Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, though no longer together as a couple, continue to share the profound experience of parenting their six remarkable children. The journey began in 2002 when Jolie adopted her first child, Maddox Chivan, now 21, from a Cambodian orphanage. This marked the beginning of a family that would grow both in size and diversity over the years. In 2005, Jolie expanded their family by adopting Zahara Marley, who is now 18, from Ethiopia. Pitt, fully committed to their growing family, later adopted both Maddox and Zahara, further solidifying his role as their father.
Blending Biological and Adoptive Parenthood
The arrival of their first biological child, Shiloh Nouvel, in 2006, now 17, added another dimension to their family. Jolie and Pitt continued to embrace the joys and responsibilities of parenthood, adopting Pax Thien, now 19, from Vietnam shortly after. The family grew even larger in 2008 with the birth of twins, Knox Léon and Vivienne Marcheline, who are now 15. Each addition to their family contributed to the rich tapestry of their lives, blending biological and adoptive experiences into a unique and multicultural family unit.
A Multicultural Family Dynamic
Jolie has often spoken about the impact of having a large and diverse family, noting how it has positively shaped her children’s lives. She emphasizes that the various cultural backgrounds of her children contribute to a special family dynamic where each child influences the others in significant ways. Jolie’s approach to parenting is marked by openness and honesty, fostering an environment where her children can thrive and support each other.
Embracing Honesty and Humanity in Parenting
Reflecting on her role as a mother, Jolie shared with PEOPLE that she doesn’t see herself as the head of the family, but rather as an equal participant in the journey of life with her children. “They’re pretty great people, and because there’s so many of them, I think they’ve had a very significant effect on each other. It’s not like I’m the head of anything. I’m very honest with my kids. And I’m very human with my kids,” Jolie explained, highlighting the genuine and heartfelt connection she maintains with her children.
