'How had it come to this?' Teresa Giudice recalls heartbreaking moment she said goodbye to daughters... and vowed to leave prison 'a better person'

By Rachel Mcgrath For Dailymail.com

Published: 10:32 EST, 8 February 2016 | Updated: 16:53 EST, 8 February 2016

Teresa Giudice vowed to 'come out of prison a better person' as she prepared to leave her husband Joe and their four daughters to serve time for fraud.

The 43-year-old recalls the moment she 'knew things had to change' in an excerpt from her book Turning Tables: From Housewife To Inmate And Back Again published on People.com Monday.

'Instead of having more time with my babies, I had to leave for prison in the middle of the night while they were sleeping – because of the paparazzi. This is how bad things had gotten,' the Bravo reality star wrote. 'This whole thing was totally out of control. How had it come to this?'

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Changes: Teresa Giudice wrote in her memoir that she vowed to leave prison a better person. She's pictured at an event in New Jersey on January 14

Changes: Teresa Giudice wrote in her memoir that she vowed to leave prison a better person. She's pictured at an event in New Jersey on January 14

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The Real Housewives Of New Jersey cast member was released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, on December 23 after serving almost one year behind bars.

She officially completed her sentence on February 4 when her house arrest ended.

In her memoir that's published tomorrow, she describes how she said goodbye to her family before heading to prison.

'Joe and I went upstairs with the girls. We all lay down on the big bed in my room. All six of us. I told the girls, 'Mommy has to leave.'' she wrote.

Back home: The 43-year-old was released from prison on December 23 and reunited with husband Joe and their daughters Gia, Milania, Gabriella and Audrina. They're pictured in a photo she shared on Instagram

Back home: The 43-year-old was released from prison on December 23 and reunited with husband Joe and their daughters Gia, Milania, Gabriella and Audrina. They're pictured in a photo she shared on Instagram

'Gabriella, who was 10 at the time, got so hysterical, she couldn't even breathe. She usually held her feelings inside, but now she was inconsolable,' Teresa went on. 'I held Gabriella and told her it was going to be okay – even though I knew it might not be. What else could I do?'

Then, she says, five-year-old Audriana started crying and then Milania, who was eight at the time followed by Gia.

'We lay there, a tangled mess of arms and legs, hugging each other and crying,' Teresa recalled.

'This was tearing my heart out, but I didn't let them see that. I couldn't. I had to be strong for them. They were my focus – not me.' 

Teresa said it was then she knew she had to 'try to make things right again in my life.'

Free: The Real Housewives Of New Jersey cast member celebrated the end of her house arrest and daughter Milania's 10th birthday last week

Free: The Real Housewives Of New Jersey cast member celebrated the end of her house arrest and daughter Milania's 10th birthday last week

On Friday, her attorney released a statement confirming the completion of the custodial portion of her sentence. 

'The restitution has been paid in full and what remains is a two-year period of supervised release, the terms of which we will remain in full compliance with, the statement read. 

'Teresa is very much looking forward to closing this dark chapter in her life and moving forward both personally and professionally.'

Did time: Teresa served just under 12 months of her 15-month sentence at the federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut pictured

Did time: Teresa served just under 12 months of her 15-month sentence at the federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut pictured

Tell all: The reality star has written a book about her life behind bars

Tell all: The reality star has written a book about her life behind bars

Teresa owed the Federal Government $414,588 which she paid off with cash, a portion of her Real Housewives pay checks and her 2005 Maserati.

Teresa was meant to serve 15 months for fraud at the Federal Correctional Institution, a minimum-security satellite camp for women in Danbury, Connecticut, starting January 5 2015, but was released just before Christmas. 

Husband Joe is set to start his 41 month jail sentence in March.

Soon to be parted again: Teresa and Giudice were convicted on fraud charges. Now she's completed her sentence, Joe is set to serve 41 months in prison starting in March

Soon to be parted again: Teresa and Giudice were convicted on fraud charges. Now she's completed her sentence, Joe is set to serve 41 months in prison starting in March

 

 

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