Angelina Jolie is known for her outstanding performances on the big screen and her good humanitarian actions worldwide. But the most admirable facet of this incredible woman is the most challenging job: being a mother. And although she admitted that she is not a perfect mom, she has shown that she is the fundamental pillar in her family of six children and will always support them in all their stages.
1. She took an educational teaching approach beyond the traditional classroom.
Angelina Jolie believes that we live in a different era, in which school and modern education have not been able to catch up or adapt to the needs of this new world. In turn, Jolie’s lifestyle with her children is nomadic, as they travel very often, and she has had to implement homeschooling instead of conventional education. “Instead of tomfoolery in the classroom, I’d rather them go to a museum, learn to play guitar, or read and pick a book they love,” Angelina said.
Angelina tries to balance her children, so they can handle any situation that comes their way in their lives. She says they are very versatile. They can spend a night in a hotel in New York and think it’s great, but they can also be in the middle of Kenya, in a tent, with no TV and nothing, and they will still be happy.
2. Junk food is not an enemy. It is allowed and loved.
Both Angelina and her ex-husband, Brad Pitt, adopted the philosophy of allowing their six children to eat whatever they wanted. They both strive for their children to lead ordinary lives, allowing them to do things we all did when we were kids, like eating chocolate or devouring a bag of potato chips. If they want ice cream for breakfast, they’ll get it.
3. She does not encourage her children to follow in her footsteps as an actress in the world of Hollywood.
When their children were young, none wanted to follow in their parents’ professional footsteps in the film world. However, Angelina advised them that if they wanted to be actors in the future, they should do something else first. “I guess you don’t know who your kids are until they show you who they are and become who they want to be,” Jolie said.
By now, most of them have reached college age. Although studying biochemistry at the University of Seoul, their first son, Maddox, has also appeared in films alongside his parents, as have his brother Pax and sister Zahara. On the other hand, Shiloh made her film debut at the age of two in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. The twins, Knox and Vivienne, are focused on their elementary education.
4. Freedom goes beyond education.
Angelina makes it a priority for her six children to be able to express themselves the way they want to. She said nothing makes her smile more than when she sees her children being genuine, just being themselves, with their own individual style and character. She also says that, as parents, we can’t prevent our children from experiencing pain, heartache, or loss, but we can teach them how to live better through it. “I think children should be able to say, ’This is who I am and what I believe.’”
5. Her rules are not set in stone.
For the famous mother of six, motherhood means allowing her offspring to make their own decisions. She says all her children have a rebelliousness that is wonderful and curious. She definitely doesn’t want them to become people who behave perfectly and only say what is appropriate because she says so. They have to find who they really are on their own.
6. She does enforce some restrictions to protect them.
Angelina Jolie admitted that, like most parents, she has little control over the content her children are exposed to online and that she also does her best to “limit” internet access and protect them. But the reality is that there are things about this new generation of children and teens that we don’t understand. So she confidently asks her children to talk to her about anything they have seen that bothers or worries them.
The famous actress considers that they are the last family not to have Facebook. Neither her children nor she has a social account. This protects them from the negative aspects of fame, so she greatly values their privacy.
7. It is very important that children celebrate diversity and learn from it.
Many of us know the noble causes that drive Angelina to help the world. She has shown solidarity with refugees and people who really need help. She recognizes that she is very happy to share that social help with her children. Her 6 children can look at and know the real meaning of the world.
“I think my children have learned more about these issues just from each other, by experiencing each other,” she said. “They’re from different backgrounds, they don’t deny difference, they celebrate diversity. We go to their countries, we spend time in their countries.”
“Shiloh, for example, is learning the language of Mad’s country, and Vivienne wants to live in Zahara’s country. So, just because they’re from one place doesn’t mean that’s all that defines them.”
8. “Adoption” and “orphanage” are positive words in her home.
When it comes to parenting between adoptive and biological children, Jolie says that each of them is a beautiful way to become a family. That what really matters is to talk about everything frankly and share. The words adoption and orphanage are dear to her home. “With my adopted children, I can’t speak of pregnancy, but I speak with much detail and love about the journey to find them and what it was like to look in their eyes for the first time,” Angelina said.
Jolie got candid and shared that all adopted children come with a beautiful mystery of a world that meets yours. They should never lose touch with where they come from. They have roots that you don’t, they are to be honored and learned. “It is the most incredible journey to share. They are not entering your world, you are entering the world of others.”
9. She also tries to protect them from the harsh truths of divorce.
Dealing with divorce is very difficult for all children, but it gets even more complicated when the media constantly spreads rumors and talks about it. That’s why Angelina tries to prioritize her family before making claims about her private life. She says the children have seen a lot of lies about themselves published, but they are six courageous young people, very strong despite everything.
“I separated for the wellbeing of my family. It was the right decision. I continue to focus on their healing. Some have taken advantage of my silence, and the children see lies about themselves in the media, but I remind them that they know their own truth and their own minds,” the actress said.
10. Being there for her children and supporting them at all stages is her priority.
Angelina Jolie says that, as a mother, she is curious to know about all the different aspects of who each of her 6 children is, and her main priority is to be there for them to support and develop the various aspects of who they are.
“I have six very individual human beings in my home. I am so excited about all the different stages and feelings, and curiosities that they go through. Why wouldn’t you be? We’re supposed to help them figure out who they are. And you can’t figure out who they are if you don’t enthusiastically develop with them.”
What rules do you use when caring for children? What is the best advice you can give to someone bringing up a child?
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