Angelina Jolie: 'I've Found the Real Me'

Jackson Lee-Tom Meinelt/Splash News Online

In a new interview with Italian Vanity Fair, Angelina Jolie says that like any mom, her priorities have shifted since entering motherhood. "The kids are my priority, so it’s possible that from now on I willmake fewer movies. I may even stop altogether. I no longer have the ambition I had in my 20s."

The 33-year-old actress, now mom to six children, says her family position has also forced her to be bold. She shares,"In reality my life is a lot more chaotic and adventurous now. Brad[Pitt] and I pilot airplanes, we travel non-stop, we go to difficultplaces and we have chosen to do it taking all of the kids with us."

"I feel a lot braver now than when I was anangry young woman. Sure I am still restless, but do you know that my kids are the sameway? We were in France these last few months and after a while theystarted asking when we could get back on a plane."

Though Angelina is known for her work with various charities around the world, she hasn’t forgotten her past. "I knew little about the world and I was completely self-absorbed. Itwas only when I came out of my shell and started taking care of othersthat I found the real Angelina."

The actress shares that she wants her children to learn about the world from an early age, and embrace international cultures. "I want them to be able to walk through a marketplace in Adis Ababa andnot bat and eye, not think it is dirty and ugly, but that it justrepresents another part of the world and humanity."

As for future plans with Brad? Angelina says the ever-present "m-word" is the couple’s elephant in the room. "Sooner or later it will be the kids who ask us [to get married].You know, they see films and start asking questions. Such as, ‘Why areShrek and Fiona married and you’re not?’" she laughs. "Usually people fall in love and everything revolves around the ritualof marriage, children are an afterthought. We did everything backwards."

Source: Italian Vanity Fair via People.com

Comments

I know many women don’t have a choice – they have to work. And some who can afford to be a stay at home mom, also choose to work. But I really think Ang should take some time to enjoy the 6 children she has brought into her life. Flying around and moving all the time can’t be exciting for them all the time. I can imagine sometimes they wake up and don’t know where they are, what house they are in, or they don’t remember what country they are in. I would have a great deal of respect for her if she choose to take some time off acting to spend with her children. They may care if she and Brad get married, but for sure they will love being able to see her more and spend time with her.

- em on October 23rd, 2008

While I understand many women have to work to earn a living, I believe her children will be much happier if she spends more time with them, and they have some stability as far as where they are living. Surely it has to be confusing for them to wake up in different places all the time, and it might add to the confusion if she is working a lot as well. Kids might like some adventure, but the thrive with stability as well.

- em on October 23rd, 2008

Angie is a role model for next generation.

- (LOVE- aJ ) on October 23rd, 2008

I had the same thought as you Esmerelda! I do not think it is that admirable that they take the children to every destination they have to go to whether because of business reasons, charity or plain interest. With kids in the house you have to limit your actions, you have to adjust your usual single life to the needs of the little ones. In addition to that constant jet lag does not add to ones wellbeing.
Of course it is important to raise children being open-minded about other cultures – but does it have to involve strolling “through a marketplace in Adis Ababa” at an early age…?

- Elli on October 23rd, 2008

All her interviews sound the same lately nothing ever new, and I agree with you EM

- brooke on October 23rd, 2008

I think Brad and Angelina are raising their children the way they want to raise them. It is what’s right for THEM and nobody else has a right to question their parenting methods. How in the world do any of you know how much time Angelina spends with her children? You don’t. So whats the point of your criticism?

Angelina has not worked on a movie since last November and won’t work on one until next February. The family spent the entire Spring and Summer in the South of France. It seems to me they spend loads of time with their children.

Children are adaptable to most situations and I can’t see where traveling with their parents would cause problems. To my mind, it it better that the children wake up every morning and go to sleep every night with their parents hugging and kissing them rather than having one or both parents hundreds of miles away from them.

Will and Jada Smith take their children everywhere with them and even put them in movies. Where’s the criticism of their parenting methods? Oh, I forgot. Angelina Jolie is the ONLY parent who deserves criticism!!!

