Jessica Simpson = Mother?

by Nicki Bradley | More from this Blogger

04 Apr 2006 05:16 PM

Strolling through the check-out aisle today, a headline caught my eye. I'm not usually big on celebrity gossip but I had to do a double-take. It can't be true. The headline read:

"Jessica Simpson plans to adopt a baby"

Excuse me, what? This is Jessica "chicken of the sea" Simpson we're talking about? You have got to be kidding me. Really now, this celebrity motherhood "fad" has gone off the deep end. Enough is enough.

At 25 years old and separated from her husband, Nick Lachey, for only four months, rumors abound that Jessica is ready for a new person in her life - a child. Who is to fault for these vicious words? None other than Simpson's publicist, himself, Rob Shuter! I'd call that a credible rumor, for sure.

This isn't the first time we've heard the words adopted and Simpson in the same sentence. Jessica, herself, recently admitted, on the TV show 'Extra' that she would like to adopt before having biological children. She was inspired, she said, by Angelina Jolie, citing all of the amazing work Jolie has done for International Adoption. Great - a trendsetter. That's fabulous. All we need is another Hollywood Fad with babies as the central focus.

I wonder, out loud, is being rich and wanting to "save" someone sufficient reason to become a Mother? How about a large donation to allow a child's natural parent to raise them, themselves, in an impoverished area of the world? Simpson claims to want to "touch someone in a very special way" but does she also want to be a full-time Mother? Or even a part-time one? Please tell me there is more to this story than simply a public desire to "help". Motherhood is so much more than that. Maybe it's an unfair or unrealistic comparison (I sure hope so) but I've seen how Simpson raised (or failed to raise) a puppy on her reality TV show, 'Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica'. If that's a predictor of things to come, I am rightfully worried.

I can't help but wonder if these adoption rumors are an intentional ploy to cause further drama during Ms. Simpson's divorce proceedings. Lachey was rumored to badly desire children during the couple's marriage. When a couple pursues International adoption, there are almost always requirements for length of time married before a couple can be approved as adoptive parents. I think it is a real shame that there aren't also requirements for length of time divorced. What kind of child deserves to be brought into a home with an impending divorce or a newly divorced celebrity mother? Is this really best for the child? Even a child in need? Isn't it just moving a child from one unfortunate situation to another?

Maybe I'm cranky or disillusioned. Surely I'm being judgmental. But I'm just not quite ready to embrace Simpson as Mother.

Learn more about Nicki Bradley

I live in the suburbs of Detroit and I'm happily re-married with six children (3 his, 2 mine, 1 ours) ranging in age from 3.5 to 12.

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Melissa J (13710) 05 Apr 2006 02:48 AM

The thing is, her comment was "I want to adopt, and I plan to adopt before I have my OWN kids," This quote speaks perhaps about her view of what adopted children are. My children by adoption ARE my OWN. I've got court papers to proove it, as well as two sons who don't know any differently--frankly nor do I. If she wants to help an orphaned baby, perhaps she could support healthy functional couples who are longing to be parents--who have the time, but maybe not the large amount of money involved. Babies aren't accessories. I personally think she ought to adopt a puppy.

Anna Glendenning (4234) 05 Apr 2006 01:50 PM

MJ7--its funny we disagree on this subject!

Celebrities have Always adopted and there is nothing new about it. Frankly, I don't have any issue with this at all.

The fact is she will have a home study done just like everyone else. SURE being a celebrity opens doors but that is how the world sometimes works.

I don't know why a celebrity should be judged any more harshly then anyone else. But, it always seems like everyone throws a fit when Angelina, and other people decide to adopt.

Just because this is someone who is published in the papers and we know about her divorce and other personal issue doesn't mean she is not capable of parenting...

Yes--she said till she can have her "Own" children and before I had training I made the same kind of language errors. We know what she meant.

There are people who adopt for all kinds of reasons. I just don't have an issue with an air head adopting as long as she passes the home study.

WordsAplenty (4029) 05 Apr 2006 04:10 PM

Well, I'm all for helping orphans and needy children, but Simpson seems to have a lot of wild oats left to sow. I have no problem with the air-head factor. For one thing, she can't possibly be dumb-- no idiot could have built such a vast empire so quickly. Besides, stupid people have kids all the time. My only concern is that she, like many her age, seems to be in party mode, in "let's think about me" mode. I'm not sure that's what a child needs, especially a child who's already been hurt. But, if and when she's ready to settle down and devote herself to a child, more power to her.

Nicki Bradley (1578) 07 Apr 2006 05:32 PM

Yes, I was going to mention that very thing in my rant - my OWN kids. I know what she means but it is telling to me that she would not consider an adopted baby to be her OWN child.

Nicki Bradley (1578) 07 Apr 2006 05:32 PM

By the way, has anyone read Ashton Kutcher's latest adoption/parenthood comments? Ugh - I feel another rant coming on!