JANET JACKSON wants to become the primary guardian of her late brother MICHAEL’s three children after becoming a "mother figure" to the kids as they grieve the loss of their beloved dad, according to U.S. tabloid reports.
Michael Jackson nominated his mother Katherine to take care of Prince Michael, 12, Paris, 11, and seven-year-old Prince Michael II, aka Blanket, in his will. She was given temporary guardianship of her grandkids immediately after her son’s death on 25 June (09).
Janet has stepped in to help the ageing matriarch look after the youngsters, with older brother Jackie telling OK! magazine, "(The kids) are doing great. Mum and Janet are taking care of them." The Nasty hitmaker, who has always been close to her niece and nephews, has grown closer to them since Michael’s passing and new reports suggest Janet’s prepared to take care of them full time.
A source says, "They (the children) have chosen her as their confidante and mother figure. They are already showing signs of separation anxiety when she leaves them. She feels her place is at their side.
"Janet has completely bonded with those children in the last two weeks. She has been their rock. It’s clear to everyone that they are looking to her for comfort and guidance. Janet is blossoming as a woman with tremendous untapped maternal instincts." The R&B singer, who is dating producer Jermaine Dupri, has long expressed her desire to become a mum and insiders claim she is the kids’ perfect guardian because she has learned how to keep her personal life out of the spotlight: "Janet is not only willing to raise those children, she also is the only relative who knows how to protect them. Janet knows the value of a private life and knows how to keep her personal life out of the news. She is determined to do that for Michael’s children. She is saying that he would want no less for them, pointing out how far he went to shelter them." According to In Touch Weekly, Michael himself realised his younger sister would be a good motherly figure for his daughter in particular A pal tells the publication, "Although Michael played the role of both mother and father to his kids, he wanted Janet to talk to Paris about female issues. He was smart enough to realise that she needed a female role model." And Michael’s spiritual advisor, Reverend June Gatlin, reveals it was always the Thriller star’s intention for his superstar sister to play a key role in his kids’ lives.
She adds, "He trusted Janet to take the kids." Katherine Jackson will learn if she will be granted full custody of her grandchildren in the next court hearing on 20 July (09). Jackson’s ex-wife Debbie Rowe, the mother of the eldest two kids, is expected to challenge the star’s family for custody.
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