Teresa and Joe Giudice, stars of "Real Housewives of New Jersey," have been sentenced to jail time.
Teresa was sentenced to 15 months in prison, starting in January 2015, and Joe Guidice was sentenced to 41 months in prison. Joe's term will begin immediately when Teresa's ends so that one parent can be home with the kids.
Teresa Giudice is Going to Jail and Why I Have Mixed Feelings
I've been watching the 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' train wreck for a while now. However, Joe and Teresa were never my favorites on the show. I always found them a little smarmy and out of touch for my tastes. Not to mention, Teresa isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, which is why I happen to think that she probably was oblivious to Joe's financial dealings. I think Teresa lives in a world of rainbows and unicorns and Joe provided money and there was no reason for her to question it. I think it was their life-he provided (from her viewpoint) and she spent. Period.
I think about how easily this could happen to many couples-maybe not to this extent, but it could happen. I think about how my husband and I both have certain responsibilities in our relationship, the same way that many couples fall into this division of responsibilities naturally. One of my husband's responsibilities happens to be the taxes. And, each year, he gets them completed and brings them to me and I sign them without a second glance or a second thought. I don't review the taxes or other financial documents that my husband asks me to sign. I just sign them because that's his responsibility. And, there's no reason for me to question it or not trust what he says. He is, after all, my husband.
And I can see the exact same thing happening to Teresa.
But What About Teresa Giudice and Her Kids?
Today, I felt sorry for this family when I heard about the jail time.
Look, I understand that they did some really bad things. I understand that you can't commit fraud and break laws and live it up on a TV show like you have not a care in the world. I get all of that. But, at the end of the day, I can't stop thinking about those four girls. Those girls who are about to have their lives changed forever. Those girls who have to now learn how to cope with parents in prison. THOSE GIRLS. It just keeps going through my mind over and over and my heart is breaking for them.
My heart is breaking for little girls who probably think their daddy is the greatest man in the world, like many little girls do, and will now have that shattered. My heart is breaking for little girls who will be forced to grow up way, way too soon. My heart is breaking for four girls whose heart is breaking.
So, while everyone else seems to be feeling vindicated and happy that Joe and Teresa Giudice are going to jail, I just feel super sad. I feel sad that the real people who are going to pay for those mistakes are those little girls. And it will change their lives forever. How can anyone feel happy about that?
This post originally appeared on Prime Parents Club.com. Pick up Jacqueline's book 50 Shades of Frayed: What Happens When 'I Do' Becomes 'Not Tonight.'