"Being a father has changed me on so many levels and made me more generous and alive. I see my children as an essential part of my life," Brad Pitt said.
Brad Pitt reached a huge milestone in his life as he turns 59 this December 18. The actor is known for his massive body of work and also his personal life which has been in the spotlight since the early 2000s. Pitt revealed in a GQ interview that he put his "family first" and said, "People on their deathbeds don't talk about what they obtained or were awarded. They talk about their loved ones or their regrets—that seems to be the menu."
He went on to say how "kids are so delicate" and how "they absorb everything" recognizing that kids need to have their "hands held and things explained." Brad also talked about the places he would like to work on when it comes to good parenting, "They need to be listened to. When I get in that busy work mode, I'm not hearing. I want to be better at that."
As per Us Weekly, Brad Pitt appreciates the influence that fatherhood has had on him. The actor first became a dad shortly after he began dating Angelina Jolie. Pitt legally adopted Jolie's adopted son Maddox and daughter Zahara and then the two welcomed daughter Shiloh in 2006 and adopted son Pax from Vietnam in 2007. One year later, the pair welcomed twins, Knox and Vivienne. "I feel like the richest man alive since I’ve become a father," the Oscar winner said. "Being a father has changed me on so many levels and made me more generous and alive. I see my children as an essential part of my life. I love being a father and all the responsibilities that entail," Brad added.
In 2016, Angelina Jolie filed for divorce and things became pretty heated between the couple. Brad was drinking heavily and smoking cannabis, as a result, he was barred from visiting his children. He reportedly stopped drinking and smoking altogether after he realized the cost. In the same interview, he confessed that his visitations were not regular initially, which was extremely hard on him. However, after Child Services were called he was freed from the allegation that was being eaten up by all media houses at the moment.
He added that they were both doing their best, and he knew no one won in court because it's just time to create a case where you prove the other person was wrong or right. The star said he refused to reach that point with Angelina and he and Angelina were on the same boat. Having said that, the divorce proceedings were still jarring for the children whose lives were "ripped apart." Brad also confessed that he tried showing his children that these things matter to him and he hoped they'd get there one day. He also acknowledged how the world differed from his past because people were now more focused on psychology.
In the GQ interview, the star recalled how the divorce forced him to reconsider a lot of things, "It's hit me smack in the face with our divorce: I gotta be more. I gotta be more for them. I have to show them. And I haven't been great at it."
An insider told ENews that Brad supported his children and whatever made them happy. He never stood in the way when they wanted to make their own decisions, as he felt that they were old enough to do so and encouraged them to be whoever they wished to be. In his emotional acceptance speech while receiving the award for his role in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood..., he said, "This is for my kids who color everything I do. I adore you,"
References:
https://www.gq.com/story/brad-pitt-gq-style-cover-story
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Frazer Harrison
