troubles with their first child, the couple say they’re not too worried about what may lie ahead for next time.
“I’m not a worrier,” Kate says. “Harry will worry for the both of us. But I’ll be closely monitored this time. There’s no point worrying about things you can’t control.”
As for the pair’s wedding, Harry says he’s already saving for the perfect ring.
“She wants a big ring – got to save some dollars,” he laughs.
For now, the couple relish spending time with young Xavier.
“He’s so tall, and he’s talking,” Harry marvels. “I just hope he’ll realise when he’s a little bit older that we did it for him.”
