Real Housewives’ Ramona Singer loves success, being a mom

From last night’s tense installment of the ‘Real Housewives of New York’ you might think Ramona Singer has life on a plate. And she does – but it wasn’t always like that.

The 54-year old was born in the Hamptons and now has a comfortable life with her jewelry designer husband, Mario and 16-year old daughter Avery. But memories of a stormy upbringing still haunt her;

“I’m a self-made woman,” she tells us. “I was a victim of abuse. I saw my mother get the crap beaten out of her – I’d have to call the police. My father had a drinking problem, and I was on my own from 16.”

And Ramona credits her mother for the way she is now:

“My mother said ‘Don’t end up like me. I don’t have a college education, I have four kids. Please don’t make the same mistake. Have a career, and make sure you’re always making your own money, because that will give you strength – and they’ll respect you more.’”

And that’s how Ramona got into fashion; She graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology and got a job as a buyer for Macy’s, then segued into wholesaling Calvin Klein. She now owns ‘RMS Fashions,’ which buys old stock from manufacturers and re-sells it to discounters.

“I’ve always loved business, and I’ve always loved fashion. I started in clothing, and went on to jewelry and skincare,” she says, adding sagely; “Do what you love!”

And the same level-headed attitude helped with her marriage

“The number one thing in any relationship is trust, and I knew I could trust him completely,” she says of Mario. “He’s handsome now, but he was drop-dead gorgeous and women would swarm all over him, but I knew I could trust him. We had great communication. We thought alike and we got along. I enjoy his company and he respects me as a businesswoman.”

Ramona says her mother’s advice has guided her from that day to this, and she believed one way women can avoid abuse is to be part of the workforce.

“I think it makes a healthier marriage when a woman has a career,” she opines. “In many businesses you can be a stay-at-home mom, but work from the home. Many businesses can be done via Internet and the telephone.”

But her career is never allowed to get in the way of being a mom;

“When you have a child, that’s one of the reasons I ran my own business – so I had a choice: I could go in at noon or leave at 3. To have that flexibility – I’d take every Friday or Monday off and work at home with her. You have to do what’s right for you, but it’s good when you have your own career because it gives you a sense of self-worth.”

And Ramona says she’s determined that Avery should live the same way;’

“I’m giving my daughter the same inspiration my mother gave me,” she assures the scribes. “I want my daughter to be a self-made woman and follow her passion.”

If you saw last night’s show, what’s your take on this?…

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