Bachelorette Gabby Windey's Quotes About Her Estranged Mother

Opening up. Throughout her journey to find love, season 19 Bachelorette star Gabby Windey spoke candidly about the relationship she has with her estranged mom, Rosemary Hewitt.

“My family may be atypical one and we may look different from others, but I am so grateful for how perfectly to me we are stitched together and wouldn’t have it any other way,” Gabby shared on Instagram in February 2022, following her hometown date during ’s season of The Bachelor. “They dropped everything to make this night so incredibly special.”

Both Gabby’s grandpa and dad were present amid her hometown date during The Bachelor season 26, when she was vying for Clayton’s heart.

“I will never recover from my dad showing up for me like he did. He is the most important person in my life and has never missed an important event, dance lesson, performance, etc. and hometowns were no different,” the former Denver Broncos cheerleader continued on social media. “I want to share every big event with him, so when I realized that it was him honking outside, my heart (and eyes) swelled to a gravity-shifting size. All of this emotion was multiplied by feelings of new love — which you know is rare and exciting in itself.”

During the same episode, Gabby revealed to Clayton — and viewers — that she didn’t have much of a relationship with her mom. Rosemary was not present during the hometown date.

“As kids, she was really physically affectionate, and then she would flip and kind of withhold your love,” she shared. “She would make you think that because of what you’re doing, she would withhold her attention very clearly. … We don’t really have a relationship now.”

Following Clayton’s season, Gabby was chosen as the Bachelorette alongside Rachel Recchia. As the girls were on their own journeys for love, Gabby was candid with the men about her family life. She’s since opened up about the ongoing support from her family — including Grandpa John, who has made a name for himself in Bachelor Nation.

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“My grandpa is so supportive and honestly such a rock that I don’t think he would ever truly give real advice — just, ‘Follow your heart and be happy. If you’re happy, I trust you and I’m gonna be happy for you,’” Gabby told Bustle in July 2022. “But knowing that he has my back no matter what is the best feeling from a family member.”

Scroll through the gallery to read Gabby’s most candid quotes about her mom.

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Sharing Her Story

“I’m reserved to share that with people because I’ve been hurt so many times by a parent. … My mom, we’re estranged. I don’t have a relationship with her,” she admitted during a separate one-on-one with Erich Schwer. In a confessional, she explained, “A big part of me worries and is really scared that people aren’t going to be able to resonate with me and when we sat down initially and talked, I was really so scared.”

Wondering If She’s Broken

“I can’t explain what it’s like to have a mom that doesn’t love you. … Am I too broken for anyone to love?” the Bachelorette said during her confessional. “I’m terrified. What if Erich decides I’m not for him? I’m overwhelmed. What if I can’t do it? People want to see the Rachels because she’s easier. I’m too complicated. I’m messy.”

Gabby added, “I feel like I’m incredibly different than other women who’ve walked in my shoes. I don’t always want to explain my situation to people. It’s really, really hard.”