Jennie Garth ‘Reveling’ in Closeness With Daughters
 Courtesy Cookie |
Unlike many of today’s network stars, when Jennie Garth became pregnant in 1996 with daughter Luca Bella, now 12, she was considered a trailblazer.
“There weren’t many actresses willing to have kids, because they thought it would jeopardize their career or their desirability,” the 37-year-old 90210 actress notes in the October issue of Cookie.
“There was an actress on an Aaron Spelling soap opera who got sued for getting pregnant. I got pregnant right after her, while I was on an Aaron Spelling show. But I knew he’d be supportive; [90210 was such a hit] he couldn’t be anything but.”
That said, while her peers today enjoy custom-built nurseries on-set, Jennie says she had to improvise with Luca.
“I had a whole camp set up … by my trailer with a fake yard, toys, a waterslide, and a baby pool. The set designers built a little picket fence around my Baby Land. I joke that I moved out of Beverly Hills into my little trailer park in the back.”
Two kids later — Jennie is also mom to Lola Ray, 6 ½, and Fiona Eve, turning 3 this month, with husband Peter Facinelli — and Jennie is still working hard to make sure her girls get plenty of face time with mom.
“We’re always together, maybe to a fault,” she concedes. “We like to be together, I think more than most child psychologists or even my mother would say is healthy.”
Adding that because “there will come a time” when the girls will want their space, Jennie says she’s “reveling” in their closeness now.
Click below to read about Jennie’s thoughts on discipline and becoming a full-time mom.
That’s not to say that every moment is sheer bliss, however! Jennie reveals that just several days prior to the interview, she had to give Lola four time-outs in quick succession. “She kept hitting,” Jennie recalls. “I don’t spank, though sometimes I think these time-outs aren’t working.”
Sticking with her game plan of “consistency and not making idle threats,” however, Jennie vows to stay the course. She adds,
“They have to know there are consequences for violence, name-calling, and not doing household chores. They’re all in such different places, but all those places require boundaries.”
Keeping track of the girls — who are now enrolled at three different schools — while balancing the demands of her role on the CW’s new 90210 can be tough. “When you’re a full-time mom and you work a few days here and there, it’s hard to pace yourself,” Jennie admits.
“I want to know what my kids are eating for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I want to know how much activity they’ve had in a day. It’s difficult to keep it all in order.”
From the sound of things, she’ll someday soon be in a better position to do just that, however. As Peter enjoys a resurgence in his career with the Twilight film franchise, as well as a role on Showtime’s Nurse Jackie, Jennie says she’s eager to step back from the spotlight.
“He works like crazy, but when he’s home and present it’s great,” she says. “[Early on,] all I wanted to do was work; Now all I want to do is not work.” She adds,
“I’ve passed that stage of my life. I have to respect that we’re at different places. Hopefully it’ll balance out.”
The new 90210 airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on the CW.
Source: Cookie, October issue
– Missy
- Posted on Sep 16, 09 at 12:30PM
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- 22 Comments
September 16th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
I cant believe Luca is 12 already. I love Jennie and Peter. Their family sounds like everyone else’s and that is great with the careers they have and the way their kids could be being raised in the industry. Thank goodness they are like everyone else.
September 16th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
These girls are beautiful…little Fiona has stolen my heart, she is a doll – love her pageboy haircut!
September 16th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
What a sweet picture. Jennie and her girls are all so beautiful. Her and Peter seem like such great parents. I love that for the most part they keep their kids out of the spotlight. They give little glimpses into their family life but mainly keep that area of their lives private. I really respect that and wish more celebs would be that way.
September 16th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Love this family!
September 16th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Am I the only one having a hard time of telling whether the girls look like their mom or dad? They do look similar.
September 16th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Beautiful family! I think Luca is all Peter, Lola is a perfect mix between Peter and Jennie, and Fiona is all Jennie!
September 16th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Could those girls be any cuter?
September 16th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
look how adorable those girls are! I can totally see Peter in Luca! And little Fiona, oh my gosh how cute is she?!?
September 16th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Such a beautiful and lucky family! Great parenting shows. And I just adore Fiona’s haircut, it’s just stunning on her! I need to show my daughter and see if I can talk her in to it.
September 16th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
I love this family!
September 16th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I love hearing about this family, so adorable! And Fiona is Jennie’s mini-me!
September 16th, 2009 at 4:02 pm
Luca definitely favors her Dad in the looks dept., though when she was younger in some pics I always thought you could see some Jennie in her, especially around the eyes. I think Fiona is the spitting image of Jennie. And I LOVE that haircut on her! So cute. Lola kind of looks like them both, I don’t think she favors one or the other either way in the looks dept, really.
September 16th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
That family is so beautiful, and I adore Fiona! That haircut, and those eyes are just the sweetest thing.
September 17th, 2009 at 7:53 am
Awwwww, Fiona is a doll
Love Jennie, she’s the greatest!
September 17th, 2009 at 9:48 am
I just question the accuracy of one of her statements. She references an actress who was sued by Aaron Spelling for getting pregnant. I assume she is referencing Hunter Tylo who famously sued Aaron Spelling for pregnancy discrimination when she was fired/released when she became pregnant (I think it was a role on Melrose Place.) I love Jennie Garth, but there was something about this article that left a bad taste in my mouth. I guess it’s being referred to as a “trailblazer” for having a baby. I mean she’s definately not the first actress to have a baby.
September 17th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Amy – I agree. Also, was 90210 really such a “hit” by the time she had her baby? Not so sure…
September 17th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Maya yes the show was a hit when she had her baby!!
Anywho this family is great.. Love Jennie she looks GREAT for 37yr, her daughters are very pretty and love how she is consistent in her displine thats so hard to find now a days, Parents either let there kids do whatever whenever or just want to be there “friends”. I hope they have one more little one.
September 17th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
That is a cute photo. The littlest one is so adorable.
-meream
September 18th, 2009 at 10:41 am
Jennie has a beautiful family. Does anyone else notice how the girls all look like Dad though?? I think that is so neat!
September 19th, 2009 at 1:59 am
Great to see more of this family. I have to confess to a Fiona addiction- she is absolutely adorable!
September 19th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
I personally think that Fiona looks more llike Peter then Jennie
September 20th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
all the girls are beautiful- but i really love Fiona`s haircut