Kelly Clarkson, the renowned singer and talk show host, has spoken candidly about the ongoing challenges she faces while co-parenting with her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock.
The 42-year-old entertainer, who shares two children with Blackstock, has expressed frustration over the societal double standards placed on working mothers compared to fathers.
During a conversation on Kylie Kelce’s Not Gonna Lie podcast, Kelly Clarkson openly discussed how these issues manifest in her own life. She pointed out how ingrained these differences are from a young age, stating, “It’s funny though how different it is because even from a young age, like we didn’t teach them [that]. Just innately, you’re like, ‘He’s allowed to be somewhere, but you’re not.’ Like, that is real interesting.”
Clarkson, who balances her music career and her talk show while raising her children, emphasized that co-parenting often feels like an uphill battle. She expressed frustration with situations where different expectations are placed on her as a mother versus Blackstock as a father. “There’s a lot that I keep in because…co-parenting is fun. It’s like, ‘Oh, he couldn’t come because this,’ and I’m like, ‘Okay, cool.’ Do you think I just leave and just sit in the park all day?” she said.
Kelly Clarkson also voiced her struggles with school schedules that do not accommodate working parents. She noted that many schools schedule events during the daytime with little notice, making it difficult for parents with demanding jobs to attend. “It can be frustrating,” she admitted. “As a working parent, especially as a mom, there’s this assumption that we can just drop everything and be there, while dads often don’t face the same scrutiny.”
Despite these challenges, Kelly Clarkson remains committed to giving her children a stable upbringing. She continues to advocate for fairness in parenting expectations, calling out the societal norms that make co-parenting more difficult for working mothers.
Clarkson’s openness about her struggles resonates with many parents facing similar issues. As she continues her career and raises her children, she hopes that conversations like these will lead to a greater understanding of the difficulties many working parents face every day.