Tori Spelling Gets Backlash for Dressing Her Son for School the Night Before—But Should She?

Here's why the backlash isn't necessary.

Fact checked by Sarah ScottFact checked by Sarah Scott

Last night, I slept in my yoga clothes so I could wake up and have enough time to sneak in a stretch session before taking my kids to school. That’s why I felt a lot better when I learned that fellow mom-of-five, Tori Spelling, also sometimes relies on shortcuts to make life work with her busy brood.

The reality star shared on a recent episode of her MisSPELLING podcast, featuring '80s singer Debbie Gibson, that once in a while, she dresses her 7-year-old son, Beau, in his school clothes instead of pajamas so that he’s ready for the morning. “I’ve gotten so lazy with my youngest one, because there’s so many, that at night I put him in his clothes for the next day,” she admitted.

Spelling, who recently separated from her husband of 18 years, Dean McDermott, went on to confide, “So, he has dinner, he takes his bath, but then I’ll be like, ‘Hey, dude. It will save an extra five minutes if we get dressed now and then you can sleep later,’ and I can sleep later, wink wink."

Gibson assured the star that she is not a bad mom, and instead, that it’s “cool” and “funny,” and that’s she doing what she has to “to get through.”

Is the Backlash Necessary?

Still, social media was quick to cast judgment on the celebrity mom, with one person on X wondering, “Has anyone thought about calling CPS on her?” Meanwhile, another person shamed Spelling by commenting, “??So in other words he goes to school in clothes looking like he slept in them because he did. Top shelf parenting in how to teach your kid about looking well kept and caring about your appearance.”

I am going to point out that Spelling talked about bathing her son, so clearly she is teaching him about taking care of his body. Her shortcut is not “neglectful” as some people are claiming—it’s an example of doing your best to make life work.

I’d go so far as to say that the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum is actually teaching her kids that a perfect morning routine isn’t realistic every single day. Sometimes you resort to survival tactics so you don’t end up in the shower sobbing through shampoo suds after the kiddos are in bed. Just me?

The truth all parents can cop to is that for every Instagram-worthy family moment we craft, there’s an equally chaotic situation just around the corner. For instance, yesterday I got my 6-year-old to his first swim practice early, dressed, and ready. Go me! Then, I rushed home, nuked some frozen chicken nuggets, let my kids eat them while they played Legos—and ate cold soup out of the fridge.

Meanwhile, I even support Spelling telling Beau that it’s “cool” to sub out school clothes for PJs, because sometimes we have to make our lives easier. What? You’ve never swore to your kid that if they don’t eat their veggies, they’ll never grow another inch—and with a totally straight face?

Some people may even argue that employing “monster spray” as part of a little one’s bedtime routine is lying. But I’m here to tell you that some water and a drop or two of scented oil in a spray bottle, spritzed under the bed and in the closet, can mean the difference between sanity, and wanting to run out the front door (I’m talking about me, not my toddler).

One more thing on Spelling being demonized for confessing to a parenting tactic that helps her get through the day: Whatever happened to mom shaming being the ultimate sin? How about we commend the podcaster for keeping it real? Because we all know that if she said she has a nanny or two to help her look after the kids, Spelling would be getting flack for that, too!

Sigh. We can’t win, can we parents? Good luck out there surviving whatever kind of day you’re having with your kids—and making every single person in the world happy in the process! 

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