Stacey Solomon has candidly reflected on the reality of raising a blended family.
The Loose Women presenter, who turned 33 today, admits it's 'never been easy' when it comes to being both a mum and a step-mum, as she opens up about her life with husband Joe Swash and their children - confessing it has taken hard work to navigate the 'rocky road' that is combining two families.
After suffering tragic miscarriages, Stacey and Joe welcomed their second child together into the world on 4 October 2021, Stacey's birthday, and shared a beautiful photo of their newborn daughter next to a rose with their fans shortly after the birth - revealing her name, Rose.
The former X Factor finalist is also mum to son Rex, three with her new husband Joe, as well as Zachary, 13, and nine-year-old Leighton from previous relationships. Joe shares his eldest child Harry, 13, with ex-partner Emma Sophocleous; the former couple split shortly after his birth.
Speaking with comedians Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe on their podcast, Stacey opened up about life at home in her Essex mansion Pickle Cottage with husband Joe, just over two months on from the pair finally tying the knot in the gardens of their beloved home.
"The blended family situation has been a rocky road,' the mum-of-four admitted. "That has never been easy."
"We have always had to work really hard to make sure everyone feels secure."
She went on to reveal how her recent wedding, where her and Joe's four eldest son's made speeches, made her feel more reassured about her blended family and confessed the kind words from their children left her in floods of tears.
"It was so funny we didn’t say to the boys you need to do a speech," she recalled, before adding: "Joe was an emotional mess the whole day. People coming up to me saying 'Joe is a mess down there'."
Writing on Instagram in August, following her wedding on July 25, Stacey told her loyal Instagram followers the four youngsters' speeches "were everything ", and how she couldn't get over "how kind, mature, happy and caring" all four children were on her big day.
"Our Best Men. Surrounded by the most incredible men we could have ever wished for," the TV star began in her gushing caption.
"I can’t even describe the feeling we get seeing how kind, mature, happy and caring you all are. Your speeches were everything.
"We love you all so much, more than you’ll ever know. To the moon and back forever boys [black love-heart emojis] @realjoeswashy."
In her latest interview, Stacey expanded on her reaction to the boys' involvement in her wedding day, saying: "They never say anything! Especially teenage boys. They don’t ever tell you how they feel or what they think about anything so it was really emotional to hear what they have to say."
The Instagram sensation went on to credit husband Joe as the reason their children are so open about their emotions, explaining how the former EastEnders actor's willingness to discuss his late father open and honestly with their offspring has had a positive impact.
Young Joe had been the one to call 999 for an ambulance when his mother had discovered her husband Ricky unconscious but still breathing one Saturday morning.
Joe later said on an ITV documentary: "It was so traumatic because he seemed really healthy. He was slim and ran three times a week. He’d done a half marathon.
"Looking back there was a little warning sign when he blacked out as he was bending down to put his socks on but nothing to suggest he was going to have a heart attack."
Ricky had been living with an undiagnosed heart condition - Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS).
Speaking about Joe on the podcast, Stacey said: "Because Joe is very open at home and he really talks about his dad a lot and how much it affected him losing his dad.
"We are a blended family and their lives and parents haven’t been everything you see in the films, they really appreciate what Joe has been through."
She added: "He is an amazing dad and an amazing father figure in our lives. It was really shocking to see that we are doing alright!"
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