Gia Giudice is the 14-year-old daughter of Real Housewives of New Jersey stars Joe and Teresa Giudice, who were sentenced to jail for bank, mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud. Teresa is presently serving her term. When she is released in December, Joe will go to jail for 48 months.
As a teenager, it has to be especially difficult having a parent in jail. Teen culture is abusive enough with bullying, cliques, and the constant gossip lines afforded by social media. The notion that both parents have been convicted of serious crimes no doubt makes life even harder.
Gia Giudice recently spoke with Entertainment Tonight, sharing some of her feelings on this very trying time in her life.
“Anything can happen to any family, and it could be worse,” Gia Giudice says. “At least no one’s sick–that’s honestly how I think of it. They’re coming home. My mom’s coming home. My dad’s going to come home. Knock on wood, no one’s sick, no one’s dying.”
One has to question if the idea of being in the public eye has made life even harder on Gia Giudice. Her whole family is headed back to TV starting October 11 in a three-part Bravo special called The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Teresa Checks In.
An advance clip for the special shows Gia crying as she speaks to her mom on the phone while preparing to head out to an eighth grade dance.
“My mom doesn’t want me or anyone to get emotional, so I try my best just to keep it all together,” Gia Giudice says in the clip.
Gia’s life is likely an emotional roller coaster. In addition to the typical teen angst most 14-year-old girls experience, she is now dealing with the notion of Teresa Giudice coming home, and at the same time knowing her dad is headed to jail–for an even longer period of time than her mom will have served.
Gia Giudice dreads her dad jail stint: "It's just going to be the same thing all over again." http://t.co/mKvXx7OvUj pic.twitter.com/KNvrKKAHLw
— EntertainmentTonight (@etnow) October 8, 2015
“When my mom comes home, it’s not even something to prepare for. I’m just so happy for that to happen,” Gia says. “It’s going to be good to have it back to normal for a couple months, but then when my dad leaves, it’s just going to be the same thing all over again.”
What must it be like to be Gia Giudice right now? What do you suppose the odds are that this young lady will need some serious counseling in the coming years as a result of Joe and Teresa Giudice’s actions?
Joe and Teresa Giudice have three more daughters in addition to Gia. Gia Giudice is the eldest of sisters Milania, Audriana, and Gabriella.