Lonely Maddox begs: ‘I want a proper home’
'Dad, when can we stay in one place? I’m getting sick of all this moving.’ Those were Maddox Jolie-Pitt’s startling words to his famous father Brad Pitt last week. Brad and his partner Angelina Jolie had just arrived in LA with Maddox and his siblings – Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne – in tow. However, they didn’t stay in California for long.
The Jolie-Pitt clan are now in New York where they’ve taken a lease on a $60 million estate. It’s just one more stop in what Brad calls ‘the Jolie-Pitts’ nomadic but awesome lifestyle’. It’s also where they’ll be living for the months to come while Angelina makes a movie called Edwin A. Salt. In fact, the family has owned or rented properties in three different countries in the past year alone.
However, Maddox’s question has caused Brad to wonder how much longer they can keep it up. 'I think it has to end soon,’ Brad tells friends. ‘We know we can’t keep dragging our kids all over the world. When they were younger, it was easier. But now the boys are getting older and it’s getting more complex.’
Indeed, nothing is more important to Brad, 45, and Angelina, 33, than their children. Thus, the travelling required of these two busy movie stars as they pursue their careers and humanitarian efforts has raised a number of questions.
For instance, should their kids have more friends? Certainly, Maddox, seven, and Pax, five, have very few. They’re at an age where they should be bonding and socialising with other youngsters at school, yet that’s impossible because they’re never in the same place for long. Brad and Angelina have found a temporary solution to the problem.
‘With Dad’s help, Maddox and Pax are communicating by internet camera with friends they’ve made in different countries,’ a source reveals. 'It’s pretty awesome, the way you can communicate with the internet,’ Brad has said. ‘I’m terrible at it, though. I’m almost computer illiterate. It’s not ideal for kids… but we’re sort of dabbling in it. Another source says: ‘The boys are very personable. They’re funny. They’re smart, and they make friends easily – but they’re never around long enough to see those friendships blossom. Brad and Angelina want that to change.’
The children’s schooling is another issue. Maddox and Pax are enrolled in schools in France, Germany and in the US, and also have private tutors who either travel with them or reside in the different cities visited by the Jolie-Pitts. Zahara, four, has also just begun a bit of tutoring, too. ‘But Angelina’s said she’ll abandon her career rather than have the kids’ schooling constantly interrupted,’ the source says. ‘She’s concerned about the children’s education and wants to make sure they have every opportunity.’
Another friend of the couple’s adds: ‘In some ways, you could say the kids have had an amazing education because of their travels. They love Germany, for instance, where they lived while Brad made Inglourious Basterds. They also love France. Maddox speaks fluent French, in fact. Pax speaks French, too. So does Angelina.The kids have looked at it all as a great big adventure. But Brad and Angelina want a different life for them now. They want something more settled.’
Indeed, most parents would agree that travelling with one or two kids is hard. Imagine what it must be like with six! And you don’t usually see nannies with the Jolie-Pitts as they make their way through various airports.
‘They do almost everything themselves,’ the source says. Brad reveals: ‘Oh, we have a system in place. I’m not even going to try to explain it. It involves a lot of strategy, I’ll tell you that much. The boys help a lot. They do a lot of packing and unpacking. They’ve become professional travellers. They’re really awesome, those two. But still, they’re little kids, you know? But it’s exhausting sometimes.’
One of Brad’s close friends says things will have to change because the kids are becoming a little less cooperative. As a result of a few rough flights, Pax has begun to not want to fly as much. And sources say that the twins cry during take-off and, especially, landing. ‘Shiloh’s very quiet, though, and happy,’ the source says. ‘She’s just two; it’s all she knows. It’s helped a lot that she’s walking now. But Zahara is extremely fidgety when on aeroplanes.’
Brad and Angelina travel with all sorts of video games, DVDs, puzzles, anything they can think of to distract the kids. To pass the time, Brad tells great stories. In fact, the boys can fall asleep in his lap anywhere as he talks about his own childhood or reads them bedtime books. On long flights, Angelina tends to the girls, Brad to the boys – and they split duty with Knox and Vivienne. ‘Colouring books, card games, whatever it takes to keep them occupied,’ the source says. ‘I don’t know how they do it! It can be very noisy, too. One is sleeping, one is crying, another one is running up and down the aisle. Brad and Angie are so incredibly patient. However, I can tell you it’s wearing them down.’
So, how do Brad and Angelina intend to deal with these issues? 'We’re definitely slowing things down,’ Angelina has said. ‘The past couple of years have been a whirlwind. We all need a break. The kids need to be settled, and that’s what’s going to happen. We’re not sure, but we think it’ll be in France. We’re definitely winding things down.’
Brad agrees: ‘All the pictures you’ve seen of the Jolie-Pitts at airports – you won’t be seeing as many. We’re going to try to be homebodies. I’d love it if one day people say: “Whatever happened to Brad, Angie and those kids? We never see them anymore.” Now that would be awesome.’
Lonely Maddox begs: ‘I want a proper home’ | MorungExpress.com
Lonely Maddox Jolie-Pitt begs: 'Dad, when can we stay in one place?’
Linear Mode
