Nicole Richie receives parenting award

by Sandy Maple (Subscribe to Sandy Maple's posts) May 28th 2008 4:24PM

I've been a parent for almost 26 years and the closest thing I've gotten to a parenting award is a coffee mug with "World's Greatest Mom" on it. Nicole Richie has been a mother for just about six months and she's getting a Golden Pacifier Award from Babytalk Magazine.

Does that surprise you? Babytalk thought it might and has an explanation at the ready: "Honoring Nicole Richie with a Babytalk Golden Pacifier Award might come as a surprise to some, but we felt that she deserved some recognition for her turnaround since becoming a mom," says editor-in-chief Lisa Moran.

The cynic in me thinks it sounds like they are giving her an award not so much for being a great mother, but for not being a bad mother. However, Richie may legitimately deserve that award for what she has done for other mothers. She and baby daddy Joel Madden founded the Richie-Madden Children's Foundation, which supports disadvantaged mothers and their children.

Also receiving a Golden Pacifier is actress Ricki Lake, whose documentary The Business of Being Born is recognized by the magazine as "sparking a much-needed conversation about the state of modern childbirth."

Congratulations to Nicole and Ricki. And to all you regular moms who weren't even nominated: go out and buy yourself a nice coffee mug. You deserve it!

Award-winning mother Nicole Richie(click thumbnails to view gallery)

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Comments (12)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kim Lybrand 5-29-2008 @ 10:24AM

Story idea:

Hi,

I wanted to get in touch with you in regards to one of my clients "The Baby Otter Swim School" http://www.babyotterswimschool.com/
My client teaches babies and children how to swim,(they taught Gwyneth Paltrows child Apple how to swim) but they have also produced a DVD on drowning prevention and the layers of protection. So many children drown each year and parents must be educated on the lawyers of protection and how to prevent this from happening!

I am going to attach the latest press release to go along with my client. It is a very sad because it has to do with a family that lost their 2 year old son. He drowned in their pool. The mother is willing to speak about this event and how it could have been prevented!
Please read the release and let me know your thoughts....I think this could make for a very powerful piece for your site!

Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Thanks and have a great day

--
Kim Lybrand
Publicist
561-289-2372
klybrandpr@gmail.com

Mother of Young South Florida Drowning Victim
Becomes Advocate for Drowning Prevention

May 29, 2008, Ft. Lauderdale, FL – By sharing her tragic story, and by teaming up with Baby Otter Swim School and the Turn, Kick, Reach Swimming Academy, 25-year old Kisha Johnson is on a quest to spread the word about drowning prevention.

On August 5, 2006, what started out to be a milestone event for two-year old Delvin Johnson, Jr. ended in tragedy, when he drowned after climbing the mesh fence surrounding the family swimming pool. Rather than celebrating the joy of his much-anticipated graduation from his crib to his new bed, the toddler’s family would suffer the horror and heartache resulting from his accidental death.

“I can remember it like it was yesterday. We were painting his room and he was very excited about sleeping in his new bed,” says Johnson through her sobs. Earlier in the day, when Johnson spotted Delvin, Jr. trying to climb his baby brother’s crib, she asked him to stop, and he obeyed. This was the first time she had ever noticed him trying to climb anything. “You hear about things like this happening to other people, but you never think that they will happen to you,” she adds. “We had a fence around our pool which we kept locked, so we thought that DJ was safe. But we were wrong. If we had taught him some basic water survival skills, like Turn, Kick, Reach, he would be here with us today.”

But like many families across the U.S., the Johnsons were unable to afford swimming lessons, so they did the best that they could trying to teach him how to swim. Equipped with a life jacket, Delvin, Jr. enjoyed being in the pool with his mom, dad, and grandmother. And although he overcame his fear of the water, he lacked the drowning prevention skills needed to survive. In addition, the family was not aware of all the layers of protection that were needed to prevent this tragedy.

According to the Center for Disease Control, nine people die every day due to unintentional drowning. Drowning is the second leading cause of death for children ages one to 14, and in California, Arizona and Florida, drowning is the number one cause of death in children under five.

“Pools aren’t safe until children are educated – drowning awareness is the cure,” says Marlene Bloom, who developed the Turn, Kick, Reach method 28 years ago when she was unable to find anyone who could teach her two-year old to swim. “There may be a lot of water safety products out there, but we believe in layers of protection,” adds Mindy York, who joined Bloom at the school ten years later, after her daughter was found at the bottom of a pool and had to be resuscitated.

About a month ago, Johnson was introduced to Bloom and York through a mutual acquaintance. Johnson expressed to Bloom and York that she is still fearful of bathing her children, and that she, her husband and mother have not been near the pool since Delvin’s death.

Wanting to help, Bloom and York offered to teach Johnson’s son and daughter to swim. On Monday, May 19th, Johnson’s two-year old son, Brent, who was just a few months old at the time of the tragedy, will begin five days of water survival classes at the Baby Otter Swim School, as part of the Turn, Kick, Reach Swimming Program. And, in five months, when her five-month old daughter is old enough, she will go through the training as well. In the meantime, Bloom and York will work with Johnson, her husband and her mother, to get them back in the pool.

