Mario Falcone has opened up about battling loneliness as he adjusted to being a stay-at-home dad.
The 32-year-old former The Only Way Is Essex star was over the moon to welcome his son Parker, two, with fiancée Becky Miesner in 2018 - but it wasn't always easy.
Mario's partner eventually went back to work as a make-up artist, which meant that the television star was tasked with looking after their son alone.
While Mario maintains that it was "amazing" to be able to stay at home with Parker, he also revealed that he faced loneliness at times.
"As a man, you might not admit you're lonely. No one likes to show signs of struggle, especially as a parent,” he told The Sun.
"There are so many judgmental parents out there and a lot of parent police on Instagram - it's like you're in competition with everybody.
The dad of one added: "People are too scared to admit they're finding things hard.
"I want to reiterate it was amazing getting that time with Parker, but it was soul-destroying, "
Mario - whose sister Giovanna Fletcher recently won I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! - also explained that he didn't want to moan to his partner when she returned home from work.
What's more, while Becky was able to meet friends who also had children - Mario suggested that it usually wasn't the case for dads to meet up with their children.
He continued: "I was at home all day on my own with no one else around and there were no other dads to do things with.
"It was the most soul-destroying, lonely thing ever."
Mario shot to fame when he appeared in the Essex-based reality show in 2011. He also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2013.
While Mario admitted to feeling loneliness in the past, the proud dad has also been sharing lots of adorable moments with Parker on social media as the cute family gear up for Christmas.
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