I stole this blog
-
- April
- 30
At least I’m saying so up front, which has to count for something.
Anyway, I did indeed steal this blog entry from one of my favorite single-parent bloggers, Rachel Sarah, who does the singlemomseeking blog. In a recent post, Rachel spoke with former Top Chef contestant Camille Becerra, a single mom who was bounced from the hit cooking show during last season.
Rachel’s blog post reveals that Becerra had to give up all contact with her daughter throughout her time on the show, including the little girl’s birthday. That’s an interesting proposition. So, as Rachel asks, is that something you’d be willing to do?
This entry was posted
on Wednesday, April 30th, 2008 at 1:41 pm by Jorge Fitz-Gibbon.
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Jorge I can’t see anything/job in the world that would take priority over one’s children for any reason. If anyone required that of me, I’d laugh, it’s not even a consideration I’d make for a moment.
1.) No I wouldnt.
2.) I agree with Gina, I feel exactly the same way.
3.) If a GUY had done that, the grandparents on the mother’s side would have sued for custody calling him an unfit parent.
Thats the reality about being a man and a Dad. unfortunatelt this blog is the only one on lohud this can be discussed along with women issues. because we all know lohudMoms. aint about dad’s.
its ok .. i know you have to keep it lowkey.
and poor Jorge has to hear me rant and rave and he has to coast the party line.
She’s a restaurant owner though … if 6 weeks away from your 7-year-old means a new world of opportunity for your small business, I think it’s a well ploted risk to take. And there isn’t even any risk involved.
She clearly has a close, healthy relationship with her Ex and her own family – otherwise she wouldn’t have done it.
She’s definitely not the first parent to be on a reality TV show with zero contact to home. But she’s a single parent. What’s the difference? Clearly there are differences, but in this case it’s a parent taking 6 weeks off to work her butt off…for her daughter’s well-being.
I’m currently on day four of my son’s longest with grandma on record. It’s killing me…don’t know how she did it, but I guess I can understand it. Y
You can read more on my blog at http://www.mssinglemama.com.
I certainly understand the opportunities that can present themselves, but there are certain realities as a parent and each parent should weigh whether they’re comfortable with them. I’m not, based on my own internal makeup and from experience. My kids are grown, and I’ve worked around children for years and the reality is that accidents happen, kids get sick, bad decisions are made quickly and if a parent is not there or able to be reached, some decisions have lasting consequences. Example, child is sick or in an accident of some sort.
If you’re leaving your child in someone else’s care, you need to be sure you give them the proper medical proxies and medical histories. I watched a friend’s child lie on a stretcher for over 8 hours with a broken hip after a car accident at 16 because the parents were out to dinner and couldn’t be reached. No doctor would touch her because she didn’t have life threatening injuries. The driver of the car had a ruptured spleen and needed emergency surgery. Both were thrown out of the car after it hit a tree. His father was found immediately. That’s a real consideration, and once you live through it it changes your perspective.
I’m not addressing the single parent issue here because I don’t think it’s relevant – it’s expensive to raise kids in single or two-parent homes, we all have bills to pay and choices in life styles. There are trade offs in life and each parent has to live with the consequences of their decisions professionally and personally.
I’d hate to use this again, but I do see it as a case-by-case basis. Single Mama makes a good point: If you’re an aspiring singer and success would help you provide for your child, is it worth taking a month away to be on American Idol? I don’t know, but it’s a thought.
Interestingly enough, I was watching Top Chef last night and one of the current contestants, Antonia, is a single mom, and in one scene she is speaking to her daughter on the phone. Maybe they relaxed the rules this season?
Jorge,
now thats a horse of a different color. I dont believe in any job that would sequestor you from your family. unless of course you were a secret agent.
Jorge, I answered to this
blog post reveals that Becerra had to give up all contact with her daughter throughout her time on the show, including the little girl’s birthday. That’s an interesting proposition. So, as Rachel asks, is that something you’d be willing to do?
I don’t believe that under any circumstances should a parent be kept from their children -
I understood your answer, Gina. And I largely agree. I’d have a real hard time being separated from my son for that long without any contact. But the idea that it would be for a cause that would ultimately benefit both me and him is intriguing to me. It depends on what it is. Either way, it would easily be the longest month of my life.
Jorge,
I think the point is: there’s a difference between being out of contact with your child/family. and being told you cant contact your child/family. Unless you are on a capitol case trial and sequestered. Or secret service.. type. I cant see any employee telling you.. you cant talk to your family. I would have a few 2 word phrases to tell them. I am from Brooklyn so you wont have to use too much imagination
And if you like science fiction you can use a few alien languages as well.. But seriously.. a glorified game show telling you now contact with your kids. well if you want it and you talk to your family and they are game. thats fine..
But yeah that would have to be a choice made up front. and not a surprise like. ‘ok now that you work for us and are on this show you are allowed no contact… ’ – that would be wrong.. but ok i do see both sides… not that i think its nice.. but it does happen..
Well thats my 3 cents ..
Who was taking care of her daughter during the period when she couldn’t see her?
I think Steve is right that a father who did this would be considered an unfit parent.
This story in and of itself points out clearly the deficiencies of the single-parent family structure. Beyond that, it’s hard to say much. When something is so fundamentally deficient, it doesn’t make too much sense to quibble a lot over the details.