- mslewis on October 23rd, 2008

what’s wrong with that? my fiance and i plan do to the same with our children when we have them. we’re lucky to be in the financial position that we can do that and still maintain the quality of life we have now. obviously there will be other considerations when you’re bringing kids along with you, as angelina and talked about many times, but i see nothing wrong with raising children globally. we can’t wait to do it ourselves in a few years. stability, im my opinion, does not necessarily equate to stagnancy and routine is relative. for these kids, travel is part of their normal routine. i imagine it’s not as disruptive for them as it would be for those who don’t travel. i’ve travelled fulltime for months a time before and it very quicktly becomes your normal.

- amber on October 23rd, 2008

i respectfully disagree Elli i for one believe that all kids are diff and just because a parent chooses to raise their kids a diff way than i would does not make their parenting wrong and as someone who grew up traveling with my mom who was apart of Doctors without Borders for awhile i can sincerely tell you that i experience none of what you described and i very much learned alot from all the amazing places i got to see as a kid. it bothers me how people here don’t seem to understand that their is not just one route to stability for a kid and while yes some kids may not cope well with that type of living its looks quite evident in my opinion that they know their kids and that if there kids were suffering they would not doubt deal with that.

- Common Sense on October 23rd, 2008

Just because their parenting style differs from yours, doesn’t mean it is wrong. Those kids are clearly very loved. If I had the means, I would not hesitate to give my children a similar upbringing.

- kelly on October 23rd, 2008

Amber, that sounds like a great idea to me. I really dislike people who are so provencial. What’s wrong with raising children to appreciate the entire world, not just their little corner in it? When the Jolie-Pitt children grow up and decide to go to Addis Ababa, they can “run through the marketplace” and not look like an idiot tourist staring at everybody!!!

- mslewis on October 23rd, 2008

“does it have to involve strolling “through a marketplace in Adis Ababa” at an early age…?”

Why not? I don’t understand what is so offensive about that.

- sigh on October 23rd, 2008

Her interviews all sound alike because she had one press conference for her movie and all these articles are from it. This is from Italian Vanity Fair, it means her answers were translated into Italian, and these quotes are translated back to English, so these are not her original words. She said that she loved how Maddox run around market in Adis Ababa a few years ago – these quotes are free interpretations of her words. I don’t know why her every interview from every publication has to be translated and disected to death – that’s why they all sound the same.

- ana on October 23rd, 2008

“I think Brad and Angelina are raising their children the way they want to raise them. It is what’s right for THEM and nobody else has a right to question their parenting methods…”

I was thinking the same thing a few days ago when I read the Suri’s haircut article and comments…lol!

- J on October 23rd, 2008

This sort of parenting style wouldn’t work for me – but that doesn’t mean it won’t work for someone else. They aren’t hurting anyone, so I say “live and let live.”

- Susan on October 23rd, 2008

I think how they raise their family is their business, but I think the way they are doing it is great. I’m sure if most people had the financial security they had, they would happily travel around with their children.

I think it gives their kids great insight to the world, and I don’t understand the argument how “she’s so busy traveling, she doesn’t spend time with her kids”. The kids are with her and Brad every second they’re traveling. Amongst all the chaos and busy schedules,both Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are very hands on parents.

- Mia on October 23rd, 2008

The way they are raising their kids is my dream style. I wish I had the money to be able to expose my children to so many different cultures like that. It’s really important to me that they experience this. To each their own, really. Also, ever notice on this site we see celebrities in different cities, with their kids, pretty much every other day? How do you think they all got there? Why is it only Angelina’s flying around that is an issue? What about Reese Whitherspoon? The Beckhams? The Cruises? Do you realize how often celebrities and their families fly back and forth to NY and Los Angeles? Really. give me a break.

- carie on October 23rd, 2008

Oh, I forgot. Angelina Jolie is the ONLY parent who deserves criticism!!!
Posted by: mslewis at Oct 23, 2008 2:33:43 PM

Funny how that always seems to be the case. No one questions the stability of the Will and Jada’s kids even though according to Will have grown up on tour busses, movie sets and go where he and Jada go. Now not only are the kids on set visiting but they are also now acting in the movies.

Matt Damon takes his three girls to every single movie shoot. This means taking the oldest out of school for months (especially when he’s shooting the Bourne movies) and if you check out his film schedule she’s out of school more than she’s in. Obviously these children have tutors.

