Emily returned to Real Date Update this week to address the criticism she got for jetting off to Prague with Chad and then flying to Colorado to see her high school sweetheart, Brent aka “White Lightning." She said she heard the negative feedback, read every comment, took a hard look at her choices, and decided the criticism was fair—but ultimately untrue.
Emily explained that after being betrayed in her previous relationship, she’s dating with intention now: gathering data, spotting red flags early, and actively looking for green ones. Chad was sweet but not communicative, while Brent—who still gives her butterflies—has done the work on himself and is showing up in ways he never did when they were younger. The only challenge is distance: she’s in Massachusetts, he’s in Colorado. Hard, but not impossible.
At the end of the day, Emily told us there’s only one group whose opinion she truly cares about: her young adult kids. They know everything that’s going on, and instead of judging her, they’re proud of her growth, her honesty, and her willingness to move forward with clarity and confidence. Sometimes the real glow-up isn’t the relationship—it’s the self-reflection that happens along the way. We're proud of you, girl!