Nick Cannon is opening up about how he balances a demanding career with being a father of 12.
In a new interview with Us Weekly, the proud dad gave a glimpse into just how complicated things can get when several of his children need him at the same time.
“Yeah, like, I’m in Alabama right now doing a promo run for Wild ‘N Out. I was at a double parent teacher conference for my son and my first-grade daughter, happening at the exact same time,” he shared. “And then I had just came from guitar lessons with my 4-year-old, so it’s like, that was my evening before I went to jump on the plane … I don’t know how I do it.”
Despite the hectic schedule, Cannon, 45, said he “wouldn’t change it for anything.”
When asked whether his children ever tell him they want more time with him, he acknowledged that it is something he struggles with.
“I don’t care if you have one kid or 100 kids. They’re always gonna desire more time,” Cannon said. “You’re always gonna want to give more time. I feel that guilt daily.”
He continued, “I always want to say yes, but obviously, work and other things always get in the way. [As] long as you have equanimity and a healthy balance, and they know you’re trying.”
Cannon believes his children understand that he cannot always be everywhere at once.
“You know, I think my kids know I love them unconditionally, and they know Dad’s not perfect by any means, but he’s trying to do his best.”
Away from work, much of his schedule revolves around school and his children’s activities, including basketball, karate, jiu-jitsu, tap, piano and guitar lessons. Being there for those moments matters to Cannon because his own parents often had to miss his childhood recitals.
“My mom was working three jobs and my dad lived across the country,” he recalled. “So I take that stuff very seriously.”
Parenting 11 living children comes with its share of unexpected moments, too. Cannon recently took one of his sons to urgent care after the child got a Q-tip stuck in his ear. Another of his kids has been dealing with bullying at school.
“Every day it’s something,” he said.
“One of the toughest challenges is you want to give everybody your all,” he continued. “I have 12 kids — everybody’s not going to be happy with me and I’m pretty sure we’ll hear everything they have to say when they become adults.”
His oldest children, 15-year-old twins Moroccan and Monroe, whom he shares with ex-wife Mariah Carey, are already thinking about their futures. Both have shown an interest in entertainment, while Monroe is considering studying theater at NYU or Pepperdine.
Cannon wants them to enjoy performing before treating it like a profession.
“Find the love of it first,” he said. “Do as many school plays and recitals as you want, and then you cultivate it. [They] have to have fun. It’s not a job; it’s a hobby.”