It’s not the criticism I take issue with since we all have opinions, but how too often it is only directed at the Jolie-Pitts and if we really want to be honest at Angelina. The woman worked a total of 44 days last year and people want her to further limit her actions? Wow.

I lived in the same house, in the same town for the first 18 years of my life and I wouldn’t use the word ‘stable’ to define my upbringing. Stability has very little to do with location. It’s about love. It’s about knowing your parents are there for you wherever “there” is.

- Joeanne on October 23rd, 2008

I just wonder what would happen if the kids wanted to stay in the same school for a whole grade or maybe join a soccer team and play for the length of the season. I can’t say that I wouldn’t travel more if I had the money and time to spare, but I would be doing it in the summer, when school and activities aren’t happening.

- Beverley on October 23rd, 2008

I don’t understand this. They do what is best for their family, and as long as the kids are happy and healthy in a loving environment, which they so clearly are, who the heck are we to criticize them?

- Kate on October 23rd, 2008

I forgot to comment on the cutest thing in this interview.

‘Why are Shrek and Fiona married and you’re not?’” she laughs.

Those kids kill me and I would love to know how Brad and Angie answered them. lol

- Joeanne on October 23rd, 2008

It seems only Brad and Angelina get the criticism when they do the same things SO MANY celeb parents do. Such double standards!

Em…

I am sure Angelina spends enough time with her kids! She was home for four months with them in France, when NOT one photo was taken of her. She has been off for the last year and movies only take less than three months to film.

It is better for the whole family to be together then for Brad to be in Berlin filming when Angelina is back in LA with the kids for three months!

- ..... on October 23rd, 2008

I think a good stable home is one where the kids are home with their parents everyday.

Which is EXACTLY what Brad and Angelina have. Who cares where they are as long as they are together.

Do you people want Brad to be filming in Berlin for three months and not see his family, while they stay at “home”? That is ridiculous. Brad and Angelina want to keep their family together and that is what they are doing.

- Emilie on October 23rd, 2008

good point Beverly. Angelina actually addressed this a few interviews back, saying that as the kids get older, and start to want to stay in one place, stay around the same friends, get on teams, etc., ….that they will THEN revisit their lifestyle, and make necessary adjustments. So…that’s definitely on their mind. And something they’re planning to make sacrifices to this lifestyle for, which makes me like her even more….and realize more so how she’s not as self-absorbed as a lot of other celebs.

- carie on October 23rd, 2008

Let’s not forget that she’s mentioned before that if the kids want them to settle down in one place, that’s probably when they’re do it. If they’re happy and the children are happy, I see no reason for them to change their lifestyle.

I, for one, like that they don’t feel the urge to conform to some people’s idea of what good parenting is. I don’t plan on raising my kids traditionally, and I could care less what any random stranger has to say about it.

It seems to me that all the criticism about Angelina most likely stems from this perception of her as “the other woman” and her wild past. I think she’s turned out to be an absolutely fantastic mother.

- Kerri on October 23rd, 2008

I have to agree that home is where the parents are. In June my husband was promoted to an office in another state and while he has been able to come home most weekends it has been extremely hard on our kids. We stayed here to sell our house. My 8 year old acts up way more than she used to. My 4 year old, who was potty trained has frequent accidents and I haven’t even attempted to potty train my 2 year old yet. And while there is great joy on Friday when Daddy comes home, on Sunday night I am left with three crushed kids who take days to recover from the goodbyes. We have come to the point where we are now going to rent a house so that we can have Daddy home each night until we sell our house. I am a stay at home mom and we don’t really have the funds to cover rent and a mortgage, but we realized that the separation is far too painful for the kids. Thankfully we found a house big enough, but the kids were more than willing to all share a bedroom if it meant Daddy was with us.

I think kids can handle moving around far better than adults, as long as it means that mommy and daddy are there each night to tuck them in each night.

And as a side note, I now have an even greater respect for single parents. I never realized how hard it was before, especially when you have more than one kid.

- finnaryn on October 23rd, 2008

What an inspiration Angie is to women of all ages. She admits she was wild in her youth, yet grows up to be a wonderful caring mom/humanitarian/partner.
As for the constant traveling? I know some people thrive on moving. I bet when the kids get older and all are in school things might change a little or not. It’s their life and they all seem very happy and loved. Isn’t that the most important ingredient. Angie and Brad have always had similar goals in life and they are passing this spirit down to their children.

