Imagine being diagnosed with kidney cancer while raising three small children. In 2004, Linda Perillo faced exactly that terrifying reality. Her diagnosis turned her life upside down, but through strength and dignity, she overcame it. Her latest book, Your Payment Method Has Been Declined (and Other Shocking Things About Me), is Linda Grace Perillo’s next adventure — and she can’t wait for everyone to join the ride!
She reveals that not everything was as it appeared. Beneath the surface, she endured a profound, layered grief—mourning the end of her marriage, the deaths of her parents and brother, and a suffocating loss of autonomy. She felt trapped by the constraints of the family trust and the constant judgment from those around her. What came next surpassed anything she could have imagined: strength, empathy, and unshakable faith.
As the daughter of Perillo Tours founder Mario Perillo and a member of a large Italian family, Linda had big shoes to fill. Today, she proudly wears another title: mother of eight. So, what does a mom from New Jersey do? She creates an online community for other mothers called The Real Hip Mom, where she shares parenting advice and offers readers a glimpse into her vibrant life.
It’s an honor to speak with Linda Perillo for Social Lifestyle Magazine and dive into a conversation about the importance of family and what truly matters.
Reflecting on her journey, Linda shared:
“I didn’t realize what I was truly facing until I looked back and thought, How did I get through that fear and anxiety? My two biggest health challenges were kidney cancer in 2004 and recurring anxiety and depression. When I was diagnosed, I had three small children, including Valentina, who was just one. I panicked, but I also told my doctor, “I will do whatever it takes to live for my children.”
Linda also speaks candidly about empathy and compassion—both for others and for ourselves:
“It may sound cliché to say “You’re always learning,” even in my fifties. I’m often hard on myself, so being kind and reflective is difficult. But what I’ve learned is the importance of empathy — which is more powerful than sympathy. It’s not about fully understanding someone’s struggles but about asking, How can I help, even if I can’t relate?
When asked about her parents—Mario Perillo, the iconic founder and CEO of Perillo Tours, and her mother, Olga—Linda grew reflective, her voice full of emotion.
“You made me cry,” she said softly. Then she shared:
“The foreword of my book is all about them. They weren’t perfect, but to me, they always were. They faced many challenges and were married over 40 years before my mom passed. Their kindness, generosity, and especially their patience with what my dad called “the jungle of youth” defined them. They rooted me in Italian culture, family, faith, and a spirit of giving. Their glamorous exteriors hid humble beginnings. I miss and grieve for them every day.”
Throughout her life, Linda looked to her parents for guidance as she navigated each new chapter. She recalls:
“I learned a lot from my dad, but he was successful because he never shriveled up in the face of complications. He always had a Plan B, and my entire life—no matter what it was—I had a Plan B to implement. And I’ve passed that on to my kids.
You can grieve the tragedy, because that’s okay, but troubleshoot and move on. It is so important.”
What Linda is most excited for readers to understand is the truth behind the image. She explains:
“What you see isn’t always what’s underneath. What looks pretty on the outside may be ugly, tarnished, and suffering on the inside.
I’ve had so many struggles—there were times I even contemplated suicide—so it’s not embarrassing to admit you need help, or that you’re scared or vulnerable.”
On Linda’s website for her book, she talks about dealing with her challenges through humor and honesty in even the most grim of circumstances. She relies on her Catholic faith and a lot of saints to heal her.
“I want readers to appreciate the humor and the lessons that came from a dark time. And once again, to understand empathy—because as you get older, your circle gets smaller, and there are very few people left standing with you in the Colosseum, waiting for the lions.”
When asked about her ultimate guilty pleasure—the simple joys that lift her spirits—Linda laughed and said, “There are so many.”
Then, with humor, honesty, and a dash of Catholic Italian guilt, she shared a few of her favorite guilty pleasures:
- Eating chocolate throughout the day
- Slipping into sweats before 8 p.m.
- Going to bed before 9 p.m.
- Sleeping in when the kids are away
- Enjoying more than two Bloody Marys
She added:
“Vacations with my kids are still at the top of the list—along with spending time, even if it’s just dinner or a drink, with my husband. We have coffee and watch the news every morning as dawn breaks. We’ve both been through the loss of divorce and have learned to cherish that adult time. But taking that time to recharge and feel like a woman on a date is essential. Though we’re still newlyweds, getting married in our fifties has a lot of good points.”
When asked what she’s most proud of in earning the title The Real Hip Mom, Linda didn’t hesitate—her answer was rooted in love, legacy, and the lessons passed down from her own mother:
“Raising independent kids is what I’m proudest of. They should be self-sufficient—not dependent on anyone, and not flailing apart when they can’t find help.”
She continued:
“When my mom died in 1996, she had 28 years to teach me how to parent. And, albeit through osmosis—and sometimes through things I didn’t like—she taught me lessons I didn’t even realize until Devin was born. I knew how to make a hospital corner on a bed, fold a fitted sheet, cook incredible meals, shell lupini beans, and love like Armageddon was tomorrow. I love hard, and when you love hard, you have passion for what you do. That also means accepting your kids for who they are—not who you wish they were.”
When asked if she had a go-to Italian dish, Linda replied with humor:
“Oddly enough, no! I’m a foodie, and there are just too many. I love traditional, humble Italian cooking—not the Americanized stuff, but real peasant food: pasta e fagioli, lentils, pasta carbonara, rice balls, and anything my mother cooked.”
She added:
“I cook so much for my kids that they have incredible palates. I could take them to a third-world country, set them loose on the street, and they’d come back with something that would make me say, “Hey, where did you find that?”
Linda Perillo’s journey is a powerful testament to resilience, faith, and the strength of community. Beneath her polished exterior is a woman who’s faced life’s toughest trials with grit, humor, and grace. Being The Real Hip Mom isn’t just a title—it’s a legacy of love, vulnerability, and fierce determination.
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