RHOA’s Kelli Ferrell Addresses Backlash For Giving Daughter 17 Lavish Gifts For Her 17th Birthday

Kelli Ferrell takes gift-giving very seriously.

During a recent interview with PEOPLE, The Real Housewives of Atlanta newbie addressed criticism for giving her daughter Chloe 17 luxury gifts for her 17th birthday in the season 16 premiere. As a single mom of four, Kelli says she enjoys splurging on her daughters for special occasions.

“It was 17 amazing gifts, and a few of those were designer bags, but it's nothing new for us,” she explains after noting in the episode that purses are Chloe’s “thing.” “You'll see me giving Cha-Cha, my amazing dog, the same amount of love and treatment that my girls get. So everybody gets equal parts to the birthdays, the gifts and the memories.”

“I'm really big on memories,” she continues. “Holidays are really big in my household. You can look on my social media and see that Christmases are big deals, birthdays are big deals. I have four beautiful daughters, and I'm grateful and lucky that I can give them those experiences — that's the girl mom in me!”

Eight years ago, Kelli started her own business, Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles. She has since turned it into a brand, with two restaurants, a food truck, a cookbook and a line of food and drink products.

“I'm very successful,” she tells PEOPLE. “I've been able to be on this food hospitality journey for a very long time, and that is where a lot of my success comes from. The hard work has definitely paid off.”

With all her accomplishments, Kelli notes that it feels right to share the wealth with her children.

“I am doing everything that I love right now, and I am in a really good place and space in my life, and I'm grateful for it,” she adds. “It's everything that I have manifested, and I would not want it any other way.”

Still, Kelli’s life is a balancing act as she juggles being a businesswoman with motherhood and, now, reality television.

“You don't find the time, you definitely make the time,” Kelli jokes. “You make it work. I'm so grateful for my children for always just being very gracious with me and very patient. And for my village. I have my great parents and amazing friends and a super awesome nanny who can make me look good when I can't show up.”

“But I'm grateful,” she concludes. “My kids are very understanding, most importantly. And that work-life balance, something always lacks from time to time, but you figure it out and you push forward.”

The Real Housewives of Atlanta airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo. Episodes stream the next day on Peacock.