- pj on October 23rd, 2008

Home is where the heart is and for children that means if you are with your parents then you are home. In interviews, Angie talks about traveling with her kids, so she is well aware how to keep them safe and happy.
Angie and Brad rock.

- Terrie on October 23rd, 2008

In my next life,I want to come back as a member of Brad and Angie’s ever growing family!!!
So much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

- Susan on October 23rd, 2008

If I was in Angelina’s position I would totally do the same thing. I would quit work and stay home if I could, and I would totally travel with my children no problem. I think it’s good since all these children are from different parts of the world, and I am not a big Angelina/Brad supporter. I don’t want to start anything, but I’m just saying even though I don’t like them so much I do understand and even envy their monetary situation. I mean what would you do if you didn’t ever have to worry about money? I’d do exactly that.

- Sami on October 23rd, 2008

I would not choose to raise my family the way Angelina has. In my opinion, children need stability, structure and a routine and that oftentimes comes with being in one place where one can estabilsh his or herself and build roots.
I applaud Angelina’s humanitarian efforts but I find her decision to travel to war torn areas when she has such young children at home to be reckless if not irresponsible. God forbid if something were to happen to her, what would her children do then.
I never amazes me how people put this woman on a pedastol as if she is a saint or above reproach. They take such offense to someone even questioning their judgment and offering a different opinion. Last time I checked, visitors to this website are invited to make comments which include ones which are critical.

- Di on October 23rd, 2008

Di….Angelina has said in numerous interviews ALL the things they do to reduce the stress of flying. They have as much stability as any celebrity child could have. And, also, with your logic, I guess you’re calling all the soldiers fighting wars in other countries irresponsible?

No one is irritated b/c she gets criticized, it’s the haters who only criticize HER, for things all the other celebrities do, that irritates people.

I said it in the last interview…the same day everyone was criticizing AJ for the W magazine pictures, and saying she exploits her kids when new movies come out….there was an article on Harlow and Nicole Richie/Joel in People…and she was promoting a tv series, and he was promoting a new album/tour. Yet….50 people are over there lavishing compliments and going on and on how cute they are…those same people who were over here complaining about AJ. It’s an obvious double standard. (such a joke, they can go months w/o being photographed, I can’t go an hour w/o seeing a new pic of Suri)

- carie on October 23rd, 2008

It seems to me that all the criticism about Angelina most likely stems from this perception of her as “the other woman” and her wild past. I think she’s turned out to be an absolutely fantastic mother.
Posted by: Kerri at Oct 23, 2008 4:40:45 PM

I think you hit the nail on the head, Kerri. Absolutely the truth in my opinion.

- Elizabeth on October 23rd, 2008

Brad–Brad and I repeated his name for a reason. These children have two parents, not one and this family appears to be more stable than most. You don’t see their children out at all hours of the night, on red carpets, eating dinner at adult restaurants or on multiple shopping trips and otherwise being thrown at the paparrazi like many children. Gwen Stefani took her infant son on tour with, her which means he was in a different city and sometimes different country every other day. Where is the sreams about stablilty and flying. AS for marriage being better, tell that to the children of Madonna, Denise Richards and Reese Witherspoon and so many others. It is no gurantee of success.

There is such a double standard with this couple and especially her who usually gets the brunt of the critism. She did not get pregnant alone and she did not adopt Pax or any other child alone. He supports her and she supports him and they both support and love their children. How they are raised is none of our business. They disappear for months at a time and the children are not seen, but you see them for a week and it is all about exploitation.

I would not be saying this if the same rules applied to all celebrity parents and not just these two but mostly her. Brad said the best thing he ever did for his children was have Angelina as their mother. Enough said

- May on October 23rd, 2008

May- Actually, Brad wasn’t in the picture when she adopted Maddox, but I totally get what you’re saying!

As for the traveling…Has nobody actually read this interview? She said that the kids were asking when they could get back on a plane when they were in France for so long.

She also said in another recent interview that the kids LIKE to travel! She also said in the interview that accompanied Knox and Viv’s first photoshoot that Maddox and Pax having actually been asking to go to their native lands of Cambodia and Vietnam.

Once again, she has said that the kids LIKE traveling! Why should they stop traveling if the kids like it?

