Many parents would tell you that raising kids is a full-time job that requires full-time pay, medical benefits, and paid holidays. One study even found that being a mother is like having 2.5 full-time jobs. Do you know who would agree? Mothers.
On the other hand, there are at least nine scientific findings about how being an active father impacts a man’s success. But while being a father arguably tends to be more professionally rewarding for some fathers, being a father to too many kids with many different women may present a host of problems that may require them to go on a lot of overtime. This applies only to those who aren’t deadbeat dads. A deadbeat dad is essentially an employee who has gone MIA.
So, if parenting is a full-time job, then men who have multiple children with many different women not only have several full-time jobs but also freelance jobs and multiple bosses. And they’re bound to encounter some performance issues. One such father with several baby mamas who might be having such issues is Nick Cannon.
Baby daddy issues
Recently, one of Nick’s baby mamas, singer and Queen of Christmas Mariah Carey, reportedly wants primary custody of their twins Monroe and Moroccan (11). Per sources close to Mariah, she wants to be the twins’ primary caregiver because she is allegedly not pleased that her baby daddy flits in and out of their lives as he attends to his other kids. Nick and Mariah currently have joint custody.
As of this writing, Nick has 12 biological children with six women. He and Mariah got married in 2008 and then divorced in 2016. Although they are said to be amicable co-parents, Nick’s recent foray into full-time baby daddyhood did not seem to sit well with baby mama number 1.
However, reports claim that even Mariah thinks of Nick as a good father. Because Mariah’s word is gospel, we’ll take her word for it.
Does having multiple baby mamas affect child custody?
So, if reports were true that Mimi wants full custody because the twins are usually with her anyway, would Nick stand a chance of fighting against her wishes?
We do not know. But here’s what we do know.
In general, having multiple children with different baby mamas is not directly relevant to child custody determinations. Instead, the court will focus on the best interests of the child, taking into account factors such as each parent's ability to provide for the child's physical and emotional needs, their relationship with the child, and any history of abuse or neglect. We don’t imagine Nick and Mariah would get into a protracted child custody battle. After all, these are parents who once dressed up in matching Halloween outfits to take their kids out trick-or-treating long after they were divorced.
That said, having multiple children with different partners could indirectly affect child custody. For example, if a parent has multiple child support obligations, they may struggle financially and have a harder time providing for each child's needs. Note that the court will consider the financial stability of each parent. We can argue that since Mariah is way richer than Nick (by hundreds of millions of dollars), she could potentially get a favorable outcome in case they do end up battling it out. But that’s not guaranteed.
Additionally, if a parent has a history of conflict with their previous partners or has a pattern of unstable or unhealthy relationships, this could be considered by the court when determining custody. The court may be more hesitant to award custody to a parent who has a history of relationship issues, as this could impact their ability to co-parent effectively with their former spouse or partner. Mariah once sued an ex-fiancé for millions of dollars for inconveniencing her and won. This has nothing to do with the potential case against Nick Cannon, just a fun bit of trivia about how Mariah Carey is always right.
Note that every custody case is unique, and the court will consider a wide range of factors when making a determination. Having multiple baby mamas or baby daddies is just one factor that may be taken into account. Ultimately, the court's goal is to make a decision that is in the best interests of the child, and they will carefully weigh all relevant factors before making a decision. Even if the judges are big Mariah Carey fans.
Related reading: Deadbeat dads who faked death to avoid paying child support
When parents are divorced or separated and have children together, the issue of child custody can be complex and emotional. Consult Buckingham, LaGrandeur, & Williams for your family law case in Washington State. Leave us a message.