Teresa Giudice has spent the past few months in jail. She and hubby Joe Giudice–both of The Real Housewives of New Jersey fame–were sentenced to jail for bank, mail, wire and bankruptcy fraud, yet claim they want what’s best for their four daughters. When Teresa comes home from jail in December, Joe will begin serving his term.

In a recent interview, Joe said Teresa Giudice has been instrumental in parenting their daughters from behind bars. Who are these people kidding? She’s in jail and all four of their daughters know that. How can they possibly think a few phone calls and emails equal parenting?

On a special episode of RHONJ Sunday night, called The Real Housewives of New Jersey: Teresa Checks In, Teresa Giudice helped plan her daughter Gia’s eighth grade formal dance from jail. With the help of her cousin Teresa, she sent emails to ensure specific details were in place for the celebration–right down to the right table cloths.

Gia Giudice talks her parents' prison stints: "Anything can happen to any family." http://t.co/rlA5NfnC0F pic.twitter.com/dMBDgB026q

— Us Weekly (@usweekly) October 8, 2015

News flash. Teresa Giudice needs to know that eighth grade girls don’t give a flying fig about table cloths. They need their dress, their hair, and their makeup to be perfect for the special occasion–and they need their moms there for that extra boost of confidence.

If Teresa Giudice had been a bit less concerned about the right table cloths, then perhaps she wouldn’t have gone along with Joe’s fraudulent behavior for the sake of living lives of luxury. Then maybe she would have been around in June for Gia Giudice’s formal dance, instead of worrying about inane details from behind bars.

Teresa Giudice can go on allowing herself to believe she is parenting from behind bars all she wants. However when she gets out and Joe heads to jail, she’ll fast learn who’s doing the parenting.

‘Teresa Checks In’: Gia Giudice breaks down while talking to her mom in prison — watch: http://t.co/MIHWenBoCo pic.twitter.com/KIWl7t9XYe

— HollywoodLife (@HollywoodLife) October 8, 2015

What kind of head games have these parents played with their daughters? Will Joe and Teresa Giudice one day pay a bigger price for the heartache and upheaval they’ve caused Gia, Milania, Gabriella, and Audriana?