- CelebBabyLover on October 23rd, 2008

Home is where the heart is. Our family does not live that type of lifestyle, because we don’t make millions a year…but, if we did, I would see absolutely nothing wrong with it. Kids can have the same schedules, rituals, routines, and their favorite things no matter where they are! A few years ago, we were about to move to a new state and the house we were renting fell through right before we left. We packed up and came here anyway, and spent 2 weeks searching for a place to call “home”. What I found during those 2 weeks was, that we were close, and had fun times, and lots of love and laughs no matter WHERE we were, because we were all together. I’d much rather see Brad and Angelina taking their kids around the world with them, and staying together as a family, than what I see of so many families here. The dad does his own thing..the mom works, and sees her kids maybe 2 hours a night. The families never eat at the same table together or share their day’s good and bad events. The young kids grow up in a daycare being cared for by strangers every day. How is this lifestyle better?
I think it’s great their kids can pick up and go, and that they are exposed to culture.

- Lisa on October 23rd, 2008

I find it interesting that a lot of posters seem to think Angelina and Brad have an ideal lifestyle and are perfect parents. Their children will grow up with the paparazzi in their faces and will always need to be surrounded by security because of the risk of kidnap. They may get to walk through a marketplace in Adis Ababa (no doubt with bodyguards in tow) but they don’t stay in one place long enough to make strong bonds and friendships with other children – the sort I made in my childhood and still treasure.
One minute they are in a 3rd world country, the next they are living in a decadent French chateau – it’s constant culture shock. If they were older they would have the capacity to understand more, but the little ones must find it utterly confusing.
And while Angelina may say the kids love to travel, I find it hard to believe any child enjoys being uprooted as much as the Jolie-Pitt children are – travel is great, but excessive travel wears anyone down, let alone small children (perhaps the kids wanted to “fly” on a plane again, but that doesn’t mean they wanted to have their entire lives uprooted again!). Maybe it’s something Angelina wants to believe because it suits the lifestyle SHE wants to live.
I’m not saying they are bad parents or their lifestyle is bad for the kids, but I am saying I am far from envious of their kids’ upbringing. I would not choose that for my children in a million years.

- sadie on October 24th, 2008

SADIE!!!! So very well said! My thoughts EXACTLY!

- dsmom on October 24th, 2008

Uprooted? At that age? I don’t think you can call that uprooting. They have both their parents, and five siblings with them at all times. That’s all a 7 year old really needs. They will settle and create those strong bonds, when they’re a bit older, when they feel the need to. By discovering different cultures so early on, knowing different countries and laguages, I think they have roots and homes in a lot of places, they will never be uprooted.

True about the paparazzi though. But they won’t have them all their lives, unless they choose it in the future. At least I hope so.

- Alice on October 24th, 2008

Well done sadie for putting it so eloquently – I completely agree with you! I’m all for exploring the world but sometimes they spend only weeks or even just days in one place at a time so how can they make ANY meaningful relationships? Angelina is a self admitted fiercely independent and headstrong person and unfortunately I suspect that even if the kids preferred to stay in one place she would take them anyway to suit her needs. I do agree with some of her opinions especially the Adis Ababa comment but enough is enough already. It may not be so bad for the little ones but at Maddox and Pax’s age they must have some friends who they would be attatched to. After all we only have Angelina’s word for it, who knows how the kids REALLY feel? Travelling is so important to her so she wouldn’t tell the world if they disliked constantly moving as this will make her seem like a bad mother. If they DO like constantly travelling, it’s quite possibly because travelling and being uprooted is the only thing they know so they wouldn’t know the true stability of staying in one place if they’ve never experienced it.
They should limit the uprooting of the kids in my opinion – it’s not healthy .

- LanLan on October 24th, 2008

I’m so glad Angelina and Brad could give a toss about other’s opinion on how they should raise their kids, because if it was up to some of the more provincial proles, it’d be Nowheresville, Flyover Country for the whole lot. Because every kid would pick a soccer team over Adis Ababa, since they’re all raised to prioritize the mundane, or if they’re not, they should be. Not every family needs to fit into a neat little suburban mindspace in order to be considered “healthy.” Your way is not the only way or the only right way.

