Stacey Solomon’s ‘gut is in knots’ as her son leaves home for 5 weeks
Stacey Solomon has shared an emotional post ahead of her eldest son leaving home for Camp America, which allows young people to live and work in the US for a number of weeks over the summer
Stacey Solomon has said her ‘gut is in knots’ as her eldest leaves home for five weeks(Image: BBC)
Stacey Solomon has shared an emotional post ahead of her eldest son leaving home for the first time. The former X Factor contestant, who is mum to 18-year-old Zachary from a previous relationship, took to social media on Wednesday morning to reveal her son is heading off to Camp America for over a month.
Stacey, who is now married to Joe Swash and has Rex, seven, Rose, four, as well as Leighton, 14, from a previous relationship, candidly admitted her mansion would feel “strange” without her eldest there and emotionally explained to her followers just how much it “hurt” to drop him off at the airport.
She wrote on Instagram: “Our Zachary [crying emoji] is off to Camp America for the whole summer omg Zachy pickle cottage will feel so strange without you for the next five weeks. It hurt my heart to drop you off this morning but I know you’re going to have the best time ever, and that camp is so lucky to have our Zachary in their lives for the summer.
Stacey Solomon has shared an emotional post ahead of her eldest son leaving home(Image: staceysolomon/Instagram)
Stacey Solomon has shared an emotional post ahead of her eldest son leaving home(Image: staceysolomon/Instagram)
“Good luck my darling boy. To the moon and stars and back again. Please tell me why I really wanted him to do this experience & I am so happy for him but also so my gut is in knots??”
In one photo, Stacey, who has enjoyed a successful television career since she finished in third place behind Olly Murs and Joe McElderry on the 2009 edition of The X Factor, can be seen beaming at her son as she cosies up to him for a snap before he jets off.
In another, the teenager simply gives a thumbs up to the camera as he prepares to head into the terminal.
Shana Swash, who is the sister of former EastEnders star Joe, was one of the first to weigh in on the emotional photo as she wrote: “Enjoy handsome boy! Your gonna have the best time x”
The Loose Women star was then inundated with comments of support from her fans in the comments section of her post. One wrote: “Wow. Wow. Wow!! What an opportunity for him. He’ll have the best experience and could be the making of him. I hope he embraces the challenge. It’ll be all the sweeter when you pick him up. Good luck Zach. Have the best time x”
Stacey, who also has 14-year-old Leighton from a previous relationship, is now married to Joe Swash and they have three children together (Image: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
Earlier this year, Stacey celebrated her eldest’s 18th birthday(Image: Getty Images for the NTA’s)
Another said: “My daughter did this part way through uni, she loved it. Got to see bears near the camp and got up to all sorts of adventures. She loved it and Zach will too, making memories for ever. Enjoy every second Zach.”
A third wrote: “My son did this last year, he missed home in the first couple of weeks but after that was fine, and absolutely loved it, so many memories were made as-well as loads of new friends x go Zach enjoy it stay safe.”
Earlier this year, Stacey also spoke of how “sad” it made her to know that one of her children had finally reached the milestone age of 18. Speaking on BBC Radio 2, Stacey said: “Zach is going to be 18 this month. I’ve got an 18 year old, I know, it actually makes me really sad. I think I’m going to cry all day on his birthday.
“I’ve got a fully-grown adult human son. When I did the X Factor he was one…he was one! Seventeen years ago.” When the big day did roll around, Stacey took to social media once more.
She wrote on Instagram at the time: “Today is all about you Zachary. 18 wonderful years of you We are SO lucky. Now let’s go OUT out.”
Stacey has regularly discussed becoming a first-time mother as a teenager. In a touching Mother’s Day post in 2023 she admitted she “barely remembers life” before motherhood.
She wrote: “I’ve been a mum since I was 17 years old. I barely remember life before becoming [a] mum. I do remember all of the looks I’d get and all of the things that people would say when they saw a ‘child raising a child’.
“I can’t believe I am now a mummy of five. And all I can say is, not one of those judgments or opinions back then were true. No matter how real they felt I look at each of them now and I have never felt so proud.”
