Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were once one of Hollywood's golden couples.
When the pair filed for divorce in September 2016, hearts around the world were broken.
Nevertheless, Jolie held her head high as she dove into life as a single mom, raising
her six children all under one roof.
While raising that many kids is no easy feat, Angie remains humble and quick to note how
much she learns from her brood.
The Maleficent star gushed to Harper's Bazaar in 2019, saying,
"My children know my true self, and they have helped me to find it again [...] I learn from
their strength.
As parents, we encourage our kids to embrace all that they are, and all that they know
in their hearts to be right, and they look back at us and want the same for us."
More recently, Jolie has had to remain strong for her children, including her eldest daughter
Zahara.
In a short candid essay penned for Time for International Women's Day, Jolie admitted
two of her girls were recently hospitalized, and that Zahara has been, quote, "in and out
of surgeries" for the last two months.
Although Jolie doesn't go into detail regarding what exactly is going on with Zahara, she
offered a bit more insight about an unnamed younger daughter, writing that she had hip
surgery recently.
Regarding her recently hospitalized children, Jolie wrote,
"They understand that going through medical challenges and fighting to survive and heal
is something to be proud of.
I have watched my daughters care for one another.
My youngest daughter studied the nurses with her sister, and then assisted the next time.
I saw how all my girls so easily stopped everything and put each other first, and felt the joy
of being of service to those they love.
I also watched them face their fears with a resolute bravery."
As for ex-hubby, Brad Pitt?
According to Page Six, the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor skipped the BAFTAs to be
by his daughter's side, sending co-star Margot Robbie to accept his award on his behalf.
It's unknown if Pitt and Jolie are currently on good terms, although it's a bit peculiar
Jolie didn't mention her former husband at all, since she wrote that she and their children
were all at the hospital together.
It's no surprise that Jolie's children were by their sisters' sides during their stay
at the hospital.
As it turns out, they're all very close.
The Salt starlet gushed to Entertainment Tonight in August 2019,
"When you know that your kids love each other and you see the way they all, without any
kind of prompting or pushing, give each other notes, hug each other, take each other, support
each other, then you feel like they're gonna be okay and they're always gonna have each
other."
Jolie revealed how her children celebrate her on special days in an interview with Hello!
in 2019, telling the tabloid that her kids make her breakfast and pick flowers for her
on Mother's Day.
Ultimately, the main lesson Jolie wants her children to take away from her is kindness
— something she revealed to Harper's Bazaar that same year, saying,
"They are very open-minded and very kind.
I try to lead by example and to be as kind and gracious, and loving and tolerant, as
my mother was.
When there's a fight that needs to be had, I want them to feel they have the strength.
So, I hope they are learning to be kind."
Another significant component of Jolie's Time essay was her discussion of women's rights.
In fact, the piece was even titled "Why Girls Deserve Love and Respect on International
Women's Day."
While the article definitely touched on her daughters' surgeries, the starlet's message
was more universal, which is befitting her role as a UN special envoy.
"The international community has to step up and do more."
Jolie wrote,
"Little girls' softness, their openness and instinct to nurture and help others, must
be appreciated and not abused.
We must do much more to protect them, in all societies.
[...] And my message to girls is, fight on, little ladies.
Your care for each other will be a large part of your way forward.
Hold your nerve.
Know your rights."
Regardless of whether or not you're a fan of the Hollywood starlet, there's no denying
the importance of Angie's message.
In the meantime, we're wishing Jolie's daughters all the best.
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