Kelis: Single Motherhood Is ‘Hard’ but ‘Awesome, Too’

Seth Browarnik/Startraks

Life is what you make it, and for Kelis the glass is definitely half-full!

In the wake of her high-profile split from rapper Nas, the singer-songwriter concedes in a new interview with the Guardian that “it’s hard being a working, single mother.”

However “on the flipside,” she continues, “it’s awesome, too.”

As she raises son Knight, 14 months, Kelis points out that there is only one voice that matters — hers.

“You only have to worry about yourself,” she explains. “It’s only your influence and your ideas.”

Although she hasn’t ruled out the possibility that someday there might be “room for someone else to be involved,” for the time being Kelis, 31, says she is content to maintain the status quo.

“I’m raising Knight how I think he should be raised,” she adds. “He’s a great baby.”

Comments

B.J. on September 20th, 2010

Happy to see this article, I have her new album and she references her son a few times. The songs are great (if you like electro music, which I do!)

kai on September 20th, 2010

can’t say I agree with those quotes about “only your influence”, but whatever, I’m too distracted by those earrings. Woah!

miche on September 20th, 2010

I would think it would be harder, because she and her ex probably aren’t as much as of a team when it comes to decision making. The ex might have different ideas or rules. I had several friends with divorced parents who said that one parent would often undermine the other’s authority to seem “cool” when they were younger.

Good luck to her as a single mom – I think that’s the hardest job of all!

Kim on September 20th, 2010

In my opinion being a single mother is hard. But whether you like it or not there are other outside influences. The other half should be actively involved in decision making. From what I have read it shouldn’t be too hard with that hefty child support check she gets.

CelebBabyLover on September 21st, 2010

Kim- I see your point, but money doesn’t just magically make things perfect, either. Kelis may not have the fininacial problems that a lot of us “regular” people do, but that doesn’t mean single motherhood is always easy for her!

That being said, I agree with you about the other half being involved in decision making. Kelis’s comments confused me a little bit, too. Only her influence and ideas count? What about the baby’s father’s? Then again, maybe Nas isn’t involved in Knight’s up-bringing at all. We really don’t know the situation.

H on September 21st, 2010

I am always confused why people think money makes any diffrence to being a mother, how ever much money you have doesn’t help when making hard decisions about everything!, bottle/breast , when to wean , what nursery, what school, to have immunisation or not how to discipline your child and being a single mother is twice as hard because its on your shoulders, theres no one at home to talk it through with and if the relationship with the father has broken down to point where if you say black he says white just to make a point then everything is on you.

money helps with costs, bills, cars, food but thats what being an adult is all about , its nothing to do with what kind of parent you will be. good luck kelis xxx your right its tough but soooo worth it

ILuvPerfectParents on September 21st, 2010

“It’s only your influence and your ideas.” “I’m raising Knight how I think he should be raised,”.
>>>>>>>
Pay me child support for our son but I will raise him as I want with my ideas & influences? :/ Maybe I’m reading to much into this interview.

Shannon on September 21st, 2010

What about his father’s “influence and ideas” – they don’t count?

Marija on September 21st, 2010

I am a single mom to an 8 and a half months old boy! I am sorry but I don’t find it hard one bit. I am a happy mom raising literary that happiest baby on the block. I have very flexible hours so we are always together. He also spends an hour or two a day with his grandparents/my parents. While pregnant and on maternity I have managed to finish my PhD which I prolonged for a year or so just because I didn’t feel like writing. I also managed to write a shopping guide for rookie parents for the city I live in.

It was hard the first two months but I got the hang of it and I have truly never been happier.

We have no contact with his father – it was his decision. I always knew I will be a single mom from the min I found out I was pregnant so I don’t know any different.

I started dating again a month ago when he was 7 and a half months old.

Amanda on September 21st, 2010

Unless the father has nothing to do with the child he should have some count too. But I can’t get past the earrings or nose ring to think clearly…

tobeornottobe on September 21st, 2010

Is this child’s father completely out of the picture? If he isn’t… then she’s very wrong! Luckily I was raised my a mother who made it very clear that a father is much more than just a monthly check!

Stella Bella on September 21st, 2010

I don’t know what her situation is, but if the dad decided to leave and then is not a presence in his son’s life… Nope, he doesn’t have any influence!

mp on September 26th, 2010

I suspect she’s saying this because Nas has decided not to have any contact with Knight. He supposedly claimed in divorce papers that he wasn’t the father. His loss.