Let’s Talk About It!: Chris & Malaak Rock Split… But Who’s Going to Be Responsible for Their Adopted Daughter

Not everybody wants, or needs to be a parent… as we discussed that extensively here, when Mnenawrote about it onBellaNaija. {Click here if you missed it}. A lot of times, adults are so busy focusing on themselves that they don’t pause for a minute to think about the children they’re bringing into their lives. Parenting of a child goes beyond just bearing the title; it involves complete, wholesome care for the child and if you’re unable or unwilling to do that, then there’s no reason why you should have kids – societal expectations be damned can jump into a lake.

This is something I’ve been thinking about since I read the story of the dispute between Chris Rock and his ex-wife Malaak over the child they raised as their own. According to the report by People magazine “the child lived with them “who has resided with the parties since before her first birthday.” (Reports have stated that the girl was born overseas.)

While the adoption by Malaak is not yet finalized, it is actively in process under the rigorous guidelines and safeguards of international adoption policy. The child is in the country lawfully with the written consent of her birth parents, and while here, has been cherished and adored by the entire Rock family.“

As the couple bickers back and forth over child support, I can’t help but wonder about the care for the adopted child. In Nigeria, adoption isn’t one that is readily and openly embraced. {I wrote about it here} It’s still something that people hide and don’t want to openly discuss as an option when they want to start a family. However, we are more open to the alternative of raising the child of a relative, or townsman – without the commitment of having them legally identified as ours. {We also talked about that here}

When you do take up responsibility for a child, what happens in the case of a divorce? Nigeria doesn’t have the strict child support laws as is the case in America; but who is responsible for the care and protection of an adopted child in the case of a divorce?

Do you simply just return the child to the parents – if it’s a guardianship? Or do you take sole custody of the child? Have you ever been in this situation?

Let’s talk about it!

Photo Credit: Getty Images | Larry Busacca