Tori Spelling Blasted for 'Fat' Kids & Shopping at Target — Mom's 'Proud' of Her Brood & Visits Discount Stores for Them

• Tori Spelling kids with Dean McDermott were blasted for their appearance.
• The proud parents came to their defense.
• They teach them modesty and not to shop in luxurious stores.

Tori Spelling, of the "Beverly Hills, 90210" fame, has five children with her husband, Dean McDermott. The 49-year-old actress and author had her first son Liam in 2007. She then had two daughters, Stella in 2008 and Hattie in 2011.

In 2012, they had another son, Finn. After going through a challenging time in their marriage, Spelling and McDermott got back on track, and their last-born son, Beau, was born in 2017. McDermott also has a son Jack from his previous marriage.

Though the proud parents have a lot on their plate, juggling work and their children, they have found a way to balance the demands on their time. Speaking about their family dynamic and how she and her husband keep their relationship strong, Spelling said:

"I think we just bond on such a level with kids. With communication and making ourselves aware not to forget ourselves and each other in the chaos."

But the truth is that having children puts a demand on any parent, and the more children, the more responsibilities. The mom-of-five added that even though she would like to believe that she can do it all on her own, she admits that she often needs help. And McDermott is there to support her.

One aspect of parenting the actress has unfortunately had to deal with is helping her children deal with being bullied. Spelling, who has been open about her daughter Stella's experiences, has said that besides being her child's advocate, it is important as a parent to teach the child to advocate for themselves.

He and Spelling were not interested in presenting a front of perfection but rather in the happiness of their kids.

Spelling has also stated that every child is different. But with her daughter, she learned to be engaged enough to know the child's interests and influences and instill confidence in them based on what they excel at so they have a solid foundation to stand up for themselves.

Regrettably, children of celebrities are exposed to more people who air their negative opinions without thought of how the child in question might be affected. The internet has brought the reality of cyberbullying to ordinary people and celebrities alike. Speaking of her approach, Spelling shared:

"We're now communicating on a different level with our kids in this generation. We're finding out a lot sooner, what delights them, what their interests are and we're not dismissing that anymore."

Spelling said her children have also experienced bullying not only at the hands of their peers in school but also from adults. It could be a teacher, another parent, or even a doctor who might speak out of turn or form a bias towards a child because of who their parents are or previous interactions with children of celebrities.

Kids Criticized for Weight

A real-life example of what Spelling's family has become accustomed to took place when the actress posted a family photo on Instagram. The shot included her whole family together with that of her friend and "Beverly Hills, 90210" co-star, Ian Zering.

What makes cyberbullying so insidious is that the perpetrators maintain a level of anonymity that makes them think and feel that it is ok to say mean things about other people.

The two actors had shared a great moment from hosting a viewing party for "A Dog's Way Home.' However, the conversation in the comments section moved away from the subject of the post and centered on the appearance of Spelling's children.

There was a chorus of negative comments saying that the children looked "fat," blaming their parents for letting their weight get out of hand. Others commented on how the children were dressed. But McDermott, who said his kids were perfectly normal and at different stages of growing, fired back in their defense:

"Body shaming and bullying my children??!! What is wrong with you people??!!”

He also answered those who said their children looked disheveled, clarifying that the photo was taken at the end of an eventful day. The children had spent their time running and playing with their friends on a humid day due to it raining. He and Spelling were not interested in presenting a front of perfection but rather in the happiness of their kids.

However, the couple also received many positive comments from users who appreciated the photo of a beautiful family and of kids being kids. They came in defense of Spelling and McDermott, saying that their children looked well taken care of and happy. Unfortunately, Liam, who was exposed to the negative vibes, actually asked his parents whether he was "obese."

Desperate to shed the persona of daddy's little rich girl, the actress made it a point to work for her on money and shed the bad spending habits that caused her to go into debt.

What makes cyberbullying so insidious is that the perpetrators maintain a level of anonymity that makes them think and feel that it is ok to say mean things about other people. Even things that they would never dream of saying in person. Luckily, McDermott and Spelling have their children's backs.

Teaching Kids Modesty

Sometimes, people hold celebrities to unfair expectations. One specific criticism that the couple has often is that they shop for their kids' clothes at a popular retail store. To which McDermott replied:

“And what’s wrong with shopping at Target??!! Are we supposed to shop at Gucci?? These are kids folks. Messy stinky little bundles of fun, laughter and love.”

The dad-of-five spoke from experience when he said that children are hard on clothing and are constantly outgrowing their wardrobes. McDermott and his wife are more interested in having their children feel comfortable and presentable in their clothes rather than like models on display.

Spelling spoke about how she learned to be modest in the years after her hit show ended. She had a privileged upbringing as the daughter of the famous director Aaron Spelling and model Candy Spelling. But that all ended when she started working. Stating her perspective on her family's fortune, she said:

"I didn't want to take advantage, I didn't want to be that girl who needed, or wanted, my dad's money."

Desperate to shed the persona of daddy's little rich girl, the actress made it a point to work for her on money and shed the bad spending habits that caused her to go into debt. Her father also left her and her brother a small fraction of his wealth as an inheritance, with the bulk of it going to their mother.

Tori Spelling has continued to make her own way in Hollywood as an actress, author, and reality TV star. Her greatest joy and pride are her children. She and her husband are dedicated to guiding them to be the best that they can be.