Tori Spelling will “never regret” staying with estranged husband Dean McDermott for so long — but thinks she might have done a “disservice” to their kids.
Tori, 51, hosted psychologist Dr. Hillary Goldsher for a two-part podcast in which she opened up about how her kids have been impacted by her separation from McDermott, 58. The actress admitted during the Tuesday, December 10 podcast episode that wanting her kids to have “their parents together” kept her with McDermott “for a long time.”
Spelling further explained that this hope “kept me from ultimately making what was outwardly a better decision for them.” The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum explained to listeners that she always “saw a family always together” because her parents, Candy and Aaron Spelling, were together for 25 years.
“I always thought as bad as things might be between my partner and myself, it’s better to have their dad in the house than in a different residence,” Tori continued. “I think that kept me in the relationship far too long. It ultimately, I feel, did a disservice to my kids.”
Dean McDermott ‘Wants Access’ to His Kids With Tori Spelling
Tori shares five kids with McDermott — Liam, 17, Stella, 16, Hattie, 13, Finn, 12, and Beau, 7. The pair were married for 18 years before she filed for divorce this past March.
“I think both he and I were in a place where we might have separated and divorced before Beau was born, but we worked on our relationships, stayed together and I’ll never regret not leaving then,” she said. “I’m sure he wouldn’t either because we wouldn’t have had Beau.”
The actress referred to her youngest son as their “our blessing and our love and our hearts and souls” during Tuesday’s podcast.
“I’m grateful, but you know, after Beau was born — and that was 2017 — things didn’t get better between us,” Tori added. “Granted, there’s still times that I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, it would be so nice to have that extra set of hands in the house.’ It would be so nice for the kids to be like, ‘OK mom’s there and I see dad’s in the other room.’”
Why Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott Decided Divorce is ‘Best for Everyone’
Tori admitted that near the end of her marriage, she and McDermott “did things as a family for the kids” but they slept in separate rooms.
“My husband is sober now — over a year now — so we’re very proud of him. But before that, it was rough for them to see, and it was very disjointing,” she said. “I feel like I didn’t separate the families — in household terms only — sooner, but of course we can’t go back, so we’re dealing with it now. But it’s hard not to have their dad in the house.”
