Grimes, the Canadian singer-songwriter and ex-girlfriend of Elon Musk, is opening up about her parenting challenges via social media, particularly concerning the hurdles of getting her children to bed and managing their public exposure. The artist, whose real name is Claire Boucher, shares three children with the billionaire tech entrepreneur: X Æ A-Xii, Exa Dark Sideræl, and Tau Techno Mechanicus, aged four, three, and two respectively.
Reflecting on her experiences recently, Grimes posted on Twitter about what she calls "the actual hardest part of parenting by far"—putting children to bed. She tweeted, "Why is putting kids to bedarguably one of the hardest things to accomplish? I realize I was horrible about going to bed too. What is the evolutionary reason for this? Am I missing something? Like the story can't be too good or they get turnt and wake up—meaning it has to be an exercise in bad art. I deeply resent having to spend so much time with bad art to bore children to sleep—something seems morally wrong here and conceptually wrong."
Grimes continues her thoughts, stating, "To me, this is the actual hardest part of parenting by far. By such a huge, huge degree. My brain is not made for this. Hacks would be appreciated. It seems like it's getting worse notbetter— as they get smarter, they find more ways of thwarting." Her sentiment resonates with many parents who find bedtime routines exhausting and creatively draining.
On another front, Grimes has been vocal about her concerns involving her children's visibility online. This topic gained prominence after her son, X, attended the White House with Musk during his meeting with Donald Trump, which left Grimes feeling uneasy. Last month, she expressed her disdain for her son's public visibility, emphasizing her desire for privacy for her children. "I would really like people to stop posting images of my kid everywhere," she commented. "I think fame is something you should consent to. Obviously, things will just be what they are. But I would really, really appreciate it if people would respect our privacy."
Grimes did not hold back as she discussed her attempts to manage her children's exposure to the media. Responding to user inquiries online, she shared, "I unfortunately do not control the internet and cannot wipe this from it. I have tried begging the public and my kids' dad to keep them offline, and I’ve tried legal recourse." The struggle is reflective of many parents today, who face similar challenges raising children in the digital age.
Adding to the controversy, Grimes recently denied writing about the "sexuality and kinks" of Fortune 500 CEOs, addressing yet another frustrating rumor about her online presence. "I was going to clarify again this scandal is untrue, but I remembered I decentralized Grimes and relinquished control over my image, so I guess if I can't stop it—Grimes is successfully self-replicated, and I cannot control the other ones. Exciting," she tweeted, highlighting her frustrations with how information spreads on the internet.
Despite these issues, Grimes continues to engage with her audience, discussing not only her parenting trials but also the various aspects of her life as she navigates public scrutiny. The celebrity and public figure portrays the multifaceted challenges of modern parenting, especially when parenting children who already garner attention due to their famous father.
The contradictions inherent to the public life she leads manifest vividly through her experience, emphasizing how difficult it is for any parent, particularly one in the public eye, to reconcile privacy and exposure. Grimes remains committed to advocating for her children’s right to privacy, stating: "The state of my children's lives being public is of grave concern to me, and I think about how to solve this every day. I would hope there was some law to allow parents to veto small children from living public lives, but I don’t even trust the law to help me now if I tried to invoke it (to be honest)."
This reflection on fame’s unintended consequences and the narrative of parents attempting to manage their online presence stresses the importance of consent and personal agency, especially for minors. Grimes’s candidness not only deepens her connection with parents who share similar concerns but also prompts necessary conversations about the rights of children raised under the spotlight.
Grimes and Musk’s public disagreements on their parenting styles have intensified following their custody battle over their three children, reportedly settled in August 2024. Navigated through the ups and downs of their relationship, the focus remains centered on ensuring their children grow up with the utmost support, free from excessive media scrutiny.
For Grimes, her platform serves as more than just social media; it's her way of opening up about her personal struggles and collective experiences as she seeks to address the balance of privacy and public exposure for her family. "It's insane to me there’s no way to deal with this; I think about it every day and want to find answers," Grimes adds, bringing truth to the raw reality of parenting marked by both joy and challenge.