- Enn on October 24th, 2008

I just wish someone would address the issue that’s been brought up repeatedly: why it only bugs you that SHE does it, and not all the other celebrities that have been mentioned that do the exact same thing?

- carie on October 24th, 2008

Wow people make a lot of assumptions about their lives.
The more she talks about her life the more I realise it’s different than what I imagined from pictures and gossips. I was surprised when in a recent interview she said that they had many friends with families in Berlin for instance. Because you only see seconds of their lives in pictures doesn’t mean that they don’t have a whole private world with friends and routines we’re not aware of.

I think Angelina and Brad know their kids better than any of us. Now you can believe they are bad, selfish parents who don’t care for their children needs but one way or the other time will tell how these children will turn out. They seem pretty balanced and loved to me this far.

- Jade on October 24th, 2008

I hope the article in People about Matt Damon wanting to show his daughters the world and let them see reality is posted here and then I want to see the comments about uprooting and not being on soccer teams and not spending enough time with their children.

He, Brad and Angelina know what is best for their children and they seem to have the same values. Madddox and Pax looked a lot happier playing in New Orleans on that playground
than some children who are in photo ops.

It is fine if people don’t want to raise their children like Brad and Angelina, but to criticize their choices is silly. It is their family and I would love to see some of the critics put up with the same nonesense they do.

PS: Has anyone seen their children (and except for her NY public appearances and Brad’s dinner, this entire family) in the last couple of weeks? Unlike the “Pumpkin Patch Kids” from so many celebrities who are used for photo ops and image makeovers.

- Mara on October 24th, 2008

I love how international they are as a family from the childrens’ birthplaces and cultures, to their family travels! It’s so inspiring:)!

- Crista on October 24th, 2008

Angie just returned from a 2day trip to Afghanistian ,she was there Wed and Thur for UNHCR. You can read about it at alertnet.org

- yoco on October 24th, 2008

I have four children, and all are unique and different. However, the one thing they all yearned for and appreciated was having a regular routine to follow. We always took the kids out of pre-school to accompany us on work related trips. Work for dad, and vacation for the kids and me. When they got older, we would check the calendar to make sure they wouldn’t miss big test or events. We always got homework and school assignments for them to work on during the time away. They loved traveling with us, but really enjoyed being on a regular routine. So, going from place to place, country to country, and from school to school may work for these kids, I don’t think the lack of structure and continuity would have worked for mine kids.

- Jasmine on October 24th, 2008

I second what Mara said. It would be interesting to see the article People magazine had about Matt Damon on this site.

He talked about traveling with his kids all over the world to teach them about life. In the past he made a comment about how many passport stamps his kids have.

Where are the comments criticizing him for uprooting his young kids, for not providing stability, for forcing his preference for travel on his kids??

Wait a minute, his name isn’t Angelina Jolie. Nevermind

- Annie on October 24th, 2008

No matter what anybody says, traveling constantly and changing your home is not healthy for children. Children need stability, and moving to a new country or state every few months is not good.
I have had many friends over the years that moved to my city and they were so sad that they had to leave their old towns and friends and start a new life, make new friends, and get used to a new city.
Its scary for a child to have to go through that once, but imagine going through that a few times per year like with Angelina’s children.
How are her children even supposed to make friends if they spend so little time in each location?

I find it funny how so many Angelina fans say “If they have the money to do it and if their kids like traveling, I don’t see anything wrong with it.”

The problem is, her children are too young to know what they really want and know what’s good for them. If her children want to eat a pound of candy for dinner, should you let them just because they like it? No!
Also, just because they have the money to do it doesn’t mean its okay. Her children will be raised spoiled thinking its “normal” to constantly travel to the most exotic locations and stay in the most luxurious hotels.
This will just separate them from all the other normal kids who can’t afford it and they’ll be raised spoiled and confused.

It is illogical to think this is healthy for children.

My husband and I have the money to travel, but we won’t because we love our children and want the best for them. Traveling should be for the summer or winter break, not a lifestyle.

There’s a difference between other celebrities who travel with their kids and Angelina. Most of the other celebrities have stable homes and their children attend the same schools for years. Traveling is fine ON OCCASION, not every other week like the Jolie Pitts.
Besides, the other celebrities will only travel across the country for special events bringing their kids back to a stable home and back in time for school, not across the globe for god knows what and making the kids change schools several times a year.

