Michael Jackson's Children: Inside Their Lives

people.com:

According to family friend Gotham Chopra, the late star's eldest son Prince is a "fun kid" who "has a lot of energy." He describes Paris as "very thoughtful, very caring, and very sensitive" and quiet Blanket as "a lot like Michael."

As PEOPLE reported in 2007, by all accounts, the kids are bright, well-behaved and seemingly well-adjusted. A spokesman from the National Zoo, who accompanied the family on a visit, told PEOPLE at the time, "I was struck by how considerate and nice and normal they all were." Jackson's longtime bodyguard Miko Brando recently echoed that sentiment. "They are well-mannered, well-behaved kids," he said. "They are really level-headed."

Read the whole story: people.com

Comments

[peachykeen]

Whatever the courts do, I hope they don't let Joe Jackson anywhere near those kids. He'll do the same things he did to Michael. He's been doing nothing but promoting himself since Michael died and he'd love to get his hands on those kids' money.

[wonkguy]

Cute kids. Stay in school, move away from Hollywood and go to college.

[sexyrexy]

they should be schooled in Europe( like Switzerland) where people tend to be open-minded.

[urnumbersix]

These kids appear to be A-OK.
Did anyone else notice this one?

At the memorial - when the Jacksons were on stage at the end - Paris was fidgeting around in her purse and Janet shot her one of those "Mom-looks" that says "cut it out/behave" - and Paris immediately straightened up, without any pouting or attitude. Sign of a well-raised child. And of how close Paris is to Janet. (Along with her going into Janet's arms after her statement to the audience.) I loved it!

[piul05]

You're right. I also remember that, at that moment, the eldest boy reached for his aunt as she embraced Paris. Throughout the service, there were obvious signs of emotional connection and familiarity between the childen and their family.

Let's hope ambulance chasers just go away.

[rozmill]

My heart goes out to the family and the children of MJJ. They are truly a class act. I thought the memorial and the way they all came up and thanked everyone afterward was done with taste and thoughtfulness towards his fans. It had the potential of turning into an extravaganza, but thankfully it was very low-key and dedicated to Michael as a son, father, brother, friend and then entertainer. I think everyone, including the thousands of fans that were there, handled themselves with grace and dignity. It just goes to show how very much the man was loved. Putting aside all the bad press he's had over these past few years, MJJ, was number one, a human being. There isn't a human being who hasn't made mistakes. I will remember that and I choose to remember him as the good man that he was, in my eyes. I don't care how anyone else feels.

[blaqntelligence]

rozmill, I share your feeling. Thank you.

[Pachito]

Joe Jackson already planning the new Jackson Family? Read what he says here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090710/ap_on_en_mu/us_michael_jackson_investigation

[ocotilla]

Leave the kids alone. They should be entitled to the same privacy as the Obama kids.

[katzook]

Why can't people just leave these children out of it!! Have they not lost enough? Michael was their father....THE END!! He was the one that tucked them into bed at night, he was the one that they called father...he was the one that they have ALWAYS known as father!!! Have we become such cold individuals that we care not for children’s feelings!!! What would it matter if they turned out to not share his DNA??? Would that change anything for any of you out there? Would any of you get anything out of it besides the fact that you can lie down at night and know that you just opened the door to these three children’s pain? They’ve never questioned who their father was…why should we? Why do we back the Paparazzi or the major news agencies who really are only concerned with making the all mighty dollar? And care not who they destroy along the way. You can say well it’s the price they pay for being stars….well as far as I’m concerned they paid the price by giving us the entertainment! And Michael paid beyond that by donating the most to charities by any celebrity in the history of entertainment!! What more should he have to pay? If you love him why not show some love and let it be!!! Leave these poor children alone and let them morn the death of their father in peace.

[ash1aunt]

I agree with you 100%. In my eyes a father is someone who the children look up to and trust and someone to get the monsters out from under the bed and tucks you in at night and to confert you when you are sick.

[vippy]

The little one looks a lot like Michael. The other two resemble their mother, Debbie Rowe. Since they are so well adjusted it just kind of blows the thing about Michael's molestation issues right out of the water. I have never believed it, not for a minute. Just because Michael was different, people had to
allege weird and strange things to him.

[camanokat]

Also: Just because MJ was rich, people could allege wierd and strange things to extort $$$$ from him. Sad.

[sexyrexy]

the elder ones don't look like Debbie Rowe outside 'they're white'.. have you seen Rowe's younger pic?? no resemblance at all!

