Mariah Carey doesn't want to have children

The biological clock may be ticking for everyone else, but songstress Mariah Carey, 38, isn’t afraid of it. Instead, she’s convinced she won’t be having children because it would leave her feeling "violated… I know that’s a kind of weird thing to say, but that’s how I am." She feels that she wouldn’t be able to take care of a child.

It’s hard to have kids in this world. I don’t think I could properly educate a child right now. Maybe in the future, but I actually haven’t thought about it. For now I enjoy my dog Jack’s company. It’s definitely because of childhood traumatic stuff. The whole not wanting to have a baby as a baby.

Source: New York Daily News

Thanks to CBB reader Bre.

Comments

Jenni on April 24th, 2008

Good for her for realizing she doesn’t want kids now and not after she got knocked up. Too many people today think having a child will “fix” their relationship, life, etc. Having kids is hard work-even when it’s fun.

Jennifer on April 24th, 2008

While I totally understand her not wanting to have children, I am confused by her saying, “The whole not wanting to have a baby as a baby.”

She is aware that she is almost 40 and not 16 right? Am I misunderstanding this quote??

tink1217 on April 24th, 2008

at least she is honest, although somewhat of a strange comment!! Mariah is gorgeous and talented and if she doesn’t want children, thats fine.

asm1976 on April 24th, 2008

LOL @ Jennifer!!! I was thinking the same thing………I am confused by that comment……….knowing Mariah, she may not be aware yet.LOL But I’m glad she just admitted she doesn’t want to have kids, as opposed to some of the other celebrities out there who obviously don’t want kids.

Jess on April 24th, 2008

I think the “not having a baby as a baby” comment meant that during her childhood, she didn’t want to have children either because of the trauma she was going through. I had to read the whole comment to get what she meant.

Cordelia's Mommy on April 24th, 2008

OMG Jennifer, LOL!!! that is exactly what I thought and read it as too! but think about the lifestyle she leads, she sort of has the luxury of still being, as she puts it, ‘a baby’. good for her! and, good for her for being honest that having a baby isn’t the right choice for her with that lifestyle.

Rims on April 24th, 2008

I commend her for acknowledging her selfishness and for not bringing children into this word whom she would later pawn off on nannies. She’s not falling for the en vogue thing in Hollywood now which is to have a baby or be pregnant.

Ashley on April 24th, 2008

It always irritates me when celebs who are pushing 40 say they’re not ready to have a baby. That’s all well and good, but then they fertility issues in their 40s and wonder what happened. It’s because you’re in your 40s! Now I’m not saying I disapprove of people having kids when they’re older, I don’t! But the truth is that the biological clock is always ticking…some are luckier than others when it comes to reproducing.

And Mariah, IMO, needs to realize that she doesn’t have the next 20 years (most likely) to decide whether or not she can have a baby. She’s a beautiful gal, and she’s had a lot of success in her life. If she doesn’t want kids at all, period, hey, that’s her perogative, but if she still thinks she can have kids in 10 years, time, I hope she’s ready to face the harsh reality that SOMETIMES, people aren’t that lucky.

Becky's Daughter on April 24th, 2008

Jennifer, you’re not misunderstanding the quote at all. I think maybe she’s mentally locked at an age that’s younger than her chronological age. She was once quoted as saying she is “eternally 12″ (as in 12 years old!), which would probably explain the baby having a baby comment.

But even still, she seems mature enough to know that one of her roles in life does not include motherhood. Parenthood is serious business and should not be entered into irresponsibly. Good for her that she realizes that.

Claire on April 24th, 2008

Good for her! It probably won’t be the most popular opinion, but I hope people don’t flame her for it. if works for her, that is the most important thing.

jaQ on April 24th, 2008

jennifer, i think she meant that she had a traumatic childhood, and when she was young (“a baby”) didn’t want kids, not that she herself was a baby now.

Natalie S. on April 24th, 2008

Bravo!!! I think it’s great when people know children aren’t meant for them.

erica alayne on April 24th, 2008

The way she worded this is kind of odd, but I respect the fact that she isn’t bringing a child into this world when she knows that she doesn’t want to. Motherhood isn’t for everyone (I’m personally not one of them, I always have wanted children, and I love my almost two year old to death), and I appreciate when I hear a woman be candid about it. It makes a lot of other women out there feel okay about not wanting to have children.

