Angelina Jolie says she’s striving for balance
In a candid new interview with Entertainment Weekly, actress Angelina Jolie spoke at length about her four children with partner Brad Pitt — and their two babies-on-the-way. Although the couple "weren’t expecting twins," Angelina revealed, they "like a challenge." Should that challenge become too overwhelming, Angelina said she has help available in many forms.
[Brad's] mom and dad are on standby to come out and help. And fortunately we can hire help if we need it, but we’re going to try as we usually do to balance it as well as we can.
Speaking of balance, a priority for the 33-year-old is making sure the twins’ siblings — Maddox Chivan, 6 ½, Pax Thien, 4 ½, Zahara Marley, 3 ½ and Shiloh Nouvel, 2 — are at ease with the newest additions to their family. Angelina thinks that the age range will be beneficial, and they’ll continue to carve out one-on-one time with each child throughout the day. She said,
They’re old enough to feel included to change diapers themselves, to feed bottles themselves, like if I pump into a bottle. We’re trying to find ways where it can be a fun group thing. But the hard thing is every single day trying to find time for each of them privately. ‘Cause that’s our big thing. With our eldest, we have that last half an hour at night; Shiloh tends to be the first up in the morning. Everybody gets special time so we can make sure we know where they’re at.
Click ‘continue reading’ for more from the interview.
Angelina scoffed at the notion that pregnancy is bad for the sex life, telling Entertainment Weekly she thinks it’s "quite the opposite."
It’s great for the sex life. It just makes you a lot more creative. So you have fun, and as a woman you’re just so round and full.
As for Jack Black, who accidentally dropped the twins bombshell during a Today show appearance alongside his Kung Fu Panda co-star, Angelina said she harbors no ill will.
Poor Jack! Immediately when he saw Brad, he apologized. But we both told him very clearly that we had only waited because, as you do with any baby, but especially twins, you wait until all results are in on their health, and that we were past that point and if somebody had asked me directly, I would have said yes. So he didn’t do anything but take the heat himself.
Source: Entertainment Weekly; Cover courtesy of Entertainment Weekly.
Thanks to CBB readers Nicole, Sarah and Bre.
- Posted on Jun 11, 08 at 8:46PM
- Permalink
- 47 Comments
June 11th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
I “heart” her! Can’t wait to see those beautiful babies!
June 11th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
LOVE HER!
I love her more everytime she does an interview. She is such a beautiful and loving person. She must be so fun to have a mother!!
June 11th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
With soon-to-be 6 children and the noble task of giving them all individual time, that sounds like it leaves little time for sleep. Sounds like she has the right approach, but just thinking about all those little kids makes me exhausted! More power to them!
June 11th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
She has really grown into a beautiful woman inside and out. I hope this family stays together always.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
I read this entire interview and find it strange as why she would promote guns and war in her home and shoot movies where people kill eachother… Quite contradictory to the whole UN thing…
June 11th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
I can’t wait to see these next two babies!! I actually had a funny dream the other night that I was babysitting Angelina and Brad’s kids and I was FRANTIC, running around chasing them and trying to keep them from going in the ocean. It was a really weird dream. LOL. I think that is a sign that I am coming onto this site too much. haha.
I hope she has two little girls. For some reason I can’t see “HER” translating into a boy. I think its because she is so beautiful and feminine looking…it’s just hard for me to translate her into a boy without it looking like her brother (who is a little odd looking in my opinion)-and i hope that isn’t coming off in a rude way-i just find him strange looking. lol. But, either way, I can’t wait!!!!
June 11th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Poor Jack Black, I know exactly how he must have felt !!!
June 11th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Yay Angelina! I really do love her more and more with every interview. She’s wonderful.
June 11th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
after reading her interviews a love her more.she is such strong woman.her her family is adorable
June 11th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Can’t wait to see the twins. I think they will adopt another child someday, but I think with twins coming soon and 6 kids 7 and under, they will be very busy for awhile.
