Why You Wanna Keep Me From My Baby?!?

One of the most amazing things a man can evar experience is the birth of his child, particularly his firstborn son. I'm not saying that watching your daughter being born isn't the same feeling, I just don't have a personal point of reference. But watching both of my sons being snatched into life has been awesome. Yes, I have some very gruesome, very private delivery soon souvenirs photos to commemorate each occasion, but I don't really need them. Seeing my boys for the first time is a memory that stays in my head.

That's why it's incredible to hear that just a few decades ago, men weren't even allowed in the delivery rooms, and why it's even sadder that today, with all the kerfuffle about universal healthcare, the concept of universal paternity leave still hasn't been mentioned by a single politrician. When you consider the fact that the US is one of the few industrialized nations that offers no form of paid paternity leave, then the fact that courts are generally stacked in the favor of mothers when it comes to paternity cases, it's no wonder that there's a fatherhood crisis throughout the socioeconomic spectrum.

And that's why I really, really, really feel bad for Nas right about now.

Hip-Hop star Nas is currently celebrating the birth of his son, although sources close to the rapper told AllHipHop.com that he was not allowed to witness the event.

Nas' lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan stated that Nas rushed to the hospital to witness Kelis deliver his first son today (July 21). A source close to Nas told AllHipHop.com that the Queen's rapper missed the actual child birth.

“Nas is in New York City today, anxiously awaiting the arrival of his son. It was his intention to be there for the birth, but unfortunately he has not been allowed to be present,” a source close to the rapper told AllHipHop.com. “While this is clearly heartbreaking to him, Nas continues to offer his support and love to his new baby boy and his mother.”

Nas and Kelis were due in court today in regards to their pending divorce, specifically child and spousal support.

The date had to be postponed when Kelis, born Kelis Rogers , went into labor, around 10:30 this morning. Nas and Kelis were married in January of 2005 after being engaged for two years. Kelis filed for divorce in April of 2009, citing irreconcilable differences. No further details were available as to why Nas may have been prevented from witnessing the birth of his son.

Nas, born Nasir Jones, also has a 12-year-old daughter with ex-fiancée Carmen Bryan.

Seriously, how is this possible and why is it permissible? Yes, I am well aware that if the Mom has a restraining order, the Dad can't come within a certain distance of her. But what the hell does a restraining order have to do with a child being delivered? I suppose the letter of the law would dictate that there are no exceptions to that rule (unless you're Chris Brown, and you sorta have to go to awards shows for a living), but c'mon. What harm would/could a man do to a woman delivering his child? I don't recall any note of Nas having been violent with his soon to be ex-wife. So again, why they wanna keep a man from his baby?[1] The sh*t just ain't right, I tell ya'. It aint.

But Nas was apparently not too broken up about the whole thing, so hey, no harm, no foul.



I'm not sure he'll be so jolly when he begins paying the astounding $55,000/month (!) in spousal and child support that the courts just ordered today.

Anyways, since the main victim in this whole thing seems to have undermined the premise for my post, I figure I'll ask ya'll the following.

Question: Is it fair to prevent a man from witnessing the birth of his child? Was there some violent confrontation between Nas and his ex that I'm overlooking? What sorta woman prevents a man from seeing his son birthed? Why isn't mandatory paternity leave something that the gubb'ment is discussing?

Nas 'Not Allowed' To Witness Son's Birth [AllHipHop]

[1] Cyber CapriSuns™ to the first person to tell me what song this post's title was cribbed from.

[Update: Since nobody answered the footnote question, here's the song of note.]