The Bachelor bachelorette Renee Oteri is still in the running for Juan Pablo Galavis' heart. Renee, a 32-year-old real estate agent from Sarasota, FL, is a single mom to her eight-year-old son Ben, and Juan Pablo has been very dedicated to treating Renee differently than the other women as a result.

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The Bachelor star has taken their relationship slowly in fear any physical activity might upset her son, so Renee was the last of the girls he kissed this season despite her apparent urge to get things moving. 
 
Renee has managed to avoid the drama in the house and tends to take on a motherly role when her fellow bachelorettes are emotional or need someone to talk to.

During a Thursday conference call with reporters, Renee talked to Reality TV World about her The Bachelor experience thus far. To read what she had to say, click here. Below is another portion of her interview. Click here for more.

I noticed in a lot of your conversations with Juan Pablo, he mentioned not kissing you out of respect, not just for Camila but your son as well.  I wasn't sure if there were things that maybe you had told him that your son would be uncomfortable seeing that we didn't see on television?

Renee Oteri:  No.  No, we never had that conversation.  Actually -- and I made this very clear to Juan Pablo -- that I did talk to my son before I left and he knew for the most part what I was doing.  Does he understand it?  No.  But I was honest with him.  That's the relationship that I have with my son.  You know, he's not like in a bottle somewhere.  We definitely talk about everything. 

And I want my son to see love, like I want him to see that.  So I wouldn't be ashamed if he saw me kiss him, you know, on television.  I just -- I wouldn't -- so, no.  I didn't have that conversation with him. 

I never said anything that would make [Juan Pablo] think that, but that was his personal opinion.  That's the way he felt, you know?  He didn't want to make Ben mad.  And so, I mean, unless I told him, "No, Ben's not going to come after you," he's like, "All right, cool.  Let's do this."

Was that frustrating on some level?  Because it seems like you were pulling at your hair and I didn't know if you were frustrated that he seemed to be more concerned about something that you, as you said, had already dealt with.

Renee Oteri:  Well, honestly, I didn't know that was the reason at the time for the week leading up to it, you know?  I knew when he confronted me about it -- when he had that conversation with me and I said, "Listen, you know, Ben's not going to care."  So leading up to that, I didn't realize it was about Ben.  I thought it was about me.

And so, yes.  So I'm kind of like, "Okay, well I don't think though he's interested because, you know, he's kissed a lot of girls, he hasn't kissed me.  Am I not kissable?"  You know, "What's going on?"  So I thought I was -- it was more of like -- I don't know.  It was more of an issue with myself.

I don't want to put words in your mouth, but it almost sounds like you weren't that relieved when you found out it was about Ben and not about something else.

Renee Oteri:  Yes.  No, I definitely was relieved.  Yes, for sure.

So how do you feel Juan Pablo would be with Ben?

Renee Oteri:  Oh.  I mean, you can just tell that Juan Pablo is a great dad.  He would be great with my son.  I can already tell that.  He's funny, he's outgoing, he's a great guy.  And you can just tell.  Some people are, you know, you can just tell. 

He's naturally good with people and naturally good with kids.  And he has, you know, Camila and he's already been through that.  So, yes.  I definitely think he'd be good with Ben.

What makes you so grounded compared to all the other girls?

Renee Oteri:  Well, I mean, I feel like a lot of the girls are really grounded.  I am one of the oldest ones there.  So, you know, I'm 32.  Some of the girls are a little bit younger to what -- [Cassandra Ferguson] is 21.  So I don't know. 

I mean, I've been through a lot.  I've been married, divorced, have an eight-year-old, you know?  So I've kind of been through a lot and I don't know.  I mean, I'm not -- I don't think I'm any more grounded than anyone else there.  It's just I think I'm just older, (laughs) old.

Everyone keeps talking about what a great dad Juan Pablo is, but beyond that, why do you think everyone doesn't have much to say about his other good qualities?

