Amber Johnston From '7 Little Johnstons' Just Responded to Those Divorce Rumors

From Good Housekeeping

The new season of 7 Little Johnstons (which premieres Tuesday at 10 p.m. on TLC) is full of highs: Jonah's first semester at college, Elizabeth and Anna's prom season, and the family's first Christmas at their new house. But of course, with every high comes a major low - and this year, all eyes are on Amber and Trent Johnston's marriage. The season 5 trailer focuses on the growing tension between the couple, leading viewers to fear that there may even be a divorce in the near future.

But Amber doesn't seem too concerned. Their rocky relationship is simply the result of living in a household with five teenagers, she says. "We not only hit a big mark with the kids and all of them having their own personalities, but it’s definitely put a heavy strain on Trent and I," she tells GoodHousekeeping.com. "We’re at a very challenging mark in our family dynamics and home."

Part of the reason why this recent strain doesn't seem to worry Amber is because the couple has faced -and conquered - several hardships in their 20-year marriage. Their relationship, which started 24 years ago at a regional meeting for Little People of America, was especially difficult in their first few years together. For the first two-and-a-half years, they were in a long-distance relationship while Amber finished up high school. Even after she graduated and moved to Georgia to attend college and be closer to Trent, they still weren't totally in the clear as both of them faced different health and family issues. Still, they never gave up. "We honestly have always - in all of the challenges that we have faced and continue to face - been a team," she says. "We know that a relationship, parenting, and marriage is a constant work in progress. With both of us feeling that and knowing that, we don’t give up."

And sure, the 40-year-old acknowledges that it may be uncomfortable for viewers to watch her relationship during the lows - but Amber says she wouldn't have it any other way. "I think it's because we have this feeling inside of us that we want people to see what our life is really, truly like." Although most fans embrace their marriage - flaws and all -the couple can often be the subject of scrutiny. Most recently, they were under fire after Amber posted a series of photos on Instagram for Trent's birthday. "It cut off part of Anna because she squatted down and people went off about that saying, 'They’re not even trying to have Anna in the picture,'" she shares. "First of all, we have super short arms and she squatted down. Second of all, get real."

But to be fair, the scrutiny - as harsh as it may seem to the rest of us - is just a part of life for the Johnstons. "Our kids, Trent, and myself have dealt with scrutiny, name calling, and discrimination our whole lives. In the grand scheme of things, we have very thick skin and we have to because otherwise we’d just be people who curl up in a corner and never go out." Same goes for the rumors about her marriage. So, what does she have to say to fans fearing their divorce? "We’ll figure it out. We always do."

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