Stacey Solomon has opened up about the 'logistical nightmare' of raising a blended family, admitting there is 'no room for error' when managing her five children and stepson. The Loose Women star, 35, will be seen alongside her ex-boyfriend Dean Cox in the next episode of her BBC One reality show, Stacey & Joe.
Solomon, who welcomed her eldest son Zachary with Cox when she was 17, said co-parenting requires meticulous organisation. 'You have to be super organised, otherwise I'll drive to the school to pick up Leighton, and he's not even there because it's his dad's weekend,' she explained. The couple also share children Leighton, Rex, Rose, and Belle.
In the upcoming episode, the family celebrates Zachary's 17th birthday, with Cox and his partner Nicky in attendance. Solomon stressed that putting the child first is key. 'It's better for them that they've got these two families that absolutely love the bones off them than to be fighting over them,' she said. Husband Joe Swash added that he understands the importance of keeping dads involved in their children's lives.
The couple's home, Pickle Cottage, has become a hub for their large family. Swash joked, 'We're a little bit like Jesus. He made the bread go and feed the five thousand. Our house, we can start off for dinner just the five of us and we can have another six people arrive - but we make it work.' Solomon credited her own parents, who divorced but remained close, as inspiration for how she handles her blended family.