Ash on April 24th, 2008

Maybe the “having a baby as a baby thing” means that she still doesn’t feel like she’s grown up enough to take care of a child. I know a lot of people who are like that. One of my sisters continued partying right up until her second pregnancy because she just couldn’t cut ties with that part of her life. She already had a child and was still acting like a teenager. Fortunately she’s learned her lesson I think, but I think that might be what Mariah was implying. Raising her child requires one to put themselves second, and maybe she doesn’t feel that she’s mature enough to do that. Or maybe some things happened when she was younger that she just hasn’t gotten over yet.

amandamay on April 24th, 2008

I’m not a fan of Mariah, but I’m glad she won’t be having children as a “vanity project” like a lot of celebs do. Children aren’t fashion accessories for nannies to raise. Good for her for knowing she wouldn’t be able to commit to that kind of responsibility. Makes me like her a bit more

Sheba on April 24th, 2008

I think she meant she felt herself to still be a baby, at least emotionally. It’s happens a lot with children who go through abuse or trauma. Your mental growth is either stunted or it slows down A LOT and even with therapy you never really catch up to your peers who had pleasant childhoods. I was an abused child so I know exactly what she’s talking about. Some abuse children grow up and are able to raise happy, well-adjusted, mentally healthy children. But some just don’t feel capable of doing that.

She maybe almost 40 in body, but that doesn’t mean she’s 40 in mind.

Christine on April 24th, 2008

Too many celebrity mothers have babies only to let nannies or night nurses raise them and take care of them and then they run to the nearest job that will put them back into the spotlight.

Kudos to Mariah and Sarah Michelle Prinze who have indicated that they are too busy enjoying their lives as they are to have children at this juncture. They are not falling victim to having a baby just because it seems like everyone else is doing it.

When the time is right (if ever) they will be ready.

mrsb on April 24th, 2008

Maybe she means her Mum had her when she was very young?

angela on April 24th, 2008

Jennifer, I think she means she doesn’t want to have a child that’s a baby, as opposed to having a child that’s older.

Maybe?

Monika on April 24th, 2008

lol @ violated. its probably for thes best. after all shed have to share her hello kitty collection with a girl if she had one. @@

Sheba on April 24th, 2008

I think Mariah is well aware that her fertility has expiration date. She may appear to be a ditz, but I know for a fact that you don’t last as long as she has in the music business by being stupid or naive. And I’m sure like most women, she goes to get annual GYN exams and more than likely her doctor has mentioned her “advanced maternal age”.

I think she isn’t worried about when her fertility expires. Maybe she’ll adopt. Maybe she’ll make a terrific godmother. Maybe she’ll be a terrific aunt. (She does have a sister, who I believe is HIV-positive.) Maybe she’ll make a terrific foster mother. Maybe she’ll be like Stevie Nicks. A terrific musician whose legacy will be her body of musical works.

Angel on April 24th, 2008

She did say she enjoys the company of her dog Jack. So maybe the whole “baby as a baby” comment was referring to just that. Some people refer to their dogs as their babies. She is okay with having a dog as a baby but not an actual baby as a baby. I don’t see how you can compare the two but those with no kids seem to really be attached to their pets. I’m sure she knows her clock is ticking and is probably referring to adopting.

jasmine on April 24th, 2008

“The whole not wanting to have a baby as a baby”…

Maybe she meant she doesn’t want to have a *baby*…like she likes kids but she doesn’t want to or is scared to take care of, or give birth to, a baby. Maybe babies make her squeamish. =/

Shaunie on April 24th, 2008

I’m still not exactly sure what she means by “have a baby as a baby”.

On one hand I think she truely believes she is still really young in that “she shouldn’t be having a baby, she’s still practically a baby herself” kind of way.

On the other hand I was thinking that she means she doesn’t want an infant at any point. She seems like the type that would be completely put off by having to change diapers, listen to constant crying, and getting up in the middle of the night. But could possibly handle taking care of an older child. So she might be referring to adoption as an option, especially if you think having a child would show how feel “violating”; pregnancy and child birth might not the way to go (if that is even what she means, the whole quote is worded strangely).

She might have been using the term “baby” like some do even though they are talking about a 4 year old, or even their 14 year old its still “the baby” or “my baby” LOL.

ang on April 24th, 2008

i thought she meant she wanted to have a dog as a baby instead of a baby as a baby. mariah is cool, i hope she never regrets her decision, esp when it is too late….