[ShakeYourComplacency]

Being "considerate and well-mannered" can be a good thing, but it's no indicator of "normal." What would be normal would be the kids feeling free and comfortable in their surroundings to be a little loud, act out once in a while, run around or whatever. That's normal. I get the impression that Michael was a control freak and if he was, then there's not doubt that he had the kids on a strict schedule with rules to be abided by. Michael's father was an abuser and a disciplinarian, and no doubt Michael would fight against that tendency and want to do the opposite with his kids, but you can't change your upbringing, and some of that strictness would be passed along. As well as Michael's desire to control his life, because when he was young he had no control and was helpless. In light of that, it's unlikely these kids had any kind of "normal" upbringing. The way they talk about "cousins and puppies" it sounds like the best thing for these kids, it sounds normal and exactly what they need. Their life may actually be a lot better now. Good luck to them.

[katzook]

Wow! What an incredibly cold comment to make that “their life may actually be a lot better now". Their father died!! And who ever said that they never “acted out once in a while…or ran around”? And what exactly is “normal”? You ended with “Good luck to them”….your comment was unbelievable!!

[blaqntelligence]

From all this "insider knowledge" is it safe to assume you were the nanny?
Michael Jackson's assistant?
The children's physician?
No? Really?
Shocking.......

"I get the impression that Michael was a control freak and if he was, then there's not doubt that he had the kids on a strict schedule with rules to be abided by."
When my children were that age, I did the exact same thing. There was a time to wake up, go to bed, eat meals, play, do chores.....What is your point?
He was a parent, he made rules, just like most parents to.

"Their life may actually be a lot better now."
My dear Lord!!! Their father is dead, and their lives "may actually......" WHAT????!!!??

[rzan1]

Well, Dr.ShakeYo­urComplace­ncy, that was pretty cold!

[piul05]

This is nothing to do with being well-behaved - although I can see where you're coming from, as many people associate good upbringing with the good ole' "being seen not heard" Victorian motto. However, by all accounts, the kids are very "normal", the eldest is boisterous, the girl is thoughtful, the little one is sensitive; they were at a dinner with their extended family and they fooled around like any kid their age - running in between tables, teasing, laughing out loud, chatting...children of control freaks' don't do that; and they certainly dont' show empathy with their siblings/r­ealtives/f­ather's public because they're either too busy trying to figure a way out of their childhood nightmare, or learning to be manipulative themselves.

So, really, all indications are that he did a great job, and was far more "normal" than many of the soccer parents we see around.

Given what we objectively know, it would be much more decent for you to express your condolences to three children who lost a much beloved parent, rather than suggest that they are better off without him.

[Yvonne Weston]

Just leave the children "alone"!!

[AmyRenee]

http://sjsandteam.wordpress.com/2009/06/28/jordan-chandler-admits-he-lied-about-michael-jackson/

[superaunt]

According to MJ's brother Marlon,how much can a person take?I think that the media inflamed and try to spin everything about MJ's short life on planet earth.He could not do anything good without someone finding something negative to say. Well he is in a much happier place than his critics right now.No wonder King David in the bible said, that he would rather be judged by God than by man, because you know why? God is just, and man is not!

[XCITIZEN]

Great respect for your words. THANK YOU.

[blaqntelligence]

I second that and offer a thank you as well.

[sexyrexy]

isn't that t he truth??! as man does have frailties such as jealousy,envy, etc.

[GunneraGirl]

i always thought the smartest, least eccentric thing michael jackson ever did was to mask his children's faces in public.

the past 48 hours proves his policy was sheer genius.

[Bluejay00234]

Yep.

[blaqntelligence]

Your words made me think of this:

Michael Jackson was perfectly willing, and comfortable allowing himself to be a lightening rod where his children were concerned. While they were with him they were masked and scarved.
When they were with others, away from him, they moved freely, unmasked and unscarved. Anonymous.
While fully aware of the controversy he created by masking his kids, he made the sacrifice (another platform to ridicule him from) for his kids.
How many of us have placed ourselves in uncomfortable situations to protect our children?
I wholeheartedly agree with GunneraGirl, it was a brilliant and loving move on his part.
Father truly does know best.

[ddDinah]

Also, I wanted to say that the youngest boy resembles Michael, is Michael the biological father? All three children seem to be a tribute to Michael as father.

[BlueTidalWave]

Does it really matter? Zahara is not 'biologically' related to Angelina Jolie, but is she not still her mother?

[ddDinah]

If only Michael had realized that his obligation was not only to be a good parent and protect and keep his child safe, it was also his responsiblity to keep himself safe and out of harms way, so that he could be here for them.

[Bluejay00234]

Agreed.