Kate Ferdinand has defended herself after being criticised by an Instagram follower for calling her step children ‘family.’
The former TOWIE star is expecting her first child with husband Rio and is also step mum to his children Tia, nine, Tate, 12, and Lorenz, 14 with his late wife Rebecca.
On Wednesday, Kate posted an idyllic photo of one of her ‘favourite days of the year’ during a family holiday, but her use of the word ‘family’ prompted a criticial comment.
Happy memory: Kate Ferdinand has defended herself after being criticised by an Instagram follower for calling her step children ‘family’
Family: On Wednesday, Kate posted an idyllic photo of her ‘favourite days of the year’ during a family holiday with her stepchildren, but her use of the word ‘family’ prompted a criticial comment
Showing the mum-to-be swimming in the sea, Kate captioned the photo: ‘One of my favourite days of this year, out at sea with the family …. no worries, happy & stress free’.
Thousands of fans commented positively on the post, but one troll chose to pick on Kate’s use of words.
‘Ooof. Rebeccas family. I’m all for stepmoms etc. And you’ve stepped into a massive hole. But those kids are Rebeccas. And they’ll not thank you for saying otherwise xx.’ the follower wrote.
‘Apart from that you are a lovely lovely girl. But, those wedding letters to ‘your’ kids was terrible. Imagine if you were her looking down, or her mum n dad… not cool. Xx’
Step mum: The former TOWIE star is expecting her first child with husband Rio and is also step mum to his children Tia, nine, Tate, 12, and Lorenz, 14 with his late wife Rebecca
‘Not cool’: Thousands of fans commented positvely on the post, but one troll chose to pick on Kate’s use of words
Kate was quick to respond, writing in reply: ‘Wow. Very very narrow minded. Rebecca is there mum & forever will be – a mother can never be replaced. But let me clarify WE ARE family, families aren’t just about blood, but who is there for us and loves us unconditionally.’
She continued: ‘Please think before you speak, are all foster & adopted children family less?! Of course not. Family is about love and choosing to be there for one another.
‘We are family by CHOICE it’s so sad you don’t understand, let’s hope you never have to go through such heartache to get it.’
Her say: Kate was quick to respond, writing in reply: ‘Wow. Very very narrow minded. Rebecca is there mum & forever will be – a mother can never be replaced’
Kate’s husband Rio, 41, defended his wife, also writing in the comments: ‘Well said love ❤️’
Kate gave fans a candid glimpse into her pregnancy journey on Wednesday night in an honest Q&A session on Instagram.
The former TOWIE star, 29, admitted that she has been ‘struggling’ during her third trimester and is finding her ongoing back pain ‘very draining’.
Candid: Kate gave fans a candid glimpse into her pregnancy journey on Wednesday night in an honest Q&A session on Instagram
‘Draining’: The former TOWIE star, 29, admitted that she has been ‘struggling’ during her third trimester and is finding her ongoing back pain ‘very draining’
After a fan asked how she was feeling, Kate explained: ‘The third trimester and especially the last 2/3 weeks I’ve been struggling a little.
‘I have up and down days but just generally having a huge lack of sleep so feeling very tired and finding the back pain very draining.’
Although Kate added: ‘Apart from that, I am good though, excited for baby to arrive.’
The star was also asked what exercises she has been doing during her pregnancy, to which she revealed she had been having three sessions a week, Pilates and pre-natal gym sessions.
Kate added: ‘I normally do a lot of walking and this is something I’m really missing since my back has got a lot worse. I can only walk for 15/20 minutes… I can’t wait to get back to walking post pregnancy it really clears my mind.’
Exercises: The star was also asked what exercises she has been doing during her pregnancy, to which she revealed she had been having three sessions a week, Pilates and pre-natal gym sessions
Elsewhere, one follower asked the former reality star how she felt about being a first time mum as well as being a stepmother already to Rio’s three children.
Kate said she was ‘excited’ but ‘nervous’ at the prospect of juggling four children at the same time.
She said: ‘I’m excited but nervous the kids are so excited and that makes it extra special. We are all in this little journey together.
‘I feel like a “mum” already but have never experiences having a baby or newborn so the thought of having to juggle that with three big kids is overwhelming at times.’
She added: ‘I’m a huge worrier but once I’m in a situation I do just get on with it so I’m sure it will all be fine – just the thought of four kids is crazy.’
Kate quipped: ‘Plus I have three helpers… let’s see if I can get them changing nappies!’
Family: Elsewhere, one follower asked the former reality star how she felt about being a first time mum as well as being a stepmother already to Rio’s three children – Lorenz, 14, Tate, 12, and nine-year-old Tia
Anxiety battle: It comes after the star admitted that she was feeling ‘very overwhelmed’ as she told how she was suffering from ‘bad anxiety’ in a candid Instagram story in October