Teresa Giudice: Shooting Real Housewives Was Hard in Wake of Legal Troubles, but Here's What Keeps Her Happy

Plus, the RHONJ star updates E! News on how things are going with sister-in-law Melissa Gorga

By Natalie Finn Jul 11, 2014 8:50 PMTags
Watch: Teresa Giudice on Hardest Season of "Housewives"

Teresa Giudice admits that shooting the latest season of The Real Housewives of New Jersey was not easy.

And daughter Gia being old enough to understand what's been plaguing her parents has been rough for everyone—but the family is hanging in there as Teresa and husband Joe Giudice await sentencing on bank fraud charges.

"Of course shooting this season was difficult," Teresa told E! News yesterday in New York while dishing about the upcoming sixth season of RHONJ, premiering July 13 on Bravo.

"Gia's at that age now—it's a difficult age, she's a teenager, she's 13—I'm going to leave it at that because I know she wouldn't want me talking about her," the mother of four daughters smiled. 

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"And of course teenagers say [things]...but you know, whatever she feels comfortable with," Teresa continued. "If she has any questions to ask of Joe or of myself, she does. She's good at that."

She and Joe, who are both facing prison time, were originally scheduled to be sentenced on July 8, but the hearing date was pushed back till Sept. 23.

"Unfortunately, with the death of my father-in-law, [the sentencing] would have been pushed back regardless," Teresa clarified, noting reports that the delay came as a result of the sudden death of Joe's 63-year-old father, Frank, in June. "It wasn't because of this. I guess everything happens for a reason."

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"I'm just focusing on my family, being with the girls, with Joe and," Teresa paused slightly, "it's all about family."

As for what keeps her going, "Joe is my backbone. I'm his," she said. "My daughters, you know, waking up every morning, seeing their beautiful smiles. They're healthy, that's what makes me happy."

Teresa also talked about how things stand between her and sister-in-law Melissa Gorga, considering the two have audibly tangled in the past. Watch this clip to hear the latest update:

Watch: Are Teresa Giudice and Melissa Gorga on Good Terms?

"Life's a learning lesson," Teresa said. "I feel every day you grow and learn something new. 

"From watching me from season one to now, I feel like I definitely changed, of course for the better," she mused. "I've grown, I've gotten older—you get wiser. It's true, like a fine bottle of wine."

(E! Online and Bravo are both members of the NBCUniversal family.)

—Reporting by Vanessa McDonald