Saira Khan reads mean tweets to 11-year-old son as she hits back after she’s branded a ‘controlling parent’
SAIRA Khan has hit back at Loose Women viewers who shamed her for making her 11-year-old son sign a contract before giving him a mobile phone. The presenter, 49, spoke on Loose Women on Friday about her decision to give son Zach a phone because he was starting secondary school. She explained that she and […]
SAIRA Khan has hit back at Loose Women viewers who shamed her for making her 11-year-old son sign a contract before giving him a mobile phone.
The presenter, 49, spoke on Loose Women on Friday about her decision to give son Zach a phone because he was starting secondary school.
She explained that she and her husband Steve made him agree to a contract – which included a ban on searching for inappropriate content and ignoring calls from his parents – before giving him the mobile.
However, viewers of the show labelled the contract controlling – with fellow panellist Nadia Sawalha calling it “a bit extreme” in the discussion.
In a broadcast on her Instagram, Saira brought her son on to clear up any issues.
The mum-of-two said: “So Zach, today on Loose Women we spoke about your mobile phone contract.
“Where daddy sat you down, mummy sat you down and we said it’s a really important tool that we’re giving you and we basically highlighted all the dangers and what you can and can’t do.”
She then gestures to the tweets branding her controlling and said: “These are grown up people, with children of their own, this is what makes me anxious.”
Zach defended his mum, saying: “I really don’t mind”.
One tweet in particular annoyed the presenter, which read: “Saira’s son will rebel when he leaves high school. Far too over protective. Trust your son more Saira”.
She bit back: “I did trust my son, Theresa,” before turning to Zach: “I trusted you to tell me about my feelings and you said mummy I don’t want this phone because I don’t enjoy it.”
She then goes on to explain: “How did these parents who then complain that their children are anxious, they’ve been trolled, they got into trouble sending sex messages – how do they then justify their kids behaviour if they haven’t sat down and talked to them?
“You get a contract for your phone why wouldn’t you get a contract for your child? To say I’ve read all of this mummy and daddy, I’ve completely understood what you’ve said, that’s fine.”
Fans rushed to her defence on the post, with one person saying: “Well done for being a responsible parent we need more in this world.”
Another added: “If this is how a parent is perceived as ‘controlling’ then I’m happy to be a part of the controlling parents club… my son will be raised with standards, manners, respect, compassion and understanding.”
A third added: “Wish all parents showed this responsibility, discipline doesn’t do any of us any harm. I disciplined my children and they have grown up responsible adults.”
Saira originally shot to fame as the runner-up on the 2005 edition of The Apprentice.
She also competed on Celebrity Big Brother season 18.
The presenter has been married to her husband Steve since 2004 and they have two children together: Zach and Amara.
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