- Maria on October 24th, 2008

Maria- The kids apparently DO have friends. Angie has said that Maddox is friends with Marianne Pearl’s son, Adam (and I believe they live in France or somewhere close to it).

She also said in another recent interview that they (“they” meaning the whole family) have friends in Germany. She even talked about Shiloh going on a playdate in Germany (and picking up a little German while she was at it! She apparently said “Nein! Nein!”, which is Germany for “No!”. Typical for a toddler her age. ).

I’m guessing they also have friends in the U.S. (just one example: Shiloh and Kingston had a playdate when they were only six weeks old!).

Basically, it sounds like they have friends in most of the countries they spend time in. And even when they don’t have friends to play with, each of the kids has five other siblings to play with!

I also want to add that, a week or so ago, Angie explained in an interview all the steps they take to make traveling as easy as possible for the kids. Here is a link to that interview: http://www.celebrity-babies.com/2008/10/angelina-joli-7.html

She also mentioned in that interview that they DO have homebases (one of which is in New Orleans, and their chateau in France will likely become one as well).

Finally, as other posters have said, Angie has said multiple times that she and Brad are aware that the kids will probably want to stay in one place one day, and when that day comes, that’s when they will probably settle down.

- CelebBabyLover on October 25th, 2008

I also want to say that one of the things I love about Angie is that she knows how the media and the general public feel about her family…But she doesn’t let it bother her one little bit!

She also is who SHE wants to be, rather than being who the media and the general public want her to be!

- CelebBabyLover on October 25th, 2008

I finally read the article about Matt Damon here on the website and on the People website and I honestly don’t see how some commenters here can keep on insisting that he is doing exactly the same when it comes to the living/ traveling situation.
I’m not judging. Their families, their choices. But one family has a place where they keep returning after film shoots and they INTEND to take their children once they’re older to see the world. The other family with little children is almost constantly on the move, including going to not so secure places.
How can this possibly be the same?!

- lilith on October 25th, 2008

Enn, do you have children? If so, surely you realise that suburbia may seem pretty boring to us adults, but to children it means so much more. Being able to partake in all those “mundane” things – yes, being part of a soccer team, having a special friend you go everywhere with, having a rapport with a special teacher at school or practising hard for the big dancing concert at the end of the year – these “mundane” things are everything to children. As adults, we may grow up and develop an appreciation for different cultures, we may think things like, “wow, I wish when I was a kid I had been able to see the world and visit the Louvre one month and the Met the next and run through a marketplace in Adis Ababa”, but young kids simply do not have the capacity to appreciate such things.
I remember visiting many historic places in England and Europe when I was 8, and my sister and I were bored out of our brains. We spent most of the time playing tag outside.
As much as my husband and I would love to visit Paris or Berlin again with our family, we know the reality is that until they are older, our children would far more enjoy staying on some daggy little farm down south where they can pet chickens and go for pony rides and run around with an army of other kids. Boring? Yep, for my husband and I, but children love that kind of thing.
I read a great article once where a child psychologist spoke about two versions of “childhood” – an adult’s version and a child’s version. With all the best intentions, Brad and Angelina are giving their children an adult’s version of an ideal childhood, no doubt about it. Time will tell if it works for them.
And by the way, I’m not an Angelina-hater. It doesn’t matter who they are, I don’t agree it’s good for parents to constantly uproot their children. That’s my OPINION. I mean, in 3 months Brad and Angelina have moved their clan from France to New York to New Orleans to Berlin. Most kids go feral after a weekend away! They say it works for them and good on them, but as a mother, for the life of me, I don’t understand how it could be beneficial for the kids to live like that. But hey, that’s just my opinion.

- sadie on October 25th, 2008

I’m so glad Angelina and Brad could give a toss about other’s opinion on how they should raise their kids, because if it was up to some of the more provincial proles, it’d be Nowheresville, Flyover Country for the whole lot. Because every kid would pick a soccer team over Adis Ababa, since they’re all raised to prioritize the mundane, or if they’re not, they should be. Not every family needs to fit into a neat little suburban mindspace in order to be considered “healthy.” Your way is not the only way or the only right way.
———————
Amen to that Enn. Amen.