Marie on April 24th, 2008

I’m so happy that everyone here applauds her honesty! I am 42 and although I *love* children, I have never wanted to have my own. I really respect women who realize this about themselves and are not afraid to say it. So many people don’t understand when I tell them I choose not to have children. It’s like being at a party and saying you don’t drink–people look at you like you have two heads!

Chana on April 24th, 2008

Good for her. Having no desire to be a mom is not a detriment and it is NOT selfish. I’m glad she’s not giving in!

Erin on April 24th, 2008

I’m always surprised by the number of people who automatically think that when a woman nearing 40 says she’s not ready, that means she wants to biologically have a child in the future. It’s NOT better to have a child just because you won’t be able to in the future. Adoption is a wonderful thing, too!

Meaghan on April 24th, 2008

Monika – I don’t think it’s appropriate to laugh at her mention of feeling violated if she had a child. Perhaps she suffered from sexual abuse and would not feel comfortable with a child growing in her body and possibly birthing that child vaginally. You never know what certain people go through and you certainly shouldn’t laugh at them.

Natasha on April 24th, 2008

GOOD 4 HER!!! VERY ADMIRABLE.

Maddie on April 24th, 2008

the whole ‘having a baby as a baby’ comment – Mariah’s sister Allison had her first baby when she was 15, thus she was ‘a baby having a baby.’ Maybe that’s where the fear comes from? also her family life was quite rough growing up. I, for one, would love to see Mariah as a mom, but good on her for realising that she doesn’t want them, or need them to feel happy.

Renee on April 24th, 2008

I’m surprised so many people are accusing celebrities of having babies as accessories. In case some of you didn’t notice, regular people have babies just for the sake of having kids but no one is attacking them even if they don’t take good care of their children.

brooke on April 24th, 2008

I never pictured her as a mother, she just never seemed the mommy type or into kids from all the interviews and articles I read on her. Same with janet jackson IMO

CelebBabyLover on April 25th, 2008

Renee- I couldn’t have said it better myself! While some celebs may have babies as a “vanity project” or an “accesory”, that doesn’t seem to be the case for a lot of them. For example, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck seem to be extremely hands-on with Violet. So do Angelina and Brad with their kids (Angie has even said that, while they do have nannies, they would prefer not to.).

Even Tom and Katie, despite all the critcisim they’ve gotten about various things over the past few years, seem to be very hands-on with Suri.

one_love on April 25th, 2008

Mariah’s mom Patricia did not have Mariah young. Mariah was the third child for her parents and her older brother and sister are 9 and 10 years older than Mariah respectfully. Mariah’s issues with sex stem from her older sister Alison who was involved in child prostitution and had a baby at 15, and became HIV + in her late teens. Mariah was witness to all of these events from a young age. When and if she’s ready, she’ll have children. She’s been in a stable relationship for the past 5 years, so if she doesn’t want them…she doesnt.

Aj on April 26th, 2008

Now there’s a gal with a clear head.

kim on April 27th, 2008

From what I understand, Mariah didn’t have a happy childhood. Came from a broken home, she never fit in (partly because she’s bi-racial), never one of the “cool” kids. Her remark “not wanting to have a baby as a baby” indicates that she’s thought about this since she was a kid which is to bring a human being into a world where you’re constantly judged by how you look just isn’t worth it.

bearcakes on May 9th, 2008

I read recently where Mariah said that her and Nick Cannon want kids very soon. I love them as a couple, and know they would be good parents and have gorgeous kids. Good luck to them!

CelebBabyLover on May 11th, 2008

bearcakes- Why would Mariah have said last month that she doesn’t want kids, only to turn around and announce this month that she DOES want kids?

Mel on May 11th, 2008

celebbabylover – bearcakes most likely isn’t Mariah, you’d have to ask Mariah that.

A friend in my class heard something about her wanting kids now too, bearcakes. We thought it sounded odd since she just said she didn’t want them, but this is Mariah so you never know.

brannon on May 11th, 2008

She did make that announcement! Maybe the first announcement came out of some kind of “easy response” to all of the people who kept asking her about children while she was still single? I know as a single person that when people continuously ask me about whether or not I want more children I feel a little awkward and it’s really hard to not just snap back! This may have just been a good cover. OR maybe now that she is in love it is something she is considering! Either way – good for her

Rebecca on May 11th, 2008

CelebBabyLover, it was a pretty rush job wedding so there’s a possibility that her new husband “changed her mind” (you know, “Oh, you want kids? Ok honey, anything to make you happy!”)