How Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie’s Parenting Styles Affected Marriage

Pitt favored structure and rules, while Jolie preferred fostering independence. Despite their conflicts, the former couple shared the same vision for their children’s future.

Brad Pitt’s relationship with his older children remains strained, and some of his children have also stopped using his last name.

During their marriage, Pitt and Jolie reportedly clashed over parenting styles for their six children: Maddox, 22; Pax, 20; Zahara, 19; Shiloh, 18; and twins Knox and Vivienne, 16.

According to People magazine, their differing approaches contributed to their separation.

“During their marriage, they had very different parenting styles. Brad grew up with the structure and wanted more rules for the kids,” an insider told the news outlet. “Angie had a different upbringing and wanted the kids to be more independent and responsible for their own schedules from a young age.”

The source mentioned that despite their conflicts, Pitt and Jolie shared the same aspirations for their children.

“Brad and Angie clashed over this,” the insider continued. “However, they did always have the same vision for their kids’ future. They wanted the kids to thrive by experiencing the world first-hand and not only learn from traditional schooling.”

According to People, Pitt’s relationship with his children is still strained, and he has “virtually no contact with the adult kids.”

A source told the news outlet that “his engagement with the younger kids is more limited in recent months because of his filming schedule.”

The source also mentioned that the couple’s custody agreement allows the “Bullet Train” star visitation rights with the two minor children.

“[Angelina] has the kids most of the time, but per their agreement, he has visitation with the younger kids,” the insider added.

A source who spoke to People claimed that Pitt was “aware and upset” that Shiloh had filed to remove his last name from hers on her 18th birthday.

The insider shared that the move signifies another reminder that the 60-year-old Oscar winner has “lost his children.”

“He’s aware and upset that Shiloh dropped his last name,” the source revealed. “He’s never felt more joy than when she was born. He always wanted a daughter.”

On the legal documents obtained by The Blast, Shiloh ticked “personal” as her reason for wanting to change her last name.

Shiloh reportedly paid for her own lawyer to oversee the legal process. If her name change request is approved, the 18-year-old will drop “Pitt” from her original name, “Shiloh Jolie-Pitt,” and only go by “Shiloh Jolie.”

Before Shiloh’s birth, Pitt was already in the process of legally adopting a daughter with Jolie.

In July 2005, Jolie traveled to Ethiopia to adopt her first daughter, Zahara, 19, with Pitt accompanying her on the trip.

By December 2005, Pitt was reported to be in the process of adopting Zahara, a month before the “Maleficient” actress announced her pregnancy with Shiloh in January 2006.

“The reminders that he’s lost his children is, of course, not easy for Brad,” the source added. “He loves his children and misses them. It’s very sad.”

The Blast previously reported that Pitt’s youngest daughter, Vivienne, listed her name as “Vivienne Jolie” in the Playbill for the Broadway musical adaptation of “The Outsiders,” where she worked as her mother’s assistant.

It is unclear if Vivienne has legally changed her name, but as a minor, she would likely need parental consent or extenuating circumstances to do so before turning 18.

Zahara introduced herself as “Zahara Marley Jolie” when she joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority at Spelman College last year. Pitt and Jolie’s oldest sons, Maddox and Pax, have reportedly not publicly used their father’s last name in years and have been openly critical of him.

Jolie adopted Maddox in 2002 and Zahara in 2005, shortly after meeting Pitt. Together, they adopted Pax in 2007 and had biological children Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne. Pitt adopted all the children before their marriage in 2014.