Kate Ferdinand reveals she ‘butts heads’ with step-daughter Tia, 14, and says she ‘so scared to get it wrong’ with her blended family

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Kate Ferdinand has admitted she sometimes clashes with her step-daughter, Tia, and feels anxious about making mistakes as she navigates life with her blended family.

Kate Ferdinand, 34, is the stepmother to her husband Rio Ferdinand’s three children: Lorenz, 19, Tate, 17, and Tia, 14. Sadly, their mother, Rebecca Ellison, passed away from breast cancer in 2009 when she was just 34 years old.

Kate and Rio also share two children, five-year-old Cree and two-year-old Shae.  

The reality star is very close to her stepchildren, but she’s been open about the challenges that sometimes arise in those relationships.

I was listening to Kate’s Blended podcast the other day, and she was so honest about her relationship with Tia. She admitted they don’t always see eye-to-eye – she used the phrase ‘butt heads,’ which I think a lot of us can relate to! It was really brave of her to talk about how worried she is about making the right choices as a stepmom and not messing things up.

She shared that it’s sometimes hard to remember she’s the one who needs to stay calm and in control of her feelings, and confessed she can sometimes be very emotional and unpredictable.

As a mom myself, I totally get it – when you have little ones, they naturally demand a lot of your attention, and it’s so important to consciously carve out dedicated time for your older children too. It’s all about finding that balance and making sure everyone feels seen and loved.

It’s normal for children to go through difficult periods. It’s perfectly okay if you and your child clash for a week or two, and have some disagreements.

She explained that, similar to her relationship with Tia, they sometimes go through periods of about three or four days where they clash and can’t figure out why.

It feels like everything is okay for a while, and then it isn’t. It’s similar to how emotions can change, maybe with the monthly cycle, and it’s just a lot to deal with.

Kate shared that managing emotions is an ongoing process, even for adults. She explained that while we might think we have it under control, hormonal changes can make it challenging, and it takes consistent effort to stay emotionally balanced.

Let’s be real, nobody’s perfect, and that includes me! I definitely have moments where I’m on top of my game, feeling totally balanced and thinking, ‘Wow, I’m really nailing this!’ But I’m not going to pretend I’m always that person. Life happens, and sometimes emotions hit, and I’m just figuring it out like everyone else.

I can be quite emotional and unpredictable at times. I think that’s often part of being a woman, but I also admit when I’ve been a little over the top.

She went on, explaining that she was really afraid of making a mistake. She’d worked incredibly hard for years, just like the other person, and didn’t want to jeopardize everything she’d achieved.

‘You just want to… ugh it’s so hard to articulate what I mean.’

As a longtime observer, I’ve noticed something really troubling within the film and TV world. It’s how often stepmothers are depicted as villains – cruel, scheming, always trying to one-up everyone, and frankly, not very pleasant to look at! It’s a harmful trope, and honestly, it makes things even harder for stepmothers in real life. It’s like these portrayals add another layer of difficulty to an already challenging role.

When asked if stepparents sometimes feel it’s easier to distance themselves from stepchildren because they aren’t biologically related, she admitted, ‘That’s a huge worry for me too.’

It’s like, suddenly, in any blended family situation, you realize some people don’t accept the stepmother or have problems with her. Then, unexpectedly, everyone starts seeing her as the person they originally expected, rather than who she truly is.

I worry that if I ever mess up, people will assume it confirms a negative opinion they already had. But Rio reminds me that a single error shouldn’t overshadow all the good things I’ve accomplished.

Kate recently became emotional and shared that she’s been finding it difficult to adjust to living in Dubai, and misses her home and stepchildren in the UK.

The influencer shared that she was having a hard time adjusting after returning, especially since she missed the cozy feeling of Christmas in London and the comforts of home.

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.

In a recent episode of her podcast, Blended, she shared that experiencing life outside the UK has given her a new perspective. While she enjoys living in Dubai and feels content there, she still feels a strong connection to London and the UK, and misses a part of herself when she’s away.

She explained that living abroad has given her a new perspective, but she still has a strong affection for London and the UK. While she enjoys her life in Dubai, she feels like something is missing.

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

She described it as a wonderful place to live, especially for kids. She said her children are doing well, are happy, and enjoy the freedom of growing up with lots of outdoor space.

Rio is having a great time, and I’m enjoying myself too, but I’m really homesick. It’s been tough being away, and I especially miss my children a lot – it’s been upsetting.

While this feels like the right move for my younger kids and our family is happy with the situation, my older sons are pursuing their football dreams. They’re following their passions, and if they weren’t, they’d be here with us. It’s still difficult, though – we’ve always been a close-knit family and being apart is a big change for all of us.

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2026-02-11 15:57