June 11th, 2008 at 10:26 pm
I love her! She gives great interviews. Can’t wait for the twins to be born.
June 11th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
I love her and her family. She and Brad were destined for each other. Their kids are precious.
June 11th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
It seems that she has truly found what she loves best: motherhood.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
ive gotta say i think their both amazing
& that those are adorable kids & they are beautiful & they seem like amazing parents
i felt so bad for jack lol
June 11th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
Ryan that is so funny! I had a dream about a week ago that i was babysitting her twins. I was actually mad at Angelina because she had so many types of milk in her fridge that I didn’t know which one to use! I was suppose to add a little milk to the formula, which in reality that completely does not make sense. The odd thing was that one of the milk cartons said “good for newborns.” lol. That whole day I was annoyed at her and it wasn’t her fault she was in my dream! =)
June 11th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
Don’t you feel just sooo sorry for her…having to carry Brad Pitt’s twins and all. Must be so tough.
Love her!
June 11th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Well reading this board, it will be dream babysitting duty tonight
June 11th, 2008 at 11:25 pm
Hate when parents make their kids help raise each other – that’s not your job as a child. There are better ways to help your children learn responsibility.
It’s nice that they try to give the kids (in such a large family, especially) special time.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
I love her interviews. She seems like an amazing mother and has found a great partner in Brad.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Erin, I didn’t read it as her wanting to teach the kids responsibility. In the quote she says “we’re trying to find ways where it can be a fun group thing,” with fun being the operative word.
It’s great to come to a site like this where is a lot of positivity about Angelina’s interviews. I can just imagine the look she and Brad must have exchanged the doctor told them it was twins! Holy crap batman, that wasn’t what we planned! I bet they’re going to relish two extra to love.
June 11th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I only wish I could be as calm, collected, and together as she seems to be!! She has totally taken having twins in stride!! I like that she and Brad try to make special individual time with each child every day…that can be hard with 2…let alone 6!! She has grown into such an amazing Mom!!
June 11th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
Love her more with every interview! I didn’t see her remark about getting the kids to help with diaper changes and feeding as making them do stuff lol but rather LETTING them stuff if they want to help. This is pretty common for larger families and who says there’s anything wrong with that
June 11th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
i think a lot of people have mentioned this – but i really love her more and more every time she does an interview. she is such a wonderful person and an amazing mother. those 6 children are incredibly lucky to have such a great mother and father:)
June 12th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Great article, but way too many celebs are having twins. It isn’t that common. They must be using fertility treatments. And in that case there are higher odds for twins. I mean just think about it. JLO and Diddy dated and less than three years both have twins. Brad worked with Julia and now they both have twins. And the list goes on…Garcelle, Marcia and etc.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:57 am
Angelina has done a lot of interviews where she has talked about motherhood lately, and the more of them I read, the more she becomes my celeb mommy role model! She seems dedicated and fun and seems to really enjoy being a mother (not that other mothers and celeb mothers don’t!). Besides, her (and Brads) parenting philosophy speak to me, the things she points out are things that are important for me too. Now if only I could find me a Brad…
I see nothing wrong with her comment about the older kids beeing able to change diapers and feeding the babies a bottle, young kids love to help mommy and daddy (and grandma and grandpa and aunty and…). I remember that I loved to help my stepmother with my little brother when I was six, off course it didn’t mean that I had any responsibility what so ever when it came to rising him and I don’t think the Jolie-Pitt kids will either. Besides, older siblings always teach younger siblings, wether it is good (or bad!) table manners or playing games or saying words you really don’t want your little darlings to know.
June 12th, 2008 at 2:26 am
Yes I love her as well, she is a wonderful woman, actress, wife and mother- and extremely talented! I wish her all the best with her twins and hope that Maddox, Pax, Zahara and Shiloh adjust to the new arrivals!
June 12th, 2008 at 2:32 am
Erin, by having them help it becomes a family thing that way they don’t feel so left out. I don’t think she meant for them to help like a chore. I’m sure it’s ALL up too them it’s just more fun when the kids help out also.I’m assuming the girls especially Z will be alllllll for it! Real babies she can change and “play” with.
