Kelsey Parker has revealed she felt ‘so unconfident’ on a recent night out and ‘couldn’t wait to leave’ two months after losing her third child.
Kelsey – whose husband Tom Parker died of glioblastoma in March 2022 aged 33, suffered further heartbreak in June after her unborn baby – her first with boyfriend Will Lindsay – was stillborn.
TV star Kelsey, who is a mother to Aurelia, five, and Bodhi, four, took to Instagram on Thursday to share the ‘reality’ behind her smiles during a celebratory night out.
She explained that while she enjoyed her food and watching her friend James Argent perform, ‘deep down’ she really wanted to leave.
Kelsey penned: ‘Instagram vs Reality. I had a fantastic night out with my good friend Arg.
Kelsey Parker shared this picture on Instagram on Thursday and said revealed despite her smiles, she felt ‘so unconfident’ that she ‘couldn’t wait to leave’ – the outing comes two months after her baby was stillborn
The baby, who she named Phoenix, was her fiirst child with boyfriend Will Lindsay. Kelsey’s husband Tom Parker died in March 2022 from glioblastoma – they share children Aurelia, five, and Bodhi, four
She explained that while she enjoyed her food and watching her pal James Argent perform, ‘deep down’ she really wanted to leave
She shared this post alongside the picture of herself smiling on her night out
‘We had a lovely meal at Sheesh, but looking around at all the beautiful young girls with bodies to die for, I felt so uncomfortable and unconfident – feelings I’ve never really experienced before.
‘We enjoyed dinner and watched Arg perform, but deep down I couldn’t wait to leave (coming from the girl who is normally the last one standing).
‘I guess what l’m trying to say is just because someone is smiling and laughing on social media, you never truly know how they’re feeling inside, or the pain and struggles it’s taken just to put one foot in front of the other.’
In June, Kelsey took to Instagram to share her heartbreaking news about her third child who died one week before his planned due date.
Breaking the news in a poem, she wrote: ‘The world grew quiet as you arrived, So loved, so longed for, yet not alive. Our precious boy, our angel light, Born with wings, took silent flight’.
‘We named you Phoenix, brave and bright. A soul of love, of warmth and light Though we never heard you cry, You’ll live in hearts that won’t ask why.
‘No breath you drew, no eyes to see, Still, you mean everything to me. You’ll journey with us, softly near, in every sigh, in every tear.
Kelsey pictured with Tom who lost his battle with cancer
In June, Kelsey took to Instagram to tell her followers that her baby Phoenix had died
Taking to her Instagram stories: she added: ‘Before I receive an influx of lovely messages and heartfelt wishes, I wanted to just say that I truly appreciate everything you are all going to say and share.
‘But with the news being so raw, I would really like to ensure that we as a family are given space and time to process this devastating and earth-shattering news.
‘I love you all and thank you for your understanding and space. Love always, Kelsey, Will, and the Parker Family’.
Kelsey was left devastated after husband Tom lost his battle with brain cancer, but found love again last year, meeting Kent tree surgeon Will on a night out and announced their romance in September.
The podcaster later admitted to being targeted by online trolls for moving on with her new partner.
Speaking on ITV’s Lorraine, in their first joint interview together in March, she explained: ‘It’s been three years, this is Tom’s three year anniversary of his death and it’s almost like people want me to feel guilty for moving on.’
She added: ‘I’m always going to have guilt but what’s so hard is that Tom’s not here anymore so what do people want me to do?’,
‘Our house was full of so much sadness but now it’s full of happiness, the kids deserve that more than anything.
‘They’ve been through so much, I feel like we are taking the steps forward to heal but I just want other women to feel like it’s OK to move on, it’s not taking anything away from the love I had for Tom.’
If you have been affected by anything in this article, please contact The Lullaby Trust on 0808 8026868.
