Loose Women star Frankie Bridge admits to controversial parenting move when allowing kids to stay off school
FRANKIE Bridge has admitted to a rather controversial parenting move, involving allowing her kids to stay off school.
Loose Women star Frankie, 35, who shares sons Parker, 10, and Carter, eight, with her husband Wayne Bridge, 43, let slip that she sometimes gives in when they ask for the day at home.
The former Saturdays singer explained how she toys between teaching her sprogs “resilience” and allowing them to have a “needed” break from the classroom once in a while.
She said: “It is a balance. There are days when you know they are trying it on.
“You want to teach them resilience and that we have to do things we don’t want to do… there are days when I go to work and I really can’t be bothered.
“And I’m really tired or I am not feeling on my A-game. And I’d rather sit them at home on the sofa but I have to go.
“I think school is the same. We have to say, ‘No, you have to go to school and you’ll be fine once you get there.’
“But there are days when I am like, ‘Fine. You are obviously not well today. Or you’re not feeling it or whatever.’
“And it is knowing when they really do need that break and when they just can’t be bothered.
“It is really hard to call it. My head had to be falling off for me to get a day off school when I was younger.
“I had two parents that worked. They weren’t at home.
“They could not just stay at home because I was feeling a little bit unwell that day. I think my kids are slightly spoilt.
“Mine and Wayne’s jobs are not linear. They are not nine-to-five, five days a week.
“Wayne’s mum and dad live with us, so they know they have a get out whereas when I was younger that was not a thing.”
It comes after she clapped back at vicious “mum-shaming” trolls who targeted her over a video of Carter.
The Up songstress admitted she had been left “baffled” by the remarks, before urging the Instagram keyboard bullies to “grow up.”
Frankie had uploaded a candid video of her son heading to the barbers.
The youngster looked elated as he was set to have his blonde shoulder-length curls chopped off to a more cropped style.
Yet while the super-sweet video attracted many gushing messages. some trolls were out in force.
In a frank admission, the popstar had admitted her “struggles” with the moment in an emotional message that read: “I’m really struggling with the fact that the boys are growing up lately.
“And just to top it off… Carter decided he wanted to cut his hair. As gutted as I am … the boys got to do what he wants to do!
“And I wouldn’t trust anyone else to do it. @thehairystylist cut Parker’s hair from long to short.
“So it was only right he did Carter’s too! I keep having to double take. It’s like I’ve got someone else’s kid in my house!”
Yet after a few hours live on her Instagram grid, she tackled the bullies head on and added: “The majority of the comments on here are lovely. Thank you.
“To the adults who have nothing nice to say about an eight year old.
“Grow up and take a long hard look at yourselves. You baffle me.”
Trolls had cruelly commented on Carter’s locks with one writing: “Something weird about little boys with long hair.”
Another added: “Can’t be doing with mothers molly codling boys,” while one wrote: “Much better … now you might be able to comb it.”
Yet her loyal followers were quick to support her amid the backlash.
One wrote: “My heart can’t cope sooo cute!”
A second put: “So heartfelt, letting him be comfortable in how his hair is, nearly made me cry xxx”
A third then put: “Oh mum pushing in with the kisses and the face brushes. I feel you babe with the rejections.”
Frankie and former footballer Wayne started dating in 2011.
The pair tied the knot in 2014.