It’s been a little under six months sinceJenni “JWoww” Farley‘s 2½-year-old sonGreyson Valorwasdiagnosed with autism— and they’ve both come a long way.
“When it comes to educating myself so I feel less alone, they help me in that aspect,” she tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview. “Every time I’m feeling down or alone, Ihit up KultureCityand I’m like, ‘What can we do to make someone’s life better?’ Because it makes mine better.”
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Farley, 34, quotes her costarMike “The Situation” Sorrentino, who is nowthree years sober afterbattling a prescription painkiller addiction: “If you’re ever having problems, help someone else with their problems.”
Her best friend and fellowJerseyShorestarNicole “Snooki” Polizzihas also been amazing: “She’sone of my biggest supportersand sidekicks,” Farley tells PEOPLE.
Farley had previously admitted thatshe had experienced some lonelinesswhen it came to her son’s well-being before his official diagnosis.
“When Greysonwasn’t hitting his marksin the world of doctors … not that he couldn’t care less, but [Roger] was like, ‘He’s perfect. He’s going to be fine. This is no big deal,’ ” she said inan OctoberTodayinterviewof her estranged husbandRoger Mathews, whom shefiled for divorcefrom in September after almost three years of marriage.
“In that aspect, I felt very alone because I was the only parent,” she continued. “I thought, ‘Am I bad wanting to get him help because Roger’s not concerned, so should I not be concerned?’ ”
Now that Greyson is getting the help he needs, Farley (who also shares daughterMeilani Alexandra, 4½, with Mathews) sayshis progress has been “brilliant.”
“Coming from September when he didn’t even know his name — like, he would not respond to his name once,” she says. “It was a concern of ours because we actually thought it was his hearing, originally.”
Now, “He knows all his ABCs,” she adds of her son, whohas been in early intervention therapyand sees four or five specialists on a weekly basis.
As for how she juggles her family’s needs with her busy schedule? “I really try and work only on the weekends,” Farley says. “We’restartingJersey Shoreagain, and it’s one of those challenges that just, as a mom, I don’t know how [to do it], but you just have to figure out.”
source: people.com
