Nick Cannon was once best known for his career as a TV host and musician, but these days, he’s become a bit more famous for his oversized brood of children — 12, to be exact. Since he shares his kids with six different women (including ex-wife Mariah Carey), it’s fair to say that Nick knows the ins and outs of co-parenting, but there’s just one problem: he actually isn’t a fan of that term.
Nick got real about co-parenting on his podcast.
After a fan asked a question about how Nick is “managing multiple co-parenting relationships while dating,” he was quick to point out that since he’s “always kind of had an issue” with the term co-parenting, he prefers to think of it as just “parenting” instead.
“When you start throwing labels on things, I think it does more harm than help and can get very dangerous, because then everybody else has a preconceived notion of what you’re doing,” he added.
He’s willing to admit he doesn’t have it all figured out.
Even as experienced as he is with co-parenting children who travel between two homes, Nick said that he still hasn’t totally “figured it out.”
“I haven’t gotten it all the way right,” he said. “But also to your point, if I just step into every situation with respect and compassion and individuality. That’s the other thing I always do with anyone I’m involved with in my life.”
Nick also explained that he doesn’t like to “group” the mothers of his children together.
Which is probably for the best, considering the fact that they’re real people and not just one unit of “baby mamas,” as Nick described them.
“I don’t bunch them together,” he said. “I really try my hardest not to be like, ‘Oh yeah, my baby mamas’, you know, unless I’m telling a joke or something like that, but no one wants to be grouped into anything.”
Nick added, “Everyone wants to be treated like an individual with respect and compassion.”
They’re not exactly one big happy family, either.
Despite Nick’s best efforts, the mothers of his children aren’t exactly besties. “Do you know six women anywhere that get along?” he joked.
That part isn’t too surprising, but that could always change as the kids continue to grow and get older, too. After all, they’re all connected to Nick — they’re bound to cross paths at some point!
