All the signs Kate Ferdinand had been struggling with her move to Dubai: Ex-TOWIE star admitted to missing her family, stepsons and home comforts before crying over their relocation

Kate Ferdinand has shared that she’s been finding it difficult adjusting to life in Dubai and misses certain things about the UK.

The 34-year-old former TOWIE star shared that she’s feeling homesick and misses her family, especially her stepsons who are focused on their football dreams.

Kate says living in the UAE has been wonderful, but there are hints that their experience hasn’t been as perfect as they expected.

The influencer shared that she was having a hard time adjusting after returning from a cozy Christmas in London, and she was also feeling homesick.

Kate has only returned home once since moving, but she did have a visit from an old friend a few months after she relocated.

She confessed it was difficult to say goodbye to her friend after enjoying their time together.

Last August, Kate, her husband Rio (47), and their family—including their children Shae (2) and Cree (5), and Rio’s daughter Tia (14)—relocated to Dubai.

His sons, Lorenz, 19, and Tate, 17, stayed in the UK to focus on their promising football careers and couldn’t join them.

Kate has been struggling with being separated from her sons, and this article details the small clues she revealed before openly acknowledging how difficult it has been.

Missing her stepsons

Kate admitted that missing Lorenz and Tate has been really tough since the move, as she’d grown very close to them.

On a recent episode of the Blended podcast, Kate discussed the challenges her family faced after moving, especially how difficult it was being far away from her children.

She shared that Rio is having a wonderful time, and while she’s also enjoying herself, she’s feeling homesick and a bit down. She really misses her children and is finding it difficult being away from them.

I was so excited when Tate visited Kate and her partner back in November! Kate shared with us that she felt really emotionally fragile after he left, and honestly, I totally understood. It’s always hard saying goodbye, and she was so open about how it affected her.

She posted a heartwarming video of Tate arriving home. Kate reiterated how much she enjoys their life abroad, but admitted she still really misses her stepchildren, Tate and his brother Lorenz.

Kate shared a heartwarming video of a hug with her daughter Tate before meeting Rio, her father, and captioned it, ‘A moment I’ll always treasure.’

I really enjoy surprising people, and I think I’m actually quite good at it! So it means a lot to me that Tate put so much effort into surprising us. I’ve had an amazing couple of days, but now that he’s gone, I’m feeling really down.

We’re really enjoying our time in Dubai. It’s wonderful to see the kids so happy, healthy, and safe – we feel incredibly grateful.

I really miss Lorenz and Tate! It’s difficult to explain how much, and I’m eagerly anticipating the day we can all be together again.

Familiarity

Kate recently shared that she’s been longing for everyday things back home in the UK, even simple things like shopping at Marks & Spencer.

She posted pictures from a visit to one of the nine M&S stores nationwide, saying it felt cozy and like being home to shop there.

Kate said she was thrilled to visit M&S to get some of their classic products, which helped make their new house feel more like home.

Kate has shared on her Blended podcast that she misses certain things about life in the UK, including her friends and family, as well as simple things like the rain and cooler temperatures. She also feels a longing for the unique atmosphere of England.

Kate shared that she longs for rainy weather and the feeling of cool air on her skin, explaining that Dubai’s warm, sunny climate is a big change from what she’s used to.

She’s expressed feeling homesick for England, specifically missing the familiar feeling of everyday life and the cultural environment that helped form her identity.

The family spent the Christmas holidays visiting relatives in London before returning to their home in Dubai.

Kate shared that she’s been feeling nostalgic, missing the simple things like people, rainy weather, and the fresh, cool air. She also expressed a fondness for the unique culture and diverse population of England.

Readjusting after visiting home

Kate shared that she’s been quite emotional since moving back home in January, especially after a busy and overwhelming Christmas season in London.

She recently shared that she’s been feeling down since December, not because of alcohol, but due to a lingering emotional sadness. She hesitated to talk about it, but admitted she hasn’t been feeling like herself lately.

I’m just not feeling like myself lately. I’m lacking my usual motivation and I’m feeling really emotional, especially since I don’t have that energetic start to the year I usually experience.

I’ve been giving this some thought, and as parents, we really want to make December special for our kids. It’s just a really busy time – between getting ready for Christmas, working, and managing everything else, it can feel overwhelming.

Holidays often mean reconnecting with family – both those we cherish and those we find challenging. It can be tough revisiting old family dynamics and slipping back into childhood roles, which can leave us feeling emotionally drained afterward.

We’re often expected to completely reinvent ourselves on January first, to become a ‘new person,’ but that’s not realistic. It takes time to change, and I’m not about that. I’m the type of person who tries to start strong with early gym visits, even when my body is clearly telling me to stop.

Kate admitted she’s been feeling stressed about exercising, but she’s chosen to prioritize listening to her body and rest when needed. She reminded her followers that it’s perfectly alright to not feel up to everything all the time.

She continued: ‘I’ve been very emotional and I think it’s ok to not be ok.

I’ve been feeling really stressed lately, and today I planned to share my workout. But honestly, when I tried to exercise, I just didn’t have the energy. My body feels completely drained and I couldn’t push myself through it.

