As a respected actress, director, humanitarian, and mother to six children, is there anything Angelina Jolie cannot do?! Celebrities are not always relatable, given the luxurious lives they often lead, and that they can seem out of touch with the world, but Jolie is certainly not one of those celebrities, especially not when it comes to motherhood.
Jolie considers herself a mother, first and foremost, and even takes cooking classes at the request of her brood. She is dedicated to being around to make them breakfast or take them to school and understands the importance of spending quality time with her children. She also reminds us of the significance of freedom of expression, communication, and how important it is for a mother to take care of her own health so that she can be a stronger parent. Speaking of parenting, no parent is perfect, including Jolie, but she strives to be better and to learn each day by listening to what her children tell her.
She’s a remarkable woman and one who is worth listening to, especially when she’s talking about parenting and how much she's learned from her offspring. Below are 20 reasons why this statement is true.
20 She Understands The Importance Of Letting Her Children Be Themselves
Angelina Jolie is a mother to a large brood, but she understands that individuality and freedom of expression are both important traits and that each child is different. She allows her daughter Shiloh to dress how she wants, which as she discussed in an interview with Reuters, is a tomboy style.
She said, “Children should be allowed to express themselves in whatever way they wish without anybody judging them because it is an important part of their growth. Society always has something to learn when it comes to the way we judge each other, label each other. We have far to go.”
19 It’s Important To Spend Quality Time With Your Kids
Angelina Jolie is one of the most well-known actresses in the world, but despite being in-demand, she realizes that work is not the most important thing in her life and she needs to be able to spend as much quality time with her kids as she can. She often does this by telling them bedtime stories and explained to Hello! Canada magazine (via Today’s Parent) that this is one of her favorite things about parenting. She said,
“I tell my kids stories every night and I am always doing different voices…. There’s nothing that gives me more pleasure than entertaining my children.”
18 Children Should Not Have To Worry About Their Parents
Angelina Jolie understands that her children will have their own challenges to face in life, but if she can protect them from worrying about her by shielding them from her own problems, then she intends to do that. She discussed this idea with Vanity Fair, saying, "I was very worried about my mother, growing up — a lot. I do not want my children to be worried about me. I think it’s very important to cry in the shower and not in front of them. They need to know that everything’s going to be all right even when you’re not sure it is."
17 There’s Nothing More Beautiful Than Seeing Your Kids Happy
Being a mother is not an easy job, and there are many times when moms feel as though they have been pushed to the edge.
Although there are difficulties to face while raising a child, it can also be one of the most rewarding experiences, especially when, as a parent, you are able to see your child happy.
Angelina Jolie is no different from any other mom, and when talking about her kids with Hello! magazine (via PopSugar), she was asked what makes her happy, to which she responded, "The sound of Zahara's laugh. She is one of those people who laughs with her whole body. Completely open and full of joy."
16 Coping With the Lack Of Free Time
Perhaps one of the biggest changes, when you become a parent, is how little free time you have, and many of us don’t realize this until we have little kids shouting and crying for our attention. And when you think you’ve put them to bed and can finally enjoy some peace and quiet with your partner, well, think again.
Angelina Jolie spoke about this lack of free time (when she was still married to Brad Pitt), telling W Magazine, "Most nights, someone ends up in our bed. The kids do knock before entering. We've at least got that part down because mommy and daddy need some space."
15 Having Meals Together Builds A Solid Foundation
As mentioned above, Angelina Jolie has highlighted the importance of spending quality time with her children, and she loves reading them bedtime stories and getting to say goodnight to them. But she has also realized that having meals together is important and helps to form a strong foundation and a routine.
She told journalist Ann Curry, "I take my kids to school and if I go to work they visit me on set, I come home. I have dinner with my family. I have breakfast with my family. I have a very solid, a very warm home. I'm fortunate.”
14 To Be A Great Mom, You Can’t Forget Yourself
Often, mothers put their children first and at times this results in them sacrificing their own well-being, but Angelina Jolie reminds us all that to be a great mom and to function properly, you need to take care of yourself too.
She chatted to Vanity Fair about her health, and how her life was after her divorce, explaining, “I actually feel more of a woman because I feel like I’m being smart about my choices, and I’m putting my family first, and I’m in charge of my life and my health. I think that’s what makes a woman complete.”
13 You’re Continually Learning How To Be A Better Mom
There are some mothers who seem like they are a superwoman and have it all figured out; they are able to juggle 10 different tasks and look effortlessly cool and beautiful while doing it. We may look at these women with envy at times, but even celebrity mothers like Angelina Jolie understand that we are always learning on this journey.
"I’m just wanting to make the proper breakfast and keep the house," she told Vanity Fair. "That’s my passion. At the request of my kids, I’m taking cooking classes. As I go to sleep at night, I think, 'Did I do a great job as a mom or was that an average day?’”
12 You Will Never Get Anywhere If You Don’t Listen
Learning how to communicate effectively with your offspring is something every mother has to work out. Finding a way to listen to what they are telling you is also just as incredibly important, and this is something Angelina Jolie acknowledges.
She spoke to Elle France about this, saying, “But really the only way I know to raise them is to really listen. It's perhaps the most important thing any parent can do. They are resilient children but they are children, and as much as they need help to understand the hard truths in life they also need what we all need–protection and love."
11 Sometimes As A Mom You Have To Put On A Brave Face
Angelina Jolie knows that sometimes as a mother, you have to shield your children from certain things, and there are moments she doesn’t want to share with them. For example, when she’s working through a difficult time, she would rather put on a brave face so that her children don’t have to worry.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, she said, "I want to make sure my kids are never worried about me. Even if I'm going through something, I make sure they are very aware that I'm totally fine. I'll stop and make a joke; I talk to them. I never, ever want them to have that secret worry and feel that they have to take care of me."
