Stacey Solomon struggled to cope with ’empty nest’ when kids went back to school

Stacey Solomon was left feeling like she had an ’empty nest’ when her kids went back to school after lockdown.

The Loose Women star’s boyfriend Joe Swash says she got so used to having the kids at home with her all day every day that she was left feeling sad and lonely when they were finally allowed back in school.

Stacey is mum to Zachary, 12, Leighton, eight, from previous relationships, and Rex, one, who she shares with Joe, who’s also dad to Harry, 13.

Joe and Stacey’s home turned into a very busy homeschool when the coronavirus pandemic meant the kids had to stay away from their classrooms.

And it was suddenly very quiet around the house when some sense of normality resumed.

Joe told express.co.uk : “It definitely was [weird]. We got used to our little life together and then it changed again.

“I think we have to get used to things changing all the time, but it was sad for Stace.

“I think the kids needed it as well. They needed to be around kids their own age.”

While Stacey mourned the loss of her daily lessons with her boys, Joe said homeschooling was a “nightmare”.

Meanwhile, Joe has confessed he’s feeling a little broody and would love to have one more baby with Stacey.

It came as he opened up about fatherhood on podcast Dadpod, saying how quickly the time goes by without you realising it.

He told host Dave Berry: “I look at photos of Rex, like, literally a year ago, and he was a tiny, tiny little baby and it just goes so fast.

“And now, he’s like a little terror. He’s up and down the stairs. He’s in the cupboards. He knows where the chocolates are hidden. Like, he is on it. He’s like a little grown-up. So, it goes so fast.

“Yeah, I’m really starting to miss the baby period ’cause it does go so fast, and that is such a precious little time when the baby is first born.

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Joe SwashLoose WomenStacey Solomon