- Amanda on October 25th, 2008

Of course the interviews are going to sound the same – ever notice other stars’ interviews sound the same too? They are all contractually obligated to promote and publicize their films, in other words it’s part of their job. The studios arrange the interviews, photoshoots, etc.

The interviews sound the same because the reporters all ask the same questions, with few exceptions. If I was interviewed about my work and family, there are only so many stories I could tell and so many ways I could talk about them.

On top of that, excerpts or the whole interviews are repeated endlessly by other media, legit and tabloid. No wonder we think we’ve heard the same thing over and over again – we have.

- Ligaya on October 25th, 2008

Maria ,Angelina stated in an interview that the children are home schooled.

- blackrose on October 25th, 2008

yeah, i found it interesting that the Matt Damon article is not getting a lot comments of people complaining that he shouldn’t, in the future, travel so much with his kids. Ironic, really.

Also, the Gwen Stefani articles. We have never seen Zuma, they are out and about all the time without him. Obviously, he’s with someone else. And that’s all fine and normal. HOWEVER, when AJ and Brad spent a lot of time with the kids, to give them special time after Shiloh’s birth….how many accusations were flying that AJ loved her adopted kids more, that she didn’t spend any time with Shiloh, that Shiloh was always with nannies, and not her mom? It’s all a double-standard, and, at this point, it’s just so obvious, and I give little credit and validity to most of the nit-pickers’ arguments anymore.

Also, comparing regular kids, or your kids to celebrities’ kids is kinda silly. Their lives are so insanely different. So what you think your kids can take or perceive, and what their kids is used to…it’s just not even remotely comparable. Celebrity kids’ lives are just vastly different. Look at how much they’re exposed to that your kids aren’t? Sure, uprooting your kids when they’re older would affect them. With celebrity kids, we’re talking about kids that are flying around from the moment they’re born, who are visiting movie sets, who are around diverse people from many countries all the time, who see assistants in and out, etc., etc. What’s normal to you isn’t normal to them, and it’s not all bad either.

Many people have already said that they lived a traveling lifestyle like this, and loved it. So some kids do and some don’t. Just because your kid doesn’t….doesn’t mean all kids hate it. And AJ and Brad seem to be pretty concerned about their kids…they are their life. They’ve stated they will settle down, based on the kids’ needs, so what more do you want from them?

- carie on October 25th, 2008

Sadie and Maria, I think if they want to take the children around the world, it’s better to do it now, because they will soon have to stop. What can you do when you have older kids? Only take them on holiday, during school breaks. This is so different from living in a place. Their oldest child is 7, and I honestly don’t talk to the friends I had at that age anymore. It’s not when they have teens that they will be able to do that.

- Alice on October 25th, 2008

carie- Very well said, and thank you for mentioning the thing about the Gwen articles. I’ve been thinking the exact same thing! Granted, Zuma is only two months old while Shiloh is over two. However, the fact is that Shiloh wasn’t much older than Zuma when the “Where’s Shiloh?” debate started.

Anyway, here’s another double-standard that I don’t get: People criticize Angie and Brad for constantly “uprooting” their kids and not staying in one place so they can make friends, be on teams, etc.

Yet they also criticize Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes for rarely taking Tom’s two older kids with them when they travel. Why the double-standard?

- CelebBabyLover on October 26th, 2008

Oh, and on a somewhat lighter note…I was reading the latest issue of US Weekly at the library on Friday, and they had an article about Angie’s recent interviews.

They mentioned her quotes about Maddox being the “professional big brother” and wanting more siblings (they probably got the latter part from the interview accompanying Knox and Viv’s first photos)…and I had to chuckle.

That’s because they went on to say that Maddox, “Could have another chance (at being a big brother) as early as January…” then finished the sentence with Angie’s quote about not being able to start the adoption process until the twins are six months old (which will be January, as they were born in July.).

Obviously they missed the fact that, even if Angie and Brad DO begin the adoption process in January, it will likely take close to a year for the process to be completed, just like with Pax.

Therefore, it would have been more accurate to say that Maddox might get another chance to be a big brother as early as the end of next year.

Honestly, it amazes me how all these tabs think Angie can adopt a child in a matter of days! I’ve never heard of anyone, celeb or not, being able to adopt THAT fast!

- CelebBabyLover on October 26th, 2008