The Baby Otter Swim School works with children 10-months old to senior citizens, teaching its unique 5-day method, Turn, Kick, Reach. In addition, the school produced a DVD for parents to understand the layers of protection, which is included in the classes. By the end of the week, Bloom, York and the rest of the staff are hopeful that the parents understand all aspects of drowning prevention, in addition to their children having these special skills. A nonprofit has been established for this program, to make sure that all children learn these skills, and their parents receive the DVDs. At the present time, the organization is raising awareness and money to help every child in this country. Andre Dawson (the Hawk), who was taught how to swim by Baby Otter Swim School at age 50, has also joined their mission to raise money and awareness for all children.

“I had no idea that Baby Otter, their training methods or this type of DVD with important information were available,” says Johnson. “I feel that every parent deserves to know about Baby Otter Swim School and the expertise that they offer. The program and their passion are incredible. I want to help others so they will not have to suffer as my family has.”

Information is available at www.babyotterswimschool.com, www.tenminutesforlife.com and www.babyotterfund.org. To learn more, contact Kim Lybrand at 561-289-2372 or klybrandpr@gmail.com

Manda 5-29-2008 @ 12:36PM

As pleasing as it was to hear about Nicole's turn around, I hardly think someone should be rewarded for doing what they are SUPPOSED to do. I've never read this magazine and now I never will. It would be nice if they would acknowledge us average moms who bust our butts everyday without the assistance of a nanny and manage to raise healthy, happy well rounded children. Nicole is not the only mother who completely turned their life around after having a child. I'm one of those moms..and I was far worse off than Nicole ever was. I overcame some huge obstacles and now sucessfully juggle a household, motherhood and a career with the help of absolutely no one. I'm not expecting any rewards for it (other than raising a sucessful adult at the end of it all) because i'm only doing what a mother is expected to do. I hope babytalk gives us an update on Nicole when little Harlow is 12 years old....when a parent is TRULY tested!

OhCrystal00 5-29-2008 @ 1:00PM

Manda i agree with you on you're comment a 100 % yup, let's see how she does when her daughter is a teen hahaha..

bobby 5-29-2008 @ 12:54PM

chimpout.com

Missy Hanks 5-29-2008 @ 1:24PM

She only got this award because of her money creating another foundation(which is a great thing to do), not because of her mothering. She hasn't been a mother long enough to judge that yet. The proof will be in the pudding, when the child grows up. Next I guess they'll give Hulk and his ex a parenting award!! Woo hooo, maybe Lindsay Lohans and Britney & Jaimee's moms too!!!

Empress 5-29-2008 @ 1:34PM

OH MY GOD ! Has the world gone mad ? Nicole gets a parenting award...she gets pregnant out of wedlock, is a known druggie & slut, has no talent or skills other than tabloid fodder and she has a baby and suddenly she is Mother Teresa ?
Dina Loahan gets Mother of the Year...for raising 2 drunk criminal skanks ? What next ? Maybe Scott Peterson gets Husband & Father of the Year awards as well ?

Missy Hanks 5-29-2008 @ 1:25PM

She only got this because she set up a foundation, not because she's a good mother.
Who is taking care of this baby,Nicole or a nanny? Maybe if the child turns out better than Nicole or her friend :-0, the nanny may deserve an award!! While we're just handing out awards, maybe Mrs. Hogan deserves one too since her great son put his best friend in a coma and can't wait to get out of jail and do his reality show(which he can't even pronounce reality) and while we're giving awards, don't forget Lindsay's mom or Brit & Jaimie's mom. They'll feel left out!!

J. Michael Johnson 5-29-2008 @ 1:58PM

Nicole Ritchie gets an award like this? What's next - Paris Hilton wins the Oscar?

jazac888 5-29-2008 @ 2:05PM

fail. epic fail. this woman cannot possibly be a good parent. it simply DOES NOT COMPUTE. you divided by zero.

janet 5-29-2008 @ 2:25PM

this is insane. She's been a mother for 2 minutes,and knows nothing. Except what a Wal-Mart is,lol.

rewarding her for strainghting up and behaving as a responsible adult? Good grief!!!!

This is just stupid.

debbi 5-29-2008 @ 2:34PM

I totally agree with Manda 100%. I was diagnosed with uterine cancer in my fifth month of pregnancy and was advised to have an abortion. I did not have one, but I have a 30 year old son who is my hero. My husband passed away when he was 8 months old, so I consider myself a single mother. I raised a wonderful son and I do not think I deserve an award. My award is being alive to see him grow up into a productive individual. I wish well for Nicole and Joel, but an award is a BIT MUCH!!!!!! She is a mother (like millions of others) and should just hope that Harlowe grows up happy, healthy and proud to be their daughter. That is an award!!!!

Katrina 5-30-2008 @ 10:34AM

It seems as though a lot of people are jumping on Nicole for getting the award. I highly doubt that she asked them to give her an award. Yes she has straitened out and good for her for doing so, but according to interviews I've read (although not that many) it seems as though she is not one of the celeb moms that relies on a team of nannies.

While I agree that she does not deserve an award for doing as she should, maybe the complaints should be against the mag that gave her the award instead of on Nicole herself.

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