Kate Ferdinand says she has been struggling with ‘step-mum’ guilt and juggling ‘my five children across two countries’ after move to Dubai

DAILYMAIL.COM • 1h ago

By CONNIE RUSK, ASSOCIATE SHOWBUSINESS EDITOR 15:31 19 Oct 2026, updated 15:32 19 Oct 2026

Kate Ferdinand has admitted she has been struggling with ‘step-mum’ guilt as she juggles her children living in two different countries after moving to Dubai.

Rio’s sons Lorenz, 19, and Tate, 18, are living in the UK pursuing their football career, while Tia, 14, and her son Cree, four, and daughter Shae, two, are with her in the UAE.

Kate, 35, shared an insight into what her life really looked like on Instagram as she admitted to getting into a habit of overthinking what she posted and not showing the reality.

‘But really I have so much to post. I started feeling like none of it was worth sharing because it didn’t fit the version you are used to seeing of me on Instagram.

Yet these moments actually make the majority of my life. So here’s a little glimpse into the parts that don’t always make it on here.

‘I have five kids across two countries, I’m navigating motherhood and trying to be everything for everyone. Lately, I’ve been struggling with mum/ step mum guilt and miss everyone living the same home.

‘I’m building two businesses. Instagram shows you all the exciting parts but there’s a lot of self doubt, setbacks and figuring things out as I go along.

‘I’ve had adult acne for over a year which has started to clear, but it really knocked my confidence. I’ve been hiding behind a full face of make-up for a while, I’m finally starting to try and embrace the no makeup and my imperfections. It’s a work in progress!’

Photos included make-up free moments, Tia going horse riding, her two youngest looking at photos of their brothers who are in the UK and working out in the gym – as she reflected on how she isn’t able to go as often as she would like.

Kate went on: ‘I’ve had a reality check recently and it’s impossible to do everything (I’ve tried). I put so much pressure on myself to do it all and it leads to burnout.

‘I love keeping fit and feeling good but I am no longer able to workout 5x a week, be there to take my kids to school and work. Some weeks are consistent. Some weeks not so much.

‘The main thing I’m focusing on now is a healthy whole version of me which can look different week to week.

Kate said all five children are her world and she feels proud of herself for raising them.

The couple moved to Dubai in August last year.

Shortly after they upped sticks, Kate wrote how she was pining for the UK and wrote: ‘I am enjoying it, but I miss home quite a lot.

‘I get upset. I miss the big boys a lot and I’m just struggling with that. I know this decision is right for my younger children and as a family we are settled there, but the boys are following their football careers.

‘So, they’re doing what they want to do otherwise they’d be with us. But it’s very hard because we’ve been through so much as a family and we’ve always been together and that’s a huge adjustment.’

Then earlier this month, speaking about living in Dubai during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, she said: ‘The kids have shorter days, my children are going to school from 8.45am and they get picked up at 1pm, so like they’re doing half days.

‘Everything changes, I like the energy, it’s quite calming – not when the kids come back at 1pm by the way – it’s just something that I’ve not experienced before.

‘It’s a different vibe and I feel like living in a country with different religions and so many different cultures, you learn so much and pick up so much.

‘My children are learning things that they wouldn’t… they might learn it in the UK, but they wouldn’t actively be living it. That’s something that I really love.’

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