Stacey Solomon has shared an emotional post ahead of her eldest son leaving home for Camp America, admitting her 'gut is in knots'. The former X Factor contestant, 35, is mum to Zachary, 18, from a previous relationship, and also has Leighton, 14, Rex, seven, Rose, four, with husband Joe Swash.
Emotional Airport Drop-Off
On Wednesday morning, Stacey took to Instagram to reveal her son is heading off to Camp America for over a month. She wrote: '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.'
She added: '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??'
Photos and Support
In one photo, Stacey beamed at her son as she cosied up to him before he jetted off. In another, Zachary gave a thumbs up as he prepared to enter the terminal. Shana Swash, sister of Joe Swash, commented: 'Enjoy handsome boy! Your gonna have the best time x'
Fans flooded the post with support. One wrote: 'Wow. Wow. Wow!! What an opportunity for him. He’ll have the best experience and could be the making of him.' 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.'
Stacey on Zachary Turning 18
Earlier this year, Stacey spoke on BBC Radio 2 about Zachary turning 18: '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.' On his birthday, she posted: 'Today is all about you Zachary. 18 wonderful years of you We are SO lucky. Now let’s go OUT out.'
Teenage Motherhood Reflections
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.'
