Stacey Solomon has opened up about the bittersweet feelings surrounding her eldest son's imminent milestone birthday, admitting she anticipates spending the entire day in tears.
The television presenter, 36, shared her emotional state during a conversation with Scott Mills on BBC Radio 2.
"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," she told the broadcaster.
The Sort Your Life Out host went on to express her disbelief at having a grown-up child.
"I've got a fully-grown adult human son," she quipped.
Zachary's 18th birthday falls on March 21, marking a significant moment for the Solomon-Swash household.
Ms Solomon reflected on how her son's approaching adulthood serves as a stark reminder of the passage of time, particularly in relation to her own career trajectory.
"When I did The X Factor he was one... He was one! Seventeen years ago," she remarked during the radio interview.
The presenter has long been candid about her experience of becoming a parent whilst still in her teens, frequently linking her eldest child's milestones to her professional journey.
In a 2023 Mother's Day message shared on Instagram, she acknowledged the challenges of early motherhood.
"I've been a mum since I was 17 years old. I barely remember life before becoming [a] mum," she wrote at the time.
Ms Solomon also recalled the scrutiny she faced as a young mother, remembering the disapproving glances and comments directed at what others perceived as "a child raising a child".
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| BBCHowever, she firmly rejected those early judgements in her Mother's Day tribute.
"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," she wrote.
The presenter, who shares Rex, six, Rose, four, and Belle, three, with husband Joe Swash, expressed deep gratitude towards all her children.
Stacey Solomon is a proud mother of five children
|The family's recent half-term skiing trip to Switzerland also stirred strong emotions for the presenter.
Ms Solomon shared images from the mountain getaway with her 6.1 million Instagram followers, writing that the sunrise views made her feel overwhelmed.
The holiday brought together an extended group including her sister Jemma, her brother who lives in Switzerland, plus Joe's mother Kitty and his brother.
During the trip, Ms Solomon managed to capture what she described as a rare photograph with 13-year-old Leighton, joking that her son had become "far too cool" to pose with his mother.
She praised Zachary as "the bravest of us all" after he requested lessons with an off-piste jumping instructor, whilst three-year-old Belle also impressed with her skiing progress.