Actress Denise Richards did a kind thing recently. Richards, who was married to Charlie Sheen from 2000 to 2006, has two daughters with the actor, along with a toddler of her own. Her kindness was in regards to another of Sheen’s ex-wives, Brooke Mueller, who recently needed treatment of an addiction and, unfortunately, the twin boys she had with Sheen were taken by Department of Children and Family Services. Richards agreed to take in the Sheen-Mueller twins and was awarded temporary guardianship over the boys, with everyone’s consent.
Since Richards is now legally responsible for five children instead of three, Sheen offered her the child support he typically pays Mueller for the boys, but Richards turned him down saying there was no need for it. This is a terrific example of post-divorce co-parenting working well, despite early challenges.
“My situation with Charlie is that we’ve gotten along for quite some time now, and it’s so much better,” Richards told reporters recently. “There are a lot of feelings and emotions there, but at the end of the day, our daughters benefit from us getting along, and [I do], too.”
“I don’t want to have an unhealthy relationship with him, something toxic with a lot of animosity. Life’s too short for that,” she explained. “We actually enjoy hanging out, and we enjoy being with the kids.”
Other than the offer of child support, to which Richards would be entitled as temporary legal guardian over the twins, it is unknown precisely how or if Sheen will be actively involved in caring for the boys until Mueller has recovered and shown herself capable of being reunited with her kids.
Sheen is reportedly well-satisfied with the arrangement, and said in a statement through his agent that he knows the boys are in a stable, loving environment with Richards, their half-sisters and Richards’ other daughter.
Sheen has a history of erratic behavior, and there have been reports of relationship problems with his three ex-wives, along with his own challenges with addiction. It’s good to see co-parents overcoming those obstacles and working together so positively.
Source: New York Daily News, “Denise Richards on caring for five children, including Charlie Sheen, Brooke Muller’s twins: ‘You just manage,’” Zayda Rivera, May 20, 2013
