Frankie Bridge has defiantly posed in a skimpy red bikini as she hit back at mum-shamers who trolled her for going on holiday without her children. The former The Saturdays star, 37, who shares sons Carter, 10, and Parker, 12, with husband Wayne Bridge, 45, is currently relaxing in a sunny location on a girls' trip.
But while Frankie has been happily documenting her travels on Instagram, she faced backlash for enjoying a holiday without her young brood. However, Frankie was quick to brush off the critics, sending a strong message while unashamedly modelling her holiday outfit. Alongside a clip showcasing her super toned figure in a red Burberry two-piece, Frankie wrote: 'This... and being told I'm a bad mum for going away without my kids.' Captioning her post, she added: 'Because you know people love to have their opinions.'
After turning this way and that to flaunt her gym-honed physique, the stunner then added loose black linen trousers and a matching shirt to her look. She accessorised the summer ensemble with flip-flops, trendy shades, and a large Loewe beach bag.
Fans of the Loose Women star were quick to share their support in the comments, with many applauding her for taking a much-needed break. Comments included: 'Filling up your cup and having a break so you can be the BEST mum to your kids'; 'It's giving envy. Hope you're having the best time'; 'Let them be mad. Have an even better time to spite them darling'; 'Everybody needs a break to reset and recharge including parents, those who think it's selfish clearly aren't parents'; and 'The only people who matter when it comes to judging anyone's parenting is their kids. It's clear you are absolutely adored by yours.'
Frankie's backlash comes a month after she broke down in tears revealing she is struggling to cope with her son Carter's worsening dyslexia. She shared an emotional update in her latest YouTube vlog, saying Carter's dyslexia has worsened dramatically since his diagnosis last year. Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects accurate and fluent word reading and spelling.
Frankie admitted she feels 'trapped' and doesn't know 'what the right thing is for him anymore' after dropping him at school in tears over his struggles. She explained: 'I, today, went to see a specialist dyslexic school for Carter. His recent assessment is that he is severely dyslexic, and he's worse than his last assessment.' The assessor noted that moving schools multiple times affected his confidence, and moving now might not be best.
The Loose Women panellist revealed that while Carter's current school near their home in Surrey provides good support, a specialist school may be better for secondary education next September. She expressed concerns about distance and cost: 'It's not an ideal scenario for us because it's far away and it's really f***ing expensive. But it was lovely. And I think his confidence has been so battered that I'm like, how lovely to put him in an environment where he doesn't feel different, and that he's actually being set up for success rather than failure.'
Specialist secondary schools for dyslexic children in the UK typically cost between £15,000 and £40,000 a year for day places, with some boarding options exceeding £60,000. Frankie added: 'He's had to move to so many different schools, and nothing's been able to meet his needs. I just don't know if it's realistic for us as a family, for us to be able to get him there and back every day.'
The former pop star then broke down describing dropping Carter off at school, where he had been crying about maths. Fighting back tears, she said: 'I find it mentally just so hard that I just never know what to do, what's best for him. There'll be so many parents out there, I know, that have to drop their kids off, crying at school every day. I just feel a bit worn down by it now. I just feel a bit trapped because, obviously, they have to go to school. He's been to so many different schools that I just can't move him again. And I just don't know what the right thing is for him anymore.'
