Another celebrity couple calls it quits and opts for divorce; this time it’s singer Mariah Carey and America’s Got Talent host Nick Cannon. The couple were married on April 30, 2008, and exactly three years later they welcomed twins Monroe and Moroccan into their family. But in August of this year, they confirmed that they are splitting up.
The last few months have been rocky, and reconciliation between the estranged spouses seems remote. But after a recent heart-to-heart conversation, they have decided to put aside their any hard feelings for the sake of their children. They want to spend holidays and birthdays together as a family to lessen the effect of their split on the kids, and they put that into action this past Thanksgiving. They also have plans to spend Christmas together. In an interview with In Touch, Nick said, “Gotta keep that going. I want to make sure we have a wonderful holiday together.”
He told In Touch that he also plans to keep things friendly with Mariah. “We talk and text every day. My children are my No. 1 priority. Everything I do is for them. I just want to be the best father I can possbily be.” Mariah reportedly also wants to move toward an amicable divorce while putting the children first.
Nick has been promoting his new Christmas book, Roc and Roe’s 12 Days of Christmas, featuring the twins Moroccan and Monroe. Part of that promotion was an appearance on Good Morning America, in which he said, “We’ll be a forever family. At the same time, we’re there for our children, making them the No. 1 priority and understanding that they’re loved and can have an amazing holiday.”
The three-year-old twins are too young to really understand what’s happening between their parents, but there are still steps parents can take, whether they are celebrities or not, to make the transition easier when one parent moves out. Dr. Lori Love, a therapist and collaborative divorce child specialist based in San Diego, CA, has the following suggestions:
- For young children, let them know that even though Mommy and Daddy are no longer together, they both love them very much, and that the change in living arrangements was not their fault.
- Before talking with children about the divorce, Love suggests the parents speak with a professional to learn the appropriate words to use when explaining the situation to them.
- Love also recommends avoiding over-explaining what caused the break-up, and keeping the conversation at an age-appropriate level.
- Consistency and familiarity are the keys to making a child feel safe and secure, by reinforcing structure and trust within their environment.
As advocates of amicable and peaceful divorce, Divorce With Dignity divorce facilitators help our clients work out divorce agreements that are not only fair to each spouse, but that put the needs of the children first. We find that when the focus is on the children, people are better able to put their negative emotions aside for the sake of harmony, just as Mariah and Nick are doing. While we do not advocate divorce, we recognize that sometimes it is the best solution for some couples. If this is your situation, and you would like to talk with a Divorce With Dignity professional about how we can help you plan and achieve a peaceful, friendly, and dignified divorce, please contact us.
The author of this blog is not an attorney and the information contained in these blogs should not be considered legal advice. The information provided here is based on the experience of the author and some of her clients whose actual names are not mentioned. Do not hesitate to seek the advice of an attorney if you have any legal questions.