I want to be real with you all. A lot of people are struggling, but it’s not something we often talk about openly online. Just remember that people aren’t always at their best, and difficult times can come when you least anticipate them.

January is when I focus on taking care of myself. I prioritize rest, avoid overexertion, and do things I enjoy. I’m comfortable saying ‘no’ to commitments and keeping my schedule simple.

This month doesn’t need to be about fresh starts. Sending love and hoping you’re doing well.

Kate shared some heartwarming Christmas photos, looking radiant as she posed with Rio and one of their kids near the Christmas tree.

In one photo, she and her child smiled brightly for the camera, and then she shared a heartwarming picture with her stepson, Lorenz.

She shared photos of a variety of fun activities, including a pilates workout with Daniella Forbes, a night out with her friends, and a lovely time spent with her mother, Jacqueline.

She shared photos and wrote that the week leading up to Christmas in London was spent enjoying time with family and finishing up work for the year.

Needing time to ‘calm her nervous system’

Kate shared that she’s learning to pace herself after receiving support from fans for openly discussing feeling tired and overwhelmed by trying to do too much.

Kate expressed her gratitude to fans for their kind messages, and many of her 1.4 million followers shared that they felt the same way.

She posted a heartwarming picture of herself and one of her kids enjoying a sunny walk, and shared a message of gratitude. She said she was touched by everyone’s support, and realized many others were going through similar experiences.

It’s funny how life sometimes makes us pause and catch our breath. I’m used to moving so quickly, so adjusting to a slower pace is taking some getting used to.

Before this, Kate posted a video blog about a relaxing day at home in her pajamas, where she made pizza and gave her kids some special treats.

She proudly displayed her spacious home, featuring stylish modern interiors, a comfortable lounge with a very large TV, and a grand entrance.

Kate revealed that she was taking the time to ‘reset her nervous system’ after a chaotic few weeks.

In a recent post, she shared what she believes truly constitutes self-care: knowing when it’s okay to simply relax – like staying home in pajamas, binge-watching Netflix without feeling bad, ordering takeout, doing only what’s essential, and prioritizing rest over trying to be productive.

Your body doesn’t focus on how good your workout looks; it cares about whether you’re actually providing it with what it needs to function properly.

The video featured snippets of her children enjoying their beautiful new home.

Missing friends

Kate and her friend Lisa, who used to be friends with Rio’s late wife Rebecca, were sad to be separated after Kate traveled to visit the Ferdinand family.

Kate said she’d known Lisa for about eight or nine years, and she never imagined they’d become such good friends.

These past 11 days have been incredible! My best friend came to visit, and we’d secretly planned a surprise for our kids – she brought hers along too! It was such a special moment, seeing their faces, and there were definitely a lot of happy tears. It’s honestly been one of the best times I’ve had in ages.

Kate shared photos of her holiday, revealing a glimpse of her family enjoying time together at the beach.

Sharing a picture of them together in the post, Kate wrote: ‘Miss you already’.

The TV star shared a recent photo with a heartfelt message: ‘Enjoying precious moments with loved ones, and wishing our sons could be here.’

You know, I’ve been following Kate’s story, and she recently shared something really relatable. She’s said that while she absolutely loves living in Dubai – she calls it ‘amazing’ – she’s found it tough being away from her older boys. It’s a reminder that even with incredible opportunities, family is always top of mind, and distance can be hard on everyone.

She expressed feeling like things have changed and she’s seeing the world differently. However, she also shared her strong affection for London and the UK, emphasizing how much she appreciates the country.

‘I do feel happy in Dubai, but I’m just missing a part of me.’

Kate also mentioned that stepping down from his job as a sports commentator for TNT Sports last year has allowed Rio to spend more quality time with his family.

She described it as a wonderful place to live, especially for kids. She said her children are doing really well, are happy, and enjoy having lots of outdoor freedom.

Rio is really loving it here, and I’m having a good time too, but I’m also feeling homesick and a bit down. I especially miss my sons and it’s been hard being away from them.

I’m confident this is the best move for my younger kids, and we’re happy with where we’ve settled as a family. My older sons are pursuing their football dreams, and that’s where their priorities lie. If they weren’t focused on their careers, they’d be here with us.

It’s really difficult, because we’re a close family who have always relied on each other, and this change is a big one to get used to.

Kate mentioned she and her family feel much safer living in Dubai compared to the UK, but surprisingly, she’s even started to miss the weather back in England.

She added: ‘If I could merge the two worlds together it would be absolutely perfect.

I’m feeling nostalgic for simple things – being around others, even just the feeling of rain and cool air. I also really miss experiencing the unique culture and diverse people of England.

I also appreciate that Dubai exposes my children to a wide variety of cultures as they grow up.

Kate explained that the move has been positive for Rio. He’s been traveling more recently, but now enjoys a better work-life balance. When he’s home, he’s fully present with the family, which wasn’t always the case before.

We mostly just go for walks now. We used to spend a lot of time together, but I didn’t realize how independent we each were, since our schedules were always so full.

He often takes the kids to and from school, which is really sweet. He’s also said he’s not upset about things, just getting used to a new situation.

2026-02-05 14:22

Missing her stepsons

Familiarity

Readjusting after visiting home

Needing time to ‘calm her nervous system’

Missing friends

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