GORDON, GEORGIA: In a preview of the upcoming episode of 'Mama June: Family Crisis,' the WE TV reality show, Alana Thompson known as “Honey Boo Boo” gets emotional as she hugs her mother Mama June Shannon for the first time in years.
The clip as shared by ET Online shows Mama June, 43, and three of her daughters — Lauryn “Pumpkin” Efird, 23, Alana, 17, and Jessica Shannon, 25 — participating in a family therapy session with Dr Ish in the kitchen. Lauryn tells her mother that she wants to fix their relationship, but she also has to prioritize her own family now.
'Yes, this is a priority for me to fix'
She has four children under age five and has taken full custody of Alana since April 2022. "Yes, this is a priority for me to fix. But at the end of the day my first priority is my family," Lauryn continues. "That’s what I’ve built. That’s what I’m doing." Dr Ish explains to Mama June that she needs to make her children feel that they are the most important people in her life. He says that Mama June didn't get that from her own mother who always put her men before her children.
"Every child she has needs to feel like they're the most important person in their life. And what you're seeing right now is what happens when they don't feel that way." When Mama June replies that she hopes the daughters understand how much they mean to her, the therapist cuts her off and provides a candid assessment. "They can't know if you don't give them that. You don't know because your mama didn't give it to you," he says. "So, how could they possibly know if you're not giving it to them?"
'It was better because she didn't say it over a text message'
He then asks Alana to go over and grasp her mother's hands. “I'm glad that we was able to hang out today,” Mama June tells Alana. “And I hope that we can do it really soon and I love you.” “I love you, too," Alana replies as Lauryn says, “See, it wasn't that hard.” “It was better because she didn't say it over a text message,” Alana adds.
Dr Ish then asks Alana how much it would mean to her if Mama June had been there for her on the first day of school or for her prom. Alana breaks down in tears and says, “I just feel like my mom should be there on graduation and I feel like she should be there for my prom … just the little senior activities that I have.” “Everybody in school is like, ‘My mom, my mom, my mom,’ and I always have to say, ‘My sister.’ And I don’t want to have to say that,” she continues. Dr Ish tells Mama June to comfort her daughter and they share a heartfelt hug.
'This is the first time Mama’s actually really gave me a hug in probably about five or six years'
“This is the first time Mama’s actually really gave me a hug in probably about five or six years,” Alana confesses in a confessional. “And it feels good to get an actual loving hug from your mama. It really did feel nice, I'm not gonna lie,” she says. Mama June: Family Crisis is the sixth season of the Honey Boo Boo spinoff series. It premiered on May 5 and follows the family's struggles with Mama June's legal issues, health problems and upcoming wedding with Justin .
