Denise Welch was left sobbing on live TV after her youngest son left home just hours before she went on air.
The former Coronation Street star, 62, admitted she was "embarrassed" about her tears as Louis, 19, who she shares with her ex husband Tim Healy, left the family home to move in with a friend.
Appearing on ITV's Loose Women on Tuesday, Denise said it was the "end of an area" and she feels like it was "two minutes ago" that he was small.
She said: "Louis is leaving home today, it's so ridiculous. It's like don't be stupid, this is the best thing that can happen."
"Oh my God, this so embarrassing, sorry, this is so cringe," she said as she wiped her eyes.
Denise revealed that Louis and a pal have a flat together in London as she will see him all the time as she is in the city for work several times a week.
But she said she became emotional this morning when she saw all of his stuff by the door as he prepared to leave.
"It's the fact that it's the end of the era," she said.
"It seems like two minutes ago that he was clinging on to my leg and I used to pretend he was a little koala bear in nursery school."
But she thinks Louis would be embarrassed about her tears.
Denise said: "He would go 'Oh my God mum, that's tragic' if he saw me but it's just because it's the end of an era."
The TV star also shares The 1975 singer Matt Healy, 31, with her ex Tim.
She married her third husband Lincoln Townley in 2013.
