If you follow the news like I do, and by news I mean TMZ.com, you’ve recently been fascinated by Jackson family matriarch Katherine’s kidnapping. Ms. Jackson (if you’re nasty), was reported missing by concerned family members. I say fascinated, not concerned, because it quickly became pretty clear that she hadn’t been kidnapped. But the Jacksons being the epicenter of family drama that they are, rumors started amongst and possibly by themselves started flying. Of course this mostly happened via Twitter, the respected news source you turn to when you’re concerned about a loved one AND milking free publicity. The conspiracy theories ranged from her being drugged to her being held against her will in Arizona to her being there on doctor’s orders. There were accusations of money managers gone awry and, my favorite, there was a throw down at the Jackson family estate amongst the present family members.
What did seem odd though was that Michael Jackson’s three children, who were in her guardianship, did not know the real story of where she was either. Again though, it’s hard to tell as the only real reports of this were via Paris Jackson’s Twitter account. She counted down the days her grandmother was gone, made “just saying'” revelations (i.e. “the same doctor that testified on behalf of dr murray saying my father was a drug addict (a lie) is caring for my grandmother…just saying.”). She even Tweeted a phone number to call if someone knew the Jackson matriarch’s whereabouts. Even with all that, the family propensity towards drama, the infighting and publicity seeking, it seemed there had to be more to the story. Nope. Grandma was tired. Damn tired.
While clearly the wrong choice (she has now lost guardianship of her three grandkids), Katherine indulged in a pervasive mom fantasy: She needed a break, so she took one. She didn’t ask. She didn’t clear her schedule. She didn’t reconcile her school volunteering, sport and enrichment commitments for the kids and have someone take over them for her. She didn’t beg her ex to take the kids so she could get some time to herself (though I think getting sympathy form Joe Jackson would’ve been a long shot anyways) . Hells no. Katherine explained to TMZ.com that she felt like taking a “short vacation.” And why didn’t she call? “One reason I didn’t call is I just gave up my phone and I didn’t want to have any phone calls while I was her” in Arizona. Irresponsible? Totally. But you’ve thought about picking up and going away from your kids and being unreachable, haven’t you? Admit it.
So, Katherine Jackson, I half raise a glass to you (of water, because I actually have not left my kids for a vacation despite desperately wanting and needing one) for living out all our mom fantasies of taking the time we need for ourselves without anyone’s permission except our own. Oh, and good thing you rested up because you’re about to have a hell of a reentry into family life.
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