So a judge has removed grandma Katherine Jackson, 82, as guardian of Michael Jackson's three children and granted custody to cousin TJ Jackson, 34, as rumors swirl regarding Katherine's sudden disappearance and a possible Jackson sibling plot. As a mom, my heart goes out to those kids, particularly Paris, 14, who's taken to Twitter in Katherine's defense. For her part, Katherine says she just needed a "short vacation." Which, not for nothing, is certainly plausible. She's 82 years old! Realistically, is an 82-year-old woman truly physically capable of raising three kids?
It's an important question to consider, because when it comes to writing wills and choosing guardians for our own children, many of us immediately think of our own parents. (Assuming we have decent, intact relationships with said parents.) They love their grandchildren more than anything in the world; in so many cases, our kids feel like grandma's house is their second home.
Our parents seem like the most obvious choice to step in and take care of our kids if we're not around to do the job ourselves. But ... are they really? It depends. I've known men and women in their 80s who played golf every day, mowed their own lawns, and could beat somebody half their age at a crossword puzzle. By the time my own grandmother was 82, she had no idea who any of her children or grandchildren were and couldn't wash her own hair. (It happened fast, too.)
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I'm not saying Michael Jackson made the wrong choice in appointing Katherine his children's guardian, because, lord help us, Michael Jackson was ... Michael Jackson, and he had a lot on his plate. But I feel for his kids. And not because they've been forced to grow up under intense and often mean-spirited media scrutiny (although that no doubt sucks), but simply because they lost their dad -- and now their boat is being rocked again.
Do we all risk putting our kids through the same thing when we choose our parents as guardians? Maybe.
Do you think Katherine Jackson is too old to raise Michael Jackson's kids?
Image via TMZ
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Comments 19
I agree with the above comment, she has a full staff. Also, who would you suggest in that cuckoo-cachoo family to raise those kids other than their grandmother. Janet? LaToya? Any of the other crazies? She is by far the most normal and stable member of that family, whether she is in her 80's or not. Would you rather they go to foster care?
I don't think you can lump "the rest of us" in with this particular situation. I agree that Michael didn't have very many options when it came to someone stable to select as their guardian.
As for my husband and I, we (more I) decided to choose other guardians for our children if something should happen to us, despite the grandparents being really awesome. Age was the driving factor. My mother was already 58 when my daughter is born. Do I really think it's fair to my kids to be with her when she will be 76 by the time the oldest graduates high school? NO. His parents are slightly younger, but not by a whole lot.
My husband's youngest brother & wife are my age and they are our first choice. The next two aren't even family, they are my closest friends. I have no blood siblings (and frankly I don't know and/or don't trust any of my stepsiblings enough to put my kids in their care for longer than a couple of hours.) His other brother & wife have made it clear they are happy they will be "done" when their youngest turns 18 in 6 years. We went with people we trust, but who are of a reasonable age to care for the children as parents for a long time.
these kids aren't toddlers or infants. They are fully capable of helping with chores or meals and themselves. yes, I'm def sure miss Kathrine's house has a full staff to help her. i wouldn't trust any of Michaels' brothers and sisters Latoya and Janet. Their lives are full of tours, agents and road travel, these kids need to have a stable environment to grow up in. For goodness sake, I take a vacation everynow and again to recharge, abosolutely nothing wrong with that. I'm sure her staff knew- Paris may even have known and have been told to keep quiet about it so their aunts and uncles wouldn't pull what they just did. Hopefully things will straighten out..
For pity's sake, the youngest is what, ten? It's not like they're infants.
What happened to Diana Ross? Didn't Micheal appoint her as guardian in the event his mother died or was unable/incapable to take care of the children? Kaerea is correct, Debbie Rowe has given up her parental rights.
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I think Michael did the right thing because he knew his siblings! It seems to me they've caused all this fuss about his will being fake because they want to control the kids to control Michael's loot. It's really a shame but I think his brothers & sisters drove him crazy wanting money when he was alive, thus resulting in his decision to let his mom raise his kids in his absence. I hope the kids will be alright tho!