LOVE HER!
June 12th, 2008 at 2:43 am
A trully wonderful, Angie interview. No additions, no adlibbing and no summation.
It is what it is!
Love her so much!
WELL DONE Entertainment Weekly for practising journalism!
June 12th, 2008 at 4:58 am
So it is 100% Angelina is going to have twins? She actually said, “I am having twins, two babies?” This isn’t some made-up story EW has done in order to sell more copies?
So all that is left now is to wait for the birth announcement!
June 12th, 2008 at 7:49 am
From what I’ve heard of Ms. Jolie and Mr. Pitt, they seem to be very devoted parents, so I am by no means judging them. However, while I think it’s important to give each child individual time, I think that may be unrealistic to do each and every day with larger families especially. Every few days or even every week is even a reasonable goal. Of course, each family works out what is best for them, so maybe they do have that time each day. Also, when you have many siblings, there is a special bond there, as well, so as long as the love is apparent and there is no intentional neglect, no one ends up feeling left out. Of course, I’m not advocating giving parental responsibility to children, or expecting too much of them too young, but I think letting (or even expecting) older siblings to help in appropriate ways and amounts is a great idea. It helps them feel included, it teaches responsibility, and besides, that’s what families do–they take care of each other.
June 12th, 2008 at 8:00 am
What wonderful woman she has become. She seems so comfortable in her skin and her life.
I just adore her.
June 12th, 2008 at 8:19 am
I don’t believe that letting older children ‘help’ when a new one comes along is ‘making them work’. When my second one came along, a few days after my son’s third birthday, he thought of her as ‘his’ baby and wanted to help take care of her. Including them in the infants care brings them closer together and the older child sees the new one as less of an ‘intrusion’.
The Jolie-Pitt family is one of the most beautiful in the world and Brad and Angelina are very giving people. I am a fan and congratulate them wholely on their new additions.
June 12th, 2008 at 8:48 am
I think what she means when she says stuff about having the older kids change a diaper or give a bottle is not to help out so mom and dad can rest, I think its to help the others feel included in such a huge change to their lives so maybe the jealousy won’t creep in as much. I know when I let my daughter help me when my son was born she loved it and was eager and things calmed down a bit with her wanting my attention 24/7. When you have more than one child it is very hard in the newborn stage to be able to have one on one time with the older child. Including them is one way to spend quality time with them while you HAVE to take care of the newborn.
I love Angelina. She makes motherhood and pregnancy sexy and womanly and just reminds me how wonderful it all really is.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:21 am
to DLR ..Angelina confirmed that she is having twins in an Access Hollywood interview!
June 12th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Angie sounds like she’s truly found her calling in life…motherhood and speaking up for disadvantaged children. It just boggles my mind that she is only 2 years older than me, and is a mom of six. For some reason, i don’t think of her as being only 33. :p
i also didn’t read it as the current 4 children will now have the extra chore of child-rearing placed upon them…they are just small little things that the kids can do so that they are not feeling left out.
Now the Duggar family on the otherhand- oy.
June 12th, 2008 at 10:13 am
They are my perfect role models. I absolutely adore this family!!
June 12th, 2008 at 10:16 am
I think it is interesting that she is talking about sex because most people pregnant with twins at this stage on are pelvic rest.
June 12th, 2008 at 11:27 am
Not all of us were put on pelvic rest
. As much as I used to not care for her, I really like her as a mother. At least from what we read of her.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I’m glad I’m not the only one having Angelina babysitting dreams! Mine was actually more like a nightmare though since my main goal in the dream was trying to keep the babies out of the ocean-They kept waddling over to it and i was frantically trying to get them away from it with no luck! It was quite scary!
