Jackson Guardianship Hearing Postponed

The guardianship hearing for Michael Jackson’s three children has been postponed for a second time, with reports that Jackson matriach Katherine and her onetime daughter-in-law Debbie Rowe are close to a settlement.

The hearing had been slated for July 20, but has since been re-scheduled for August 3, after sources revealed to TMZ.com that both Rowe and the Jackson family were “in discussion” over a custody settlement for the two eldest Jackson children, Prince Michael I and Paris Michael Katherine.

The deal, according to the sources, “is amicable and involves the children – not money,” and is expected to be agreed upon soon.

It is believed that Rowe had a secret deal with her ex-husband, Michael Jackson, involving the children and a very large sum of money, to be paid at various intervals for an “unknown” and extended period of time. That agreement is said to have “survived” Jackson’s death, which would explain why Rowe doesn’t seem to be pushing for money at this point in time.

Katherine Jackson will remain the children’s temporary guardian until the August 3 hearing.

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Debbie Rowe Never Wanted to be a Mother

Even though she admits it’s likely she’ll fight for custody of the Jackson children – Prince Michael I and Paris Katherine Michael – Debbie Rowe has revealed that she never wanted to be a mother.

“Parenting is an art: you earn the title,” Rowe said during an interview with Us Magazine’s Ian Drew in 2003. “Because you give birth and impregnate someone does not automatically give you the title of mother or father – you earn the title.”

Rowe said that she had no intention of being a mother to the children she carried (through artificial insemination), and admits that the only reason she had them at all was because she thought her patient – superstar Michael Jackson – would be a good father.

“My kids don’t call me mum because I don’t want them to,” Rowe explained. “They are Michael’s children. It’s not that they’re not my children, but I had them because I wanted him to be a father.”

The former nurse also hit back at claims that she abandoned her children to the King of Pop for monetary gain after she and Jackson divorced in 1999, insisting that their was no abandonment when the singer was such a good father.

“They say, ‘I can’t believe she left her children.’ Left them? I did not leave my children,” Rowe recalls. “My children are with their father where they are supposed to be.”

When she was asked why she’d never pushed for joint custody or regular visitation rights, Rowe added: “I didn’t do it to be a mother. Like I said, you earn the title. I didn’t change diapers. I didn’t get up in the middle of the night – even when I was there. Michael did it all. I am telling you that he is the most brilliant father. Almost before the baby needed something, he knew what it was. And that’s not for me.”

The custody hearing for the two eldest Jackson children is set to take place on July 13, and Rowe is expected to petition the courts for full guardianship. Until that hearing takes place, Katherine Jackson, Michael’s mother, will remain as temporary guardian of all three children.

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