Renee Oteri:  Why do I think everyone is just saying he is a good dad?  Well, you know, I've heard lots of great and wonderful things about him.  But for me, that's a super attractive trait because that's something that stands out more, is that he is a dad. 

And, you know, we can relate and talk about a lot, you know, a lot more.  So, I mean though, he's -- I don't know.  I've heard lots of amazing qualities.  Well, everyone compliments him.  But that's just a plus in my book.

It definitely seems like Juan Pablo could relate more to you, again, because you both have children.

Renee Oteri:  Yes, exactly.

And you said he was really funny.  He was always making you laugh?

Renee Oteri:  Yes.  Juan Pablo is hilarious.  He is hilarious.  I don't think he means to be funny.  It's more like a sound effect.  And, you know, sometimes he says things -- I don't want to say language barrier, but, you know what I mean.  He's just too hilarious.  He's a really funny guy.  And, yes.  He's got a great personality.

So he's intentionally funny sometimes?

Renee Oteri:  Yes, he is.  Sometimes he is, but a lot of times, I don't think he's trying to be funny. 

Whom do you feel is your biggest competition in the house?

Renee Oteri:  Oh, the biggest competition.  I mean, honestly, they're all amazing women.  But I don't know.  I would say [Clare Crawley] because, just my personal opinion, I can see the way -- I've personally seen it, just the way he looks at her. 

I would say Clare.  But I don't know.  I mean, he laughs a lot with [Chelsie Webster], a lot with Chelsie.  And I don't know.  At this point, it's tough because you can tell he's got something for everyone.

You're definitely a fan favorite this season.  Everybody loves you.  If this doesn't end with you receiving the final rose from Juan Pablo, would you ever consider being The Bachelorette star?

Renee Oteri:  Yes, if it doesn't -- if it doesn't end in my favor, you know honestly, I do want to fall in love.  I do want to get married.  I do want to have kids and more kids, and that's my ultimate goal.  And you know, obviously I'm hoping that this does work out for me.  So [I'm] trying to not think too far ahead of that.

I was just wondering if Ben is watching the show with you.

Renee Oteri:  Ben is not watching the show.  You know, my son watched [Desiree Hartsock] and loved her [The Bachelorette] season, loved it.  We watched every moment of it together and now he's just too busy.  He's too cool.  (Laughs) He doesn't want to watch mom on TV.  So I'm like, "Okay."

Has Ben asked you any questions about being on the show since you got home?  I know you've been sworn to secrecy, but did you give him any hints just because he's your son?

Renee Oteri:  No, nothing.  But honestly, he's really wrapped up in his own thing.

Did you feel really special on the date when Juan Pablo bought you the dress?

Renee Oteri:  Oh, of course I felt special.  You know, that was the cool thing about Juan Pablo is, you know, what he does is, he kind of gets everyone out of their comfort zone.  He knows I'm not a fancy person.  I don't love wearing dresses or high heels or any of that, you know? 

He knew that would be a special thing for me and it would totally take me -- I don't know.  It's something I would never, ever, ever imagine doing.  So, yes.  I think it was all him.  He's very creative.  It was meaningful.

Juan Pablo seems different, like really sweet and sincere with you.  Is there a deeper, more serious side of Juan Pablo that we're not seeing on TV? Maybe you have some insight on that.

Renee Oteri:  No, I mean, I think that he is who he is.  And yes, he does have -- there are definitely sweet moments in -- I mean, you've seen him cry.  He's very emotional, and so, I mean, I've never seen a man cry before.  It was heartbreaking. 

You know what, it is.  So I think that it is sweet and he does have, you know, deep conversations with people.  So, I mean, I don't know how much deeper you can get.  But, yes, I think he's very sincere and has deep conversations.

It sounds like you have a lot of respect for Juan Pablo.

Renee Oteri:  Yes, I do.  I definitely do.

During a Thursday conference call with reporters, Renee talked to Reality TV World about her The Bachelor experience thus far. To read what she had to say, click here. Above is another portion of her interview. Click here for more.




About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski

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