Bethenny Frankel gets real about parenting teenage daughter Bryn

Bethenny Frankel got real about her biggest challenge when it comes to raising her teenage daughter, Bryn.

“We’re right between childhood and adulthood where they think they know everything, but it’s your job to protect them from the world and from themselves,” said the Real Housewives of New York City alum, 52, excluding shares in the new issue of Us weekly. “I love parenting!”

Frankel welcomed her only daughter, 13, with ex Jason Hoppie in May 2010. The couple – who married in 2010 – separated two years after welcoming their baby daughter. The exes spent years in a tumultuous custody battle over Bryn. In 2020, the entrepreneur gained full custody of the teen and finalized her lengthy divorce in 2021. Frankel transitioned from pharmaceutical sales manager that same year, 52, with her now fiancé Paul Bernon.

Over the years, the mother-daughter duo has made the most of their time together. Recently, the pair had a great time watching Taylor Swift in mutual consultation. Frankel and Bryn enjoyed their girls’ night out seeing the 33-year-old “Lavender Haze” singer perform in Philadelphia and even had tickets to see Swift back in Boston. However, after seeing Swift take the stage once, the duo decided to give up their tickets to another mother-daughter duo in need so they could attend the concert instead. While the former reality star and her teen loved watching Swift perform, they don’t limit their quality time to rare special occasions.

“We love rituals and creating memories at every holiday and every season,” says de Business is personal author explains Us. “From picking vegetables to surfing to wakeboarding and snowboarding, we do a lot together.”

As Bryn grows older, Frankel marvels at watching her little one grow and find her passions. While the teen tells her mom that “layoff” is her favorite topic, the Skinnygirl founder knows her daughter is also interested in “science, art, and sports,” noting that Bryn plays lacrosse and even scores “three goals in one game.” scored.

“Bryn is creative and free. I don’t want her to be like me,” she says Us. ‘I do not like her [worrying] about a specific goal.”

As Bryn grows up and finds her own identity, she looks to her mother for inspiration and has even watched some of Frankel’s various TV projects, including the Real housewives franchise. Frankel was one of the original cast members of RHONY on its debut in 2008, but took a hiatus from the series after three seasons. She returned to the Bravo show in 2015 for Season 7, but left the series for good in August 2021.

“[Bryn has] watched some housewives,” Frankel revealed Us. “I think she finds it entertaining but really hates it for me.”