With all the drama going on with the Real Housewives of Orange County, both on and off the show, Gretchen Rossi took to her Bravo blog to clear the air on a certain issue.
The issue being the drama that ensued during the last episode when Gretchen invited Lynne Curtin’s daughter Alexa on a shopping trip in an attempt to talk to her about her personal issues. Gretchen suspected Alexa might be depressed based on some of her comments and actions. This seemed to backfire as Alexa was taken back and did not feel comfortable opening up to Gretchen. Lynne also appeared to be upset as she did not feel Gretchen should get involved with her daughter’s personal issues. Considering how her other daughter, Raquel Curtin turned out, Lynne should perhaps be more open to others wanting to help her family, but that’s another story for a different day.
I blogged last week that I wasn’t sure whether or not Gretchen was sincere in her attempt to help Alexa. I suspected it might have been self serving. Well it turns out she might have actually had a legit reason for reaching out to Alexa, as it turns out Gretchen holds a degree in Psychology with a minor in Family Studies and Child Development to boot. Shocking right? More from Gretchen’s blog below –
“Next we see me reaching out to Alexa. Wow, how interesting to see this played out. First of all it barely shows what was truly discussed in that moment with Alexa and how much she opened up to me. What I do know is that I had heard her say on three different occasions that she was depressed and felt like she wanted to talk to someone. It was weighing on my heart and I decided to do something about it. Not because I think I am all knowing, but rather to be a responsible adult. I ALSO have a degree in Psychology and a minor in Family Studies and Child Development. I was trained through my schooling to be very aware of signs such as the ones Alexa was portraying and to not sit back and wait for the worst to happen but rather to be proactive and offer to listen.
I do believe I went about it the right way by first calling and ASKING Lynne if it was OK, and then letting her know that I was going to see if Alexa would open up a little more to me because I wasn’t her parent. I had told Lynne a couple of times I was worried about Alexa, but Lynne seemed to blow it off and I just figured she was the parent that didn’t want to see anything wrong. I had noticed her girls acting out by drinking and other sorts of behavior. I never once spoke an ill word to Alexa about Lynne or Frank and their ability as parents, even though I have my opinions about the way they choose to discipline their girls, and please do not be mistaken that I think I know how to raise a child because I do not have any of my own yet. I do however see many mentors out there able to change and help others simply by listening and caring, for example Oprah. I am not comparing myself to Oprah in any way, but I am saying that she does not have any children, but is constantly able to help children in need, young girls, teenagers, etc. by taking notice to their pain, hurt or signs of need. I don’t think you have the ability to be a good parent just because you pushed out a kid. I think it takes dedication, work, heartache, compassion and discipline in order to discipline your own kids. I only hope to be a good parent one day and I sincerely hope that if I have a child that is hurting or struggling that my dearest and closest friends might be able to point out or take notice when I am blind to it.
It was interesting to hear what Alexa had to say to her mom about me. Alexa specifically said to me at the store that “It’s hard cause sometimes I feel like there is no one there to talk to me,” but yet says something completely opposite to her mom and plays it off to Lynne that I was out of line? It was like they were in their own little world, and talking about stuff that never even happened. They said I was trying to talk to Alexa to take the pressure off of myself and make it about her … HUH?? What the heck are they talking about? I actually went out of my way to say I have been in Alexa’s position before and I made some poor choices because of it and I was trying to avoid the same happening to her. For Alexa to say one thing to me and then say another to her mom about the interaction was very hurtful, but at the same time I can imagine that a child won’t tell their parent how they really feel. I know that Lynne knew where my heart was with Alexa because Lynne and I talked in detail about it. I also don’t know who Alexa and Lynne think they are kidding, but when they say “they talk all the time” in the gym we know that is bull honky because two episodes earlier Alexa is complaining about their communication together and then tells a therapist that she can’t talk to her mom at all anymore! Seriously, who are they kidding? I am not sure why Lynne would say she’s not sure if she can trust me now, when I came to her first before I went to talk to Alexa. She and I have not seen eye-to-eye this season and you will probably see more of that to come in future episodes. I will always have a soft spot for Lynne, but this was a very disappointing rift in our friendship.”
TELL US – WHAT DID YOU THINK OF GRETCHEN REACHING OUT TO ALEXIS? SHOULD SHE HAVE?
