Savannah Chrisley Says Grayson 'Had to Grow Up So Fast' amid Parents' Imprisonment: 'I Hate It' (Exclusive)

Todd and Julie Chrisley's imprisonment has had a major impact on their entire family.

Nearly two years after their August 2019 indictment, Todd, 55, and Julie, 52, were found guilty of fraud and tax evasion. They were later sentenced to a combined 19 years in prison (which has since been reduced) before reporting to prison in January 2023.

The longtime couple has vehemently denied all wrongdoing and at this time, are seeking alternative methods for their release.

"My family, in general, we thought it was going to end differently," their daughter Savannah Chrisley tells PEOPLE exclusively. "We really thought it would end differently. We had lawyers who had told us it was going to end differently. We stood in the truth,  and we stood in what we knew to be the truth."

Amid their imprisonment, Savannah stepped up to raise her younger siblings Grayson, 18, and Chloe, 12. It's been hard on the Unlocked with Savannah Chrisley podcast host, who notes that she's "struggled" and has "had to work multiple jobs" to keep them afloat. However, she recognizes things haven't been easy on other family members during this time, including Grayson.

"He had to grow up so fast and I hate it," she explains. "But at the same time, this whole situation has taught him how cruel the world can be, and how you have to protect yourself. And as cruel as it's been, he also has kept this softness about him, and he's in therapy every single week. I just love to see the heart that he has, and how he's shown up."

"That's how you want any man in your life to be is to show up for you and show up well, and show up even when they get it wrong. He's learning those lessons at 16 years old, when all this happened. And now he's 18, and it's just, I could not be more proud," she adds.

Savannah notes that "so many times," Grayson has said to her: "'You saved me. I don't know where I would be without you. I don't know what Chloe and I would've done without you.'"

"He says that. But I look at him and I'm like, he saved me more times than I  can count," the Good Girl RX creator says.

Still, Savannah, Chloe and Grayson are trying to make the best of their situation. When it comes to Grayson, in particular, he left home earlier this year to begin his higher education journey at the University of Alabama. He aspires to be a sports agent.

"Grayson is thriving at college. He absolutely loves it," Savannah shares. "As it got closer, he was like, 'I don't know if I can do this. I don't want to do this.' He was so afraid of leaving me because he knew just how helpful he was to me, and how we just have this bond together. I looked at him, I was like, 'It's okay.'"

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"I was like, 'I promise you, I'm going to be fine. I want you to go to college. I want you to follow your dreams. I want you to get a college education, and do what you want to do,'" she continues. "He wants to go into sports management. He wants to be an agent. He loves sports. And watching him speak about sports, it lights up his whole world."

The Growing Up Chrisley star adds, "I want him to find happiness and a sense of self, and fulfillment. I want him to be so proud of the person that he is."