‘I’m strict but I also have fun with my kids’
The TV star reveals how she brings up her boys. By Gabrielle Fagan
Stacey Solomon first found fame as a finalist on the X Factor and is now a panellist on ITV’s Loose Women, as well as a popular face on panel and reality shows. She won I’m A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here! in 2010. The 28-year-old from Dagenham, Essex, is a mother of two sons, Zachary (9), and Leighton (5).
“I was only 17 when I fell pregnant with Zach, which is very young. I’ve had to learn as I’ve gone along about motherhood, but I’ve loved every minute because I adore my boys.
“I’ve realised that parenting is a never-ending task and that nothing else matters but their happiness and that everything I do is for my children. My boys are very close, even though there’s a big age gap, but Zachary is very patient and kind with his little brother.”
Are you a strict mum?
“I’m a strict parent but I also like to have fun with my kids, play games and get into their imaginative world. I’m not strict all the time because the boys split their time between me and their dad, so we need to make sure we get the balance right so one parent doesn’t become the ‘fun’ parent. I want them to have a good moral compass and become decent human beings, but also let them be kids, allowing them to be silly and make mistakes, which is normal. The main thing I teach them is actions have consequences and that honesty is always the best policy.”
What’s the hardest thing about being a parent?
“I suffer from constant parental guilt — worrying and second guessing what I’m doing while unconditionally loving my children and trying to do the best for them. For some reason, I feel like there’s something in me that’s already programmed to question every decision I make when it comes to my kids. I really have to fight against that and reassure myself that I’ll always do what I think is best. That’s all you can do. No parenting book is going to tell you what to do and I’m more accepting now that if something doesn’t work out, I’ll just deal with it.”
Ben 10 airs weekdays at 4pm on Cartoon Network