Tori Spelling calls stepson Jack an 'inspiration' in moving post
Tori Spelling recently shared a lengthy post on Instagram about the evolution of her relationship with her stepson, Jack Montgomery McDermott, in honor of his 21st birthday.
The actress, who also has five biological children with her husband Dean McDermott, warned Jack in her caption that she was going to get pretty sentimental.
"I’ve known this guy since he was almost 7. I loved when we met bc he had no idea who I was," she began. "And, I don’t mean tori spelling, but the woman his dad was dating."
Spelling explained that he was dealing with a lot of other issues in his life at the time.
"He was going thru so much and his mom and dad were trying their best to navigate a very difficult situation for a boy his age. Divorce," she continued.
She listed a few things the two bonded over at the start of their relationship, including "dogs, his rabbit DIY school project, tag, hide and seek, and video games."
"He called me Teri. And I didn’t correct him bc I loved that he had his own perception of me," she explained.
Some of her favorites memories with Jack was when he was growing up.
"I remember helping him with his homework and reading Charlottes Web, dressing up his hamsters in DIY Halloween costumes, and playing Polly Pockets at the pool while other boys his age teased and we ignored them and laughed..." she wrote.
Noting that it wasn't always smooth sailing between them, Spelling recounted the "years of awkwardness" they went through.
"He was quiet. I was quiet," she wrote. "It was new to me and I never wanted to push my role in his life."
"I’ve loved him since he was that little boy that called me Teri and played Polly Pockets with me," she added.
She explained how inspired she was by Jack when he came out about his sexuality.
"I was so proud of his confidence," she wrote. "He was who he was and he was proud of it. Then we bonded again. We found each other on a new level with a whole new respect for each other."
Describing him as an "amazing human," Spelling wrote that Jack is "so smart, kind, funny, unique, sweet, confident, and driven."
"His scream, smile, and laugh are contagious and his style is fierce," she wrote.
"He makes no apologies for who he is. And who he uniquely is ... Is Jack Montgomery McDermott," she continued. "Someone who is an inspiration. Someone who has overcome many challenges thru out his young life and comes out on top no matter what."