I also agree that it is perfectly normal to have your younger children helping out with the baby. I think I even read a study once a few years ago that mentioned having a child who was post-toddler age help out with an infant being a good learning lesson for them when they themselves are parents. Or maybe it was that if you DID have your children help you out, those children have a better percentage rate of actually wanting children when they are older. i can’t remember it. But, either way, i think it’s a great idea to have them involved like that! It includes them and makes them feel not left out in a way.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I love that she still wants to carry her other babies even when heavily pregnant. There is nothing like a mummy’s embrace. They seem like such a sweet family.
June 12th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
I had absolutely no responsibilities as a kid. My mom was raised on a farm and had to milk cows daily as a child, so she wanted a completely opposite childhood for us. Although I do remember my childhood fondly, it certainly did not prepare me well for adulthood and juggling numerous tasks. Not to say there was anything wrong with my upbringing, or that I am making excuses for my faults, but I do believe some responsibility goes a long way…
June 12th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
I agree with the other posters that it sounds more like Angie and Brad will be including the older children in the baby care, not expecting them to do it alone. Obviously Shiloh can’t change a babies diaper, but she can hold a bottle for the baby while an adult holds the baby. Maddox probably could change a wet diaper on his own. My six year old did. And Pax and Z can help out by bringing diapers or wipes over, or a pillow for Angie if she is nursing.
It is recommended by many doctors to including siblings in the baby care. This way they feel like they are an important part of the family. They are less likely to lash out at the babies. With Shiloh especially this will be important. To never let her help with the babies will make her feel like she has been replaced instead of just moved into the important role of big sister.
I have three kids, so I have experience in this. None of my kids have lashed out that their younger siblings because I have always made the older kids feel like they have an important role in caring for the baby.
I do have to say though… I wish Entertainment Weekly had used a different picture. She is so beutiful but the angle of the picture dosn’t flatter her very well. But even so… Angie has become so beutiful on the inside that it really dosn’t matter.
June 12th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Hate when parents make their kids help raise each other – that’s not your job as a child. There are better ways to help your children learn responsibility.
Erin, I don’t think that she is talking about them being responsible for the baby.
LOL, I am the oldest of 7 children. I had a baby to take care of almost every 2 years (being a Catholic family). I can tell you that I LOVED it. My mother nursed each child for three months and then it was MY turn to get to feed the baby. I was always so happy taking care of the baby after school.
My mother gives me credit for raising my baby sister who was 12 years younger than I. I never knew I was raising her. I just loved taking care of her all of the time. It was what I wanted to do and we are so close even though far in age.
I am the only person I’ve ever known who was not worried when I had children. I knew all about raising baby and never had a care or worry like my friends did.
I applaud Angelina and Brad for what they are doing with their children.
June 18th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Since Angie said that she and Brad weren’t expecting to have twins, I’m guessing that they (the twins) were probably concieved naturally. Since almost all fertility treatments greatly increase the chances of twins and multiple births in general (in fact, the only one I can think of that doesn’t increase the chance of multiple birth is artifical insemination). Therefore, if Angie and Brad had used fertilty treatments, I doubt they would have been surprised to be having twins.
June 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 pm
It is important to have special time with children weekly and one-on-one time to talk every day. This is the only way to keep children feeling safe, know what they are feeling and to understand them.
I have 3 young children (6, 4, 22m) and it is a challenge but I aim for it every day. It’s as important as changing diapers and providing meals – taking time out to talk to your kids, or snuggle, read a book or sing a song (if they are too young to talk).
I adore AJ and she has beautiful children. Each and every one is precious. I’m excited about the twins too. What fun!
June 23rd, 2008 at 7:53 pm
They’re an adorable little family!
June 24th, 2008 at 12:24 am
I think Angelina is such a great woman. You can not help but find her to be a great role model for mothers with young children. I know that she makes me want to have another. ( And I only have 3.) I guess $$$$ helps. God Bless her, Brad and their family. I only wish that they would get married so that they could show their children what real commitment is all about. “Till death do us part” is taken too lightly now and if they really mean it then, I see no reason why they shouldn’t…