Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington has revealed she has been experiencing a week of deep emotion as her eldest daughter, Summer, concludes her primary school education. Adlington, 37, shared her feelings on Instagram, highlighting the milestone and expressing immense pride in her 11-year-old.
Adlington, who also has a four-year-old son, Albie, and a four-month-old daughter, Thea Joy, with husband Andy Parsons, urged others to offer support to parents navigating similar transitions. "To anyone who knows anyone with kids leaving primary school… check on them. They are not ok," she wrote on the social media platform. "I’ve been crying for about a week but this mornings end of year assembly just topped it all off."
She reflected on how quickly time has passed, recalling Summer's first day of primary school. "I cannot believe my baby girl is leaving primary school. I remember her first day like it was only last year," Adlington stated. She noted significant life events over the past seven years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, a move, a change of school for Summer, and becoming a sibling twice over. "So much has happened over the past 7 years… Covid, we moved and Summer changed school, she became a big sibling (twice over) and so much more. I am so proud of her."
Adlington also touched upon a previous experience in March where she addressed a social media user who commented on maternal guilt. After welcoming her third child, Thea Joy, in February following two miscarriages, Adlington had shared an anecdote about receiving a manicure. When she encountered a crying newborn Thea, a kind stranger at the salon helped care for the infant, allowing Adlington a moment of pampering. Adlington expressed gratitude for the stranger's kindness, describing it as the first act of self-care she had experienced in a long time.
However, the post drew criticism from some who felt Adlington should prioritize her children above all else. Adlington shared a message she received, which read: "Claiming it was Rebecca's choice to have another child, the social media user wrote that 'kids should always come first' as she confessed she would have felt mum guilt if she were Rebecca." This prompted Adlington to speak out against the concept of