For most parents, co-parenting isn’t a buzzword. It’s survival.
However, for Nick Cannon, father of 12 children, it’s not even a thing. He doesn’t believe in the term at all.
On a recent episode of his podcast, Nick Cannon @ Night, he answered a fan’s question about how he manages multiple co-parenting relationships while dating.
Labels aren’t the problem, Nick
The star shares his children with six women: Monroe and Moroccan with Mariah Carey, Golden, Powerful, and Rise with Brittany Bell, Zion and Zillion with Abby De La Rosa, Legendary with Bre Tiesi, Onyx with LaNisha Cole, and Halo and Zen with Alyssa Scott.
“Curious to hear Nick’s perspective on managing multiple co-parenting relationships while dating. It’s a unique situation that could offer some real insights for blended families,” the listener wrote.
Cannon’s response? He’s “always kind of had an issue” with the term co-parenting. He believes we should just call it “parenting.”
“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 explained.
“I haven’t figured it out yet. I haven’t gotten it all the way right. But… 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.”
Easy for him to say.
Just last month, the guy with a self-proclaimed “king complex” forgot the names of two of his children when asked if he’d consider having more.
On “The Really Good Podcast” with Bobbi Althoff, he rattled off ten, paused mid-roll, then floundered, eventually recalling the final two only with prompting.
Cannon’s version of “parenting” seems to come with private jets, a full staff, and a scheduling system that would put NASA’s mission control to shame. For everyone else, co-parenting is a carefully balanced act involving court orders, Google Calendars, and awkward handovers in car parks.
Co-parenting isn’t a toxic label.
By dismissing it, Cannon risks making an already challenging reality even harder for the millions of parents living it every day.
“Isn’t that what he’s doing with his football team of kids?”
The internet agrees, with many slamming his take as out of touch on Instagram.
“Clearly, he doesn’t believe in anything that starts with “co.” Co-parenting, commitment, common sense, constant presence and condoms,” wrote one commenter.
“But isn’t that what he’s doing with his football team of kids? What else would you call it,” another argued.
A third added: “Well… when you forget your children’s names… I believe the term is No-Parenting, right?”
Here’s the thing. Calling it co-parenting gives people a term they can Google at 2am when they’re desperate for advice.
It connects them to books, podcasts, court guidelines, and communities of people navigating the same terrain.
For most, co-parenting is splitting Christmas mornings, negotiating over who gets the kid’s soccer final, and texting through gritted teeth about missing school hats. It’s working with, not against, your child’s other parent to make life as seamless as possible.
I asked the Kidspot team for their thoughts.
Leah could understand what he was putting down.
“I wouldn’t have thought it that way, but I see where he’s going,” she said.
However, she jokingly warns, “anyone dating him should expect to have ten children.”
Cassidy is clear about the coparenting vs parenting label.
“As someone who is not a parent, I have no legitimate thoughts other than I fear he is doing neither,” she said.
The reality is, he can reject the label if he wants, but for millions of parents, co-parenting isn’t a label.
It’s the glue holding their family together.
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