Teddi Mellencamp continues to battle stage 4 melanoma cancer with her children and Edwin Arroyave by her side.
In an interview with Us Weekly, Teddi disclosed how she and Edwin are “pumping the brakes for now” on their legal separation as they continue to do what’s best for their kids.
Teddi told the tabloid that her kids are coping “in their own ways.”
Teddi’s kids:
The Mellencamp family is taking this time to connect. The kids “come and ask me questions that I probably wouldn’t have thought to give them. So that’s a big thing.”
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum noted that all her kids have “very different personality types” which has become evident in how they are handling her health issues.
“Slate wants to know every chrome of every detail. She’s like my identical human,” Mellencamp says of her eldest child. “We look the same, we talk the same, we have all the same issues. So she wants every detail.”
Her son, Cruz, is her “worrywart.” Teddi explained that he was concerned about sharing water with her because he thought she was contagious. “I’m like, ‘I’m not contagious. There’s nothing contagious about me. You can have the water.’ He is like, ‘I’m not trusting it. I’m not trusting it.’”
Cruz’s “entire class” wrote her a letter when she was in the hospital. “I go, ‘How did everybody know?’ He goes, ‘Mom, you’re all over the internet,’” she says with a laugh.
Dove, her “sarcastic” youngest child, doesn’t fully understand the scope of the situation. “Last night, I was really tired. I’m like, ‘Dad’s going to put you to bed.’ She’s like, ‘Alright, peace out, Mom. Love you.’”
Isabella, Teddi’s stepdaughter, has been “super strong. But, also shares so much love.” The podcaster added, “We’re trying to focus on her sports and school and not overly focus on me.”
Teddi is “paying for therapy” for all of her kids. “I’m not equipped to fully handle this,” she acknowledged.
Teddi’s managing expectations regarding her cancer battle:
Edwin and Teddi’s kids are dealing with her diagnosis in their own ways. She doesn’t want to get anyone’s hopes up about her recovery. Teddi was known on RHOBH for telling her little ones, “Mommy’s always come back.”
“I have not said that line to them since I’ve been back. But, I think they got so much love while I was in the hospital. Between my dad and all my siblings and my mom and Edwin.”
“They all know that I’m fighting the hardest I possibly can. But I haven’t said, ‘Mommy’s always come back’ because I don’t wanna lie to them. And I don’t know.”
Teddi’s status with Edwin Arroyave:
Edwin’s been a great “support” throughout her cancer battle. “We’re just trying to be each other’s friend right now and be the best parents we can be [for] our kids. I don’t think that either of us are going to rekindle our marriage.”
Teddi confirmed her and Edwin’s divorce is legally on “hold” as they both prioritize her recovery and their children. “He’s been extremely kind and helping with the kids. That’s made things a lot easier.”
Teddi’s living sitch:
For now, Teddi and Edwin are living under the same roof. “I’m in the primary, and he’s in one of the guest rooms. It’s fun. It’s all the things that I loved about our marriage but without all the problems.”
While her marriage was “bad for a while” before their breakup, since she got sick, Edwin “completely changed.” Teddi called this a “silver lining” to her diagnosis.
“He’s been there for me a hundred percent, he’s been there for the kids, and we’re back to laughing. We call it the ‘Divorce Chronicles.’ And I want to talk [to him] about the kind of girls [he’s] going to marry. If these people are going to take care of my kids, this is what I want, and this is the definition of what I don’t want.”
Teddi admitted it is “hilarious” having such a close relationship with her future ex-husband.
