When the times get tough, families pull together to get through it. Each member of the family can step up to the challenge to support the unit as a whole. That is exactly what Savannah Chrisley is doing for her family, but it doesn't mean that it's always easy.
Savannah opened up about her new role as surrogate mother to her siblings Chloe and Grayson. Her parents, Todd and Julie Chrisley, best known for their reality show Chrisley Knows Best, are currently serving prison sentences for fraud. Savannah admitted to having a breakdown on her podcast, Unlocked With Savannah Chrisley.
"The other night, I had a full-on breakdown. I was trying to find Chloe proper clothes to go and visit my parents and find her hair stuff," she disclosed. "I just sat down on the floor and started crying." At that moment she found herself overwhelmed by the situation.
Savannah found herself in her head and asking hard questions. "I am not my mother. How am I going to do this? I don't feel that I am worthy or capable enough of doing the job she's done for all her life," she admitted.
Thankfully, like most hard times, the moment of insecurity and uncertainty passed. Chloe, biologically her niece but adopted by Savannah’s parents, offered her some reassuring words.
“The next day Chloe said, 'You're doing a pretty good job. You made me ramen noodles last night,'" Savannah said.
Savannah has a plan to not only get herself organized but also make sure they are not eating only ramen. She plans to prep their meals to make things easier on herself.
"From here on out, every Sunday we're going to plan our meals for the week and you guys tell me what you want for dinner. And we'll get the groceries for the week, and you'll know every night what you're going to eat,” she explained.
Savannah admits she was not always as zen about her situation. It took her some time to find peace.
"It's so crazy because I went from a place, sitting in the same chair thinking about how mad I was at God, 'Why would you allow all these things to happen? One thing after another. Where are you?' Now I'm in a place of such peace," she mused.
"I had a conversation with my dad and he said, 'This is going to be the hardest, but most rewarding thing you've ever done.' I'm starting to see that," Savannah said. It seems Chrisley really did know best in this scenario.
Savannah wants her siblings to also find their own "peace and calmness. We need to figure out healthier ways to cope with things and deal with things, even if it's just little things I'm trying to implement." She admits it is hard balancing being a sister with parent responsibilities. "I want to stay in that role of sister," she explained. "But it's hard when you're in the role of parent and discipline."
Julie and Todd Chrisley were convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion in June 2022 but maintain their innocence and are actively working to appeal. Todd was sentenced to 12 years and reported to the Federal Prison Camp in Pensacola, Florida, on January 17, 2023. Julie reported the same day to the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Kentucky, for a seven-year sentence. Both will also serve 16 months of probation upon release.
