People Mag Exclusive: Bethenny Frankel

As a first-time mom, Bethenny Frankel is happily focused on pampering her new baby, 8-week-old Bryn. But the reality TV star says her own childhood was far less loving.

"I never had a true childhood," Frankel, 39 – the only child of legendary horse trainer Bobby Frankel and his first wife, Bernadette – tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story. "There was a lot of destruction: alcohol abuse, eating disorders and violent fights."

The Real Housewives star – whose new Bravo reality series, Bethenny Getting Married? chronicles her whirlwind romance with businessman Jason Hoppy and the birth of Bryn – says she has long been estranged from her mom, whom she describes as "extremely volatile. She was never a mother to me."

Now, Frankel says she is grateful for the chance to create a stable home with Hoppy and their daughter: "I live for this baby."

Re: People Mag Exclusive: Bethenny Frankel

Awwwww....she looks great here. And they baby is sweetness
Glad she found happiness.

Message edited 7/7/2010 8:33:59 AM.

Re: People Mag Exclusive: Bethenny Frankel

I'm glad that, in addition to her child and husband, she is going to therapy to work on herself too, since neither of them can truly "fix" her. I don't think that's a great message... It sounds like... Bad childhood? Have a baby, it will cure you.