Kate Ferdinand has honestly opened up about her struggles ahead of Mother's Day this Sunday.
The former The Only Way Is Essex star, who is married to former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand, has launched her very first podcast, titled Blended. It is all part of Kate's new passion project which has seen her begin to create a community for blended families after becoming part of one herself when marrying football pundit Rio.
Kate, 30, shares one-year-old son Cree with Rio, 43. She is also stepmother to his three older children – Lorenz, 15, Tate, 13, and 10-year-old Tia - who he had with his late wife, Rebecca Ellison, who died in 2015 from breast cancer.
Kate, who has been married to Rio since 2019, has been open about her journey as a step-mum and becoming a first-time mum to biological son Cree. The couple also released an intimate and powerful documentary with the BBC in 2020, Rio and Kate: Becoming A Stepfamily.
Revealing her latest project as she embraces being a mum to her and Rio's children, Kate shared on Instagram: "& …. It’s here. My @blended podcast is all about the highs & lows of blended life. Its everything I needed & wanted when I became a step parent. We cover life after loss, grief, love, divorce, step parenting, adoption, fostering etc."
She went on to explain alongside a minute-long clip from the podcast: "This week is slightly different, we kick off with a Mothers Day special & in it are the voices of women & young adults who find Mother’s Day hard.
"I found this episode really emotional & eye opening at the same time. I’m hoping it helps anyone who is feeling lost & alone in the lead up to Mother’s Day. Thank you to my amazing, strong & open guests, you are all incredible & to @juliasamuelmbe for your wisdom & advice." She rounded off her post by saying: "I hope it helps."
Kate could be heard saying in the podcast snippet: "Mother's Day for most people is usually a day that we celebrate the women that shaped us. But unfortunately that is just not the case for everyone. For me personally Mother's Day is a day that I struggle with.
"I'm fortunate to have three amazing step children and my biological son Cree, but sadly my stepchildren lost their mum at a young age and also my husband has lost his mum.
"I really really struggled with Mother's Day even before I was a biological parent, somehow I thought it would be easier when I had Cree but actually last year was probably the toughest Mother's Day to date."
She continued: "It's a strange feeling the world is celebrating this day and there is a real big loss in my house but also it was my first Mother's Day - a day in another life that I would really look forward to, but here I am surrounded by my family.
"How can I have the audacity to celebrate myself when all my family have had such a deep loss? I find it really hard to balance those emotions and it's a minefield to be honest with you."
Kate went on to say: "I felt really alone and quite isolated, I didn't know anyone in a similar situation or going through the same sort of thing as me."
Rochelle Humes was among the first of Kate's celebrity pals to offer their support. She commented: "This is so needed!! Thank you Kate."
The This Morning presenter also shared the post to her own Instagram Story and wrote: "The incredible @xkateferdinand has launched her @blended podcast today... I'm so happy/proud that you're doing this Kate. This will give light and comfort to so many people..."
The mum-of-three added: "Thank you for using your platform and your voice in such a positive way." And Kate's fans and followers were also soon having their say.
"Thank you Kate this is everything! You should be so proud of yourself, well done…" @ oracle_angel1111 commented
@miamay_jones wrote: "Truly inspirational and needed, thank you @blended @xkateferdinand." "You should be very proud Kate . Amazing," @peacockeo added.
