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Emily Simpson nearly left her role on The Real Housewives of Orange County amid the series’ 19th season.
After being seen opening up about the “mom guilt” she experienced on the show, which was filmed as her son Luke faced a health crisis, Emily, 49, spoke to Tamra Judge, 58, about a conversation she had with her husband, Shane Simpson, 50, as she applauded her castmates, including Gina Kirschenheiter, 41, and Heather Dubrow, 56, for the support they offered her amid her family challenges.
“I remember having an off-camera conversation with you, and you were like, ‘Should I quit? Like I’m thinking maybe I should quit,’” Tamra recalled on the October 30 episode of the RHOC: After Show. “I said, ‘Maybe you need to learn how to deal with this situation and learn more about what’s going on with him before you make a decision like that.’”
While Emily was weighed down by Luke’s struggles, Shane ultimately convinced her that leaving RHOC wouldn’t fix his problems.
“He said, ‘You know, Emily, you know if you quit you’re basically just giving in to his wants and needs and he’s not learning how to cope,’” Emily shared. “‘He has to learn how to cope because lots of moms work, and have to leave, and have to go to an office, or have to go to a job. And so you just quitting and being home with him all the time is not going to help him. He’s not learning how to cope. And that’s not helpful.’”
During the cast’s trip to Amsterdam, Emily got a call from a frustrated Shane, who was weighed down not only by Luke’s hardships but also by the other responsibilities he was forced to take on amid his wife’s absence.
“Shane’s never lost it, when it comes to the kids. So, for him to just f*cking lose it, and I’m here, I feel like such a sh*tty mom. I’m not even at home, I’m here,” Emily admitted to Gina at the time, via Bravo’s The Daily Dish.
Meanwhile, Gina immediately offered encouragement to her co-star.
“You have to take care of yourself, too, Emily. And so does Shane, and you cannot let it break you guys,” she stated.
During another moment of the show, Emily described her journey with son Luke as “long.”
“I think what’s so hard … It’s not like he can just go to therapy and then he’s better. It just makes me feel like I can’t ever go anywhere,” she said in a confessional.
Meanwhile, back on the RHOC: After Show, Emily expressed gratitude to her castmates.
“It’s about someone saying, ‘I see you. You’re a good mom,’” she explained. “There were so many times when like Gina or Heather or Tamra would just say, ‘You’re doing the best you can. You’re a good mom.’ And that’s really what I needed to hear. It wasn’t about advice or logistically telling me what I should do, it was just saying, ‘You’re a good mom.’”
The three-part Real Housewives of Orange County season 19 reunion begins Thursday, November 6, at 8/7c on Bravo.
