Debbie Rowe: Whatever Is Best for the Children

A photo of Debbie Rowe, Michael’s mother of two children, Prince and Paris, is available, showing her with tearful eyes watching her children on stage at the Michael Jackson memorial ceremony held on July 7. In 2003, on a program broadcast on British television, Debbie said: "Whether you give birth or someone else is pregnant, it doesn’t automatically make you a mother or a father. My children don’t call me 'mom' because I don’t want them to call me that." Debbie married Michael in 1996 and divorced him in 1999. Their children, Prince and Paris, were born in 1997 and 1998. After separating from Michael, Debbie gave custody of the children to him. Mark Schaffel, Debbie’s friend and Michael’s former business partner—who sued Michael a few years ago over financial issues and who had been a porn film producer before being hired by Michael—said: "Debbie wants what’s best for the children. She wants the children to be cared for." Regarding Michael’s death, Debbie said she had lost her "best friend." After Michael’s death, she said she did not give up her right to custody of the children, and that under California law, if the children want it and she is able, she can regain custody of the children. She said she is pursuing custody rights for Prince, Paris, and also Blanket. Blanket was born through an anonymous surrogate mother. Row is currently taking care of her horses and dogs at a ranch in Palmdale, California. Schaffel says Debbie loves the children and over these years has tried to meet them. If Row has never pursued custody rights, why is she thinking about it now? Schaffel answers this question. "Debbie wanted Michael to take care of the children. That’s what she wanted. But when Katherine is the guardian of the children, Row is worried about the potential impact that her grandfather, Joe Jackson, could have on their lives. Obviously, Michael had a very, very bad relationship with his father. He did not mention Joe in his will. He named his mother as the guardian of the children. If Michael said that in the past his father beat him and mistreated him with violence, then he wouldn’t want his children to be exposed to such treatment like he was." Debbie Rowe said that if they cannot reach an agreement on this matter, she will ask the court to issue an order keeping Joe Jackson away from the children. Schaffel said that if custody is granted to Debbie, she will not prevent the Jackson family from seeing the children. "People don’t know Debbie. If one of her horses or dogs gets sick, she stays awake all night watching over it. Debbie isn’t an unfeeling person. She is a kind, warm-hearted person with a maternal sense." Source: eMJey / People