10 Children Are Much More Hardy Than You Think They Are
There may be times when we feel we have to protect our children, speak to them in a way that sugarcoats everything, and treat them as though they need to be wrapped in cotton wool to be kept safe.
As a mother, this is a beautiful instinct, but Angelina Jolie also reminds us that children are a lot more resilient than we give them credit for, and she made her opinion known in an interview with Collider. She said, "I think what children can handle and what they’re interested in is much deeper than people assume. It’s why sometimes we make things too simple for them.”
9 She Is Conscious About Teaching Her Children To Be Respectful
Angelina Jolie is raising six children, a mixture of boys and girls, and now that they are growing up, she places importance on raising her children to be respectful. In particular, to be respectful of women, an incredibly important and valuable lesson.
She spoke about this with The Mirror, explaining how her then-partner Brad Pitt was teaching her kids respect for women, saying, “The way Brad treats me and the way he takes care of me and makes something special on Mother’s Day with all the kids and he is teaching them to respect women. And respect their mother. And I hope to do the same for the boys in how I treat their father in front of them.”
8 Exploring Is Important, But So Is Education
Angelina Jolie is a humanitarian and a U.N. goodwill ambassador who has done a lot of great work, and some of her focuses have been on equal opportunities for education for girls. She understands the importance of education and ensures that her children always have their school work completed before they can start exploring. But she also realizes there are different ways to learn.
"We travel and I'm the first person to say, 'get the school work done as quickly as possible because let's go out and explore,'" Jolie told The Independent (via E! News). "I'd rather them go to a museum and learn to play guitar and read and pick a book they love."
7 Raising Global Citizens Who Live With Their Eyes Open Is Her Goal
As mentioned in the previous point, Angelina Jolie is a woman who feels it's important for her children to travel and be exposed to different things. She has taken them with her on missions, and she wants them to be compassionate, global citizens who have a deeper understanding of the world.
One of her most memorable quotes on the topic, according to ABC News, is this: "With my family, I'm trying to raise them to have respect for all people and make friends around the world and feel at home with the world and really live a truly global [life] because I think it's what forms them and it's really important to me.”
6 There Is No Greater Love Than That Of A Mother's
Sure, motherhood has its challenges and there are times when you may wish you could have a little more sleep or have more time to do something for yourself without the feeling of guilt, but the one thing that most moms will agree on is that when you become a parent, you experience a love that you have never felt before.
It’s an unconditional love, and it’s incredibly powerful.
According to Today’s Parent, Angelina Jolie told Hello! Canada magazine about the love she feels as a mother, explaining, "The moment I looked into Maddox's eyes in the orphanage, my entire world changed. And that was the first time I had experienced it [true love]."
5 Your Schedule Changes, But It’s All Worth It In The End
Angelina Jolie has previously mentioned that she takes her kids to school and enjoys making them breakfast, and she’s even taking cooking classes at the request of her six children. There is no denying her schedule has changed since she became a mother, and her commitments have also changed, something she discussed with the Los Angeles Times (via E! News) in 2008. She told the publication, "The center of my life is my kids." She also got real about what her life looks like now, explaining,
"I woke up at 3 in the morning with four kids with jet lag and two babies. I put myself together for a few hours and go out. And then I go home. This is my job."
4 Children Shine Light On What’s Really Important
It can be hard to remember that Angelina Jolie is a regular mom because she is so often photographed looking super glamorous at some of the most high-profile events in the world. She is a stunning and accomplished woman, but she is also the person who changes diapers and regularly deals with fussy children. Having children reminds Jolie of what’s important, and according to E! News, she told Total Film about this. She said,
"The great thing about having a bunch of kids is that they just remind you that you're the person who takes them to go [#2]. That's who you are!"
3 At The End Of The Day, Motherhood Is A Journey To Embrace
There are many times when motherhood is difficult and a mom can feel completely underappreciated -- children can say and do mean things, too.
But at the end of the day, it’s a journey with ups and downs, and Angelina Jolie reminds us that this is a role that we are lucky to have.
She spoke about motherhood with Parade, saying, “I see myself as a mom first. I’m so lucky to have that role in life. The world can like me, [dislike] me or fall apart around me and at least I wake up with my kids and I’m happy.”
2 Communication And Artistic Expression Is Everything
Loving your children is important, but so too is showing them respect and finding a way to communicate with them. Angelina Jolie feels that being an artist herself has helped her to find a way to better parent her children, but her approach (which encourages freedom of expression) can be adopted regardless of profession.
She told Vanity Fair, “We communicate to the point where we probably annoy our children. We have art around the house, we have books, we go to plays, we talk. Our focus is art and painting and dress-up and singing. It's what we love. So I think you can see how artists in some way raise other artists.”
1 When It Comes To Love, There Is No Difference Between Adopted And Biological Children
Angelina Jolie experienced true love for the first time when she adopted her son, Maddox. He was to be the first of her six children, three of whom are adopted, and three are her biological children, fathered by Brad Pitt. But when it comes to love, Jolie reminds us all that the love a mother has for her child is the same, whether they are adopted, or she gave birth to them.
She has previously spoken about adoption, and according to Daily Mail, she had this to say on the topic: “I'm drawn to kids that are already born. I think some people are meant to do certain things, and I believe I'm meant to find my children in the world somewhere and not necessarily have them genetically.”
References: Reuters, Vanity Fair, The Mirror, Wall Street Journal, UN Refugees, ABC News, Daily Mail.