Tori Spelling's Mommy Issues

Growing up in the spotlight, was it like that for you, too?

I feel like it’s completely different now. It wasn’t really a paparazzi world back then, with flashbulbs going off as soon as you walk out your door. I definitely was exposed to a lot of Hollywood-esque things, I suppose, but as far as the flashbulbs and the paparazzi stalking us, that did not happen. That’s a new thing.

In the book, you talk about Liam and how you worried about him having a big nose based on his ultrasound. Do you think all moms think this way?

In the book I did speculate about that because when I saw the sonogram, all I could think about was, “Oh my God, does his nose look large?” Obviously, that comes from what I experienced myself growing up. But when you get your sonogram, it’s the last few months of the pregnancy and your kid is running out of room in there—they’re all squashed up. So the features are greatly exaggerated. But I didn’t know that then. They look a bit scary. So I just put the question out there—is that reaction a characteristic of someone living in Hollywood? Or do moms everywhere think the same thing? Do they all worry about what their kids will look like? I think they do.

You’ve commented that Jessica Alba, who had her daughter Honor Marie two days before you had Stella, was back in her pre-baby body two weeks after giving birth, while you could barely move. Did you feel pressure after your pregnancy ended to be physically perfect?

When I wrote Mommywood I was still losing my baby weight, so when I talked about the pressure, yes, it was very much there. It took [Jessica Alba] two weeks to get back to her pre-baby body. It took me six months. And some women never lose it. But when you’re a celebrity, people are always taking pictures of you. And if it’s been two weeks since you’ve had a baby, it’s hard not to worry about them seeing your belly.

But if you’re talking about today, I have lost my baby weight. And yeah, I may look a bit thin. But I’m running around doing all these projects and taking care of my two babies. And all of a sudden, according to the press, I’m too thin. So something’s wrong with you, no matter what. You can’t win. I’m perfectly healthy. The reality is, obviously, when I make a joke—“Sometimes I just eat what’s left on my son’s plate”—it’s me being silly, when the press makes it out to be like I’m eating just two french fries a day. Of course not. I was joking. When you have two kids, though, it’s hard to give your full attention to sitting down and eating a proper meal. There’s too much going on at any given moment.

You’re already shooting season four of your reality show Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood.

The new season starts in May. It works out really well, because they just sort of follow our daily schedule. They came with me on the set of 90210 and they’re on the book tour with me now. The kids have gotten so used to the cameras and the crew, they miss them when they’re gone. It’s become like a big family.

Speaking of family, your mom, Candy Spelling, recently released her own memoir, Stories from Candyland. Have you read it?

Her book being out the same time as mine is just smart corporate planning. Kudos to them on that. Obviously they want to sell copies, and any drama that can be created around it will sell copies. I’m completely supportive of her choice to do her book—everyone should be able to tell their version of the story. And I fully intend on reading her book.