Seeing your first child off to college is never easy, but that’s precisely what Melissa Gorga must do on The Real Housewives of New Jersey.
In a new preview for the Season 14 premiere, airing Sunday, May 5, 2024, at 8/7c on Bravo, Melissa showed off her stunning Franklin Lakes home, lamenting that while she and Joe Gorga aren’t empty nesters quite yet, they’re well on their way now that their oldest, Antonia Gorga, 18, is off to college.
Where is Antonia Gorga going to college?
“Antonia is about to leave the house and go to the University of Delaware,” the Envy boutique owner told producers. “But I don’t know that my kids are ready to live without me.”
Is Melissa Gorga happy Antonia Gorga is at college?
Melissa is, naturally, apprehensive about her daughter leaving home, but is mostly excited for her to spread her wings.
Antonia, who joked in the season premiere that she was “taking everything” from home and to the university, had yet to pack her things at the time of filming. Melissa tried to show her oldest daughter the best way to pack, but it seemed Antonia didn’t need much help, illustrating the very independence Melissa hoped for her eldest.
“I mean, I am very hands-on,” Melissa continued to producers. “This child is going to go through it, and that’s why I’m very excited for her to go because she needs this.”
Antonia started her freshman year in 2023, and a couple of months later, Melissa shared an update about her daughter at BravoCon Las Vegas.
“She’s thriving. She’s doing amazing. She loves college,” Melissa said at the “In a Jersey State of Mind” panel. “Thank God Antonia has a great head on her shoulders. She’s a good kid, and she’s doing really, really well.”
The Mama Bear regularly posts updates about Antonia on social media, including her joining a sorority, school breaks, and “Saturdays at U.D.”
The RHONJ Season 14 official press release noted, “Melissa’s world is completely changing as she and Joe send daughter Antonia off to college,” as evidenced in the recent preview.
Melissa and Joe’s two teen sons, Gino and Joey Jr., still have a few years before having to give college much thought.
Teresa Giudice sends daughters to college
Melissa’s sister-in-law, Teresa Giudice, also sees her second of four daughters, Gabriella Giudice, 19, off to college, as featured in the season premiere preview. Teresa was all squeals when she found Gabriella sealing moving boxes before heading for the University of Michigan.
Teresa admitted that just weeks earlier, she “kept crying” in the car at the thought of Gabriella leaving. She confessed she wasn’t as emotional when her eldest, Gia Giudice, 23, attended Rutgers University because Gia was only 45 minutes away, whereas U.M. is a whopping 600 or so miles away from home.
“That was her number one school that she wanted to go to,” Teresa told producers of Gabriella’s acceptance.
But Teresa cited Gabriella as the best at keeping in touch among her other daughters, Gia, Milania, and Audriana.
“When I went away, I said to all my kids, ‘E-mail me every day,’” Teresa continued. “Gabriella was the only one. She e-mailed me every single day. That holds a special place in my heart.”
Theresa and her sister-in-law might be at odds, but according to the Season 14 press release, she, too, will have to adjust to having (another) child leave to further her education.
“Teresa is happily in her love bubble with her husband, Louie, and she continues to preserve her peace by cutting off her relationship with her brother, Joe, and sister-in-law, Melissa, and former friend, Margaret,” the statement read. “However, as she navigates her new family life with Louie, her emotions are at an all-time high as her daughter, Gabriella, prepares to go to college.”
