Emily Simpson’s son Luke is going through a difficult time after a recent medical diagnosis, and The Real Housewives of Orange County cast member is getting more candid than ever about navigating motherhood amid his health concerns.
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Emily first shared her 10-year-old son Luke’s diagnosis of ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) on the Season 19 premiere, and during Episode 5, she revealed that she was having second thoughts about leaving Luke at home to go on the New Orleans cast trip.
“I’m excited to go to New Orleans, but everything going on with Luke’s just compounded into a lot,” she said in her confessional. “He’s so co-dependent on me, I feel like I’m betraying him if I go do something with friends.”
“As a mom, we constantly have that guilt,” she added during the August 7 episode. “Because when we’re parenting, we feel like we’re missing a piece of ourself. But when we’re with friends and being ourself, we’re missing our children. And it’s so hard to navigate that.”
RELATED: Emily Simpson addresses rumors she’s divorcing Shane Simpson: “We’ve Had Challenging Things”
During a July 17 visit to Bravo HQ, Emily shared more about balancing filming RHOC with supporting Luke at home. “We were navigating Luke where it was seeping into other things, like just trying to go on a trip,” she said in the video above. “The separation anxiety was so severe I didn’t even know if I could get there. And then, you know, just being out and about, and being filmed with the other women, and Luke was calling me and texting me constantly.”
“It was just very, very overwhelming for me,” she added. “I tried to be the best mom that I could while also having my own identity and filming a show. I thought about possibly having to step away from that, and Shane and I had a conversation about it. Ultimately we decided that that’s not really helping him cope by me just not being myself and doing the things that I love to do.”
Emily Simpson admits difficulties with Shane Simpson amid son Luke’s health problems
Emily and Shane talked about Luke’s health issues in the August 7 episode, as they worked to get more official diagnoses while in front of the cameras.
“He’s clearly on the [autism] spectrum. We don’t know where,” Emily said, as Shane pointed out they would know more in “the next week or two.”
“I’m excited about that because I feel like I don’t know what I’m doing. And I feel like I’m failing him,” Emily replied.
But Shane tried to reassure his wife. “Well, we are in a way, but we’re trying to figure out together all that is needed for him. Every day we’re going to have to be on top of it,” he answered.
The tension between Emily and Shane was first shown in Episode 2, as the couple discussed Luke.
“Shane is a good man, and a good dad,” Emily told producers. “But I have a son that’s in crisis, and it’s like we’re not even on the same page. And I just…feel alone in that.”
Emily admitted during the Bravo HQ interview above that there was “a lot of friction” between her and Shane during Season 19 filming.
“Shane parents in a very, ‘Everything will be fine’ kind of way,” she added. “And I parent in a ‘It’s the end of the world, what are we going to do?’ And so he tells me that he does that because he’s trying to bridge the gap and bring me down a little. Where I find it frustrating [is] because I feel like he’s not taking things as seriously as he should.”
RELATED: Emily Simpson Opens Up About Clashes With Shane Amid Son’s Diagnosis: “Frustrating”
Emily Simpson gives an update on how son Luke is doing today
Emily updated viewers during her Bravo HQ session that her son is doing “much better today” for several reasons.
“I’m not filming, so he doesn’t have that stress on him where he doesn’t know my schedule. And that’s one of the things I realize is hard for him,” she explained.
She added that her and Shane attending therapy has also helped their son.
“We’ve learned how to parent him better. We’ve implemented different things. I’ve changed my parenting style. Shane’s changed his,” she shared.
Emily Simpson opens up about sharing son Luke’s ARFID journey on RHOC
On the RHOC Season 19 premiere, Emily opened up to Gina Kirschenheiter about Luke’s health and also shared that her son might have autism. During her recent visit to Bravo HQ, Emily explained why she decided to share his story on camera.
“It was just a very natural, organic thing for me to talk to [Gina] about,” Emily said in the video above. “So, I think maybe that’s why the conversation resonated with people. Or just because it was just a friend opening up to her best friend about a child.”
“I honestly had a lot of anxiety about sharing his story, because I want to protect him,” she added. “But I shared it because I know the Bravo fans, and they have come through so hard. You would not believe the amount of DMs, messages, that I have gotten.”
She emphasized how much she’s appreciated support from viewers.
“I’ve learned more about Luke from all the moms out there than the therapy, the doctors,” she said. “So, I just want to thank you all for doing that. Keep them coming, because I read them, and it helps so much.”
Through any struggles, don’t miss Emily revealing why she’d “never leave” her husband Shane.
