Regardless of what people might think of Angelina Jolie, one thing is for certain: she’s a woman who always gets what she wants. Before she adopted her child and met Brad Pitt, she always made it pretty clear that she wanted to be a mother and of course, have a family of her own. And that’s exactly what she got. She’s a mother to six beautiful children who were all born in different parts of the world and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

With that being said though, her life and the way she runs her household has definitely changed ever since she pulled the plug on her marriage with her longtime partner and now ex-husband, Brad Pitt. Sure, the actor gets to see his children but right now, Angelina has full custody of all six kids. And even though she does have plenty of help with her staff full on nannies, it does have to be stressful being a solo parent on your own. That’s why we’ve got 20 different ways that Angelina Jolie’s parenting has changed in the last year. Take a look at our list below and prepare to be fascinated!

20 Less Traveling

If there is one thing that Angelina Jolie loved to do with her family, it’s zig zag all over the world. For the longest time, it was hard to keep up with the Jolie-Pitts, just because they were jumping from one time zone to another. But now that she and her ex Brad Pitt are now longer together, Angie is not as traveling as often as she was before. Sure, she’s been working on projects in London and in Southeast Asia, but there are more travel restrictions that has been put on her and her family so her kids can still see their father, Brad.

19 More Time At Home In Los Angeles

With the above being said, Angelina Jolie is being forced to spend more time in her family’s home base of Los Angeles. And needless to say, she might not be too happy about it. During her marriage to Brad Pitt, Angie only spent time in Los Angeles if she had to or if it was work related. Otherwise, she and her kids were spending time at their Chateau in France, frolicking somewhere on the island of Malta or bonding as a family in Africa. Simply put, Angie is no fan of Hollywood and she’s made that clear on numerous occasions.

18 Learning How To Compromise

This is without a doubt very hard for a lot of ex-couples out there. After your separation, if there is one thing that you have to learn to do, it’s compromise. Yet, it’s not in everyone’s vocabulary. There are some people out there who think that Angelina is doing everything in her power to keep full custody of her kids. And for the actress and mom, it’s emotionally draining. She’s having a hard time keeping up with the kids and the pressure of solo motherhood.“The last two years of their lives have been very difficult and stressful,” a source tells E! News. “The kids are aware of what’s going on. They’re old enough to get it” and “it hasn’t been good for anyone.”

17 Where Are All The Mom Friends?

A lot of people can’t help but ask the same question: where are all of Angelina Jolie’s moms friends? Because if there is someone that you most definitely want to lean on during times of troubles, it’s all of the same ladies that have been there, done that, and survived at the end of the night. And while there’s no doubt that Angelina does have an inner circle, it does seem as though she’s lacking some true celebrity mom friends out there who will have her back, no matter what. She needs them in her life.

16 Giving Brad The Time He Deserves With The Kids

One of the biggest steps Angelina Jolie has made in the past year is giving Brad Pitt the time that he deserves with their six children. They even now have an agreement over child custody. Angelina Jolie’s attorney, Samantha Bley DeJean, previously said of the agreement, “A custody arrangement was agreed to weeks ago, and has been signed by both parties and the judge. The agreement, which is based on the recommendations of the child custody evaluator, eliminates the need for a trial. The filing and details of the agreement are confidential to protect the best interests of the children.”

15 And Brad’s Parents In Missouri

If there are two people who really do miss seeing their grandchildren, it’s Brad Pitt’s parents back in Missouri. As a matter of fact, both William and Jane Pitt used to be a huge fixture in the children’s live during Brad and Angelina’s marriage. Sadly, they haven’t been seen with the kids in several years. And while no one knows what is going on behind closed doors for the Pitt family, one thing is for certain: the grandparents definitely miss seeing their grandchildren, and especially during important events and holidays. Angelina should consider allowing the kids to visit Brad’s family in Missouri.

14 Obeying Everyone’s Household Rules And Regulations

When you grow up splitting your time between your mother’s home and your father’s home, it has to get difficult keeping up with everyone’s rules and regulations. That’s why it’s important for Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to make sure that they are always on the same page, especially when it comes to their kids. Yet, one of the biggest problems is that Brad likes structure, while Angelina likes to give the kids freedom. “Angelina hasn’t offered any concessions about her actions that have contributed to the situation,” one insider close to the situation tells Us Weekly. “Angelina has a lot of emotional baggage from her own unstable childhood.”

13 Making All The Important Decisions On Her Own

Because Brad Pitt isn’t as active in his children’s life as he used to be (and we are not saying that it’s by choice), Angelina Jolie is left to make all of the important decisions on her own. And with six kids under one roof, that can’t be easy. Yet, Angelina has taken it all in stride. She was born to be a mother and it’s a role that gives her great pride, regardless of some of the things she has to do. Angie once said, "The great thing about having a bunch of kids is that they just remind you that you're the person who takes them to go poop. That's who you are!"

12 Being The Mom And The Dad

It’s without a doubt that a lot has changed for Angelina Jolie ever since she decided to pull the plug on her marriage to Brad Pitt. In some ways, she’s now both the mom and the dad, especially since Brad doesn’t live under the same roof as his family anymore. Angelina has managed to make a lot of things happen in her life because she’s focused on what needs to be done. She explained, "I actually feel more of a woman because I feel like I’m being smart about my choices, and I’m putting my family first, and I’m in charge of my life and my health. I think that’s what makes a woman complete."

11 Less Family Time, More Work

Back when they were still married, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie used to enjoy traveling all over the world and raising their children to be international citizens. But now that Angie relies on just one paycheck, she’s more worried about her family’s financial future and stability, which is one of the reasons why she’s picked up more projects in Hollywood. Some reports have even suggested that she had to borrow money from Brad Pitt. In other words, it’s less family time and more work, unfortunately. She also realizes that she has definitely taken on more than she can sometimes handle on her own.

10 Having Both Parents At Birthday Parties

A great indicator of how well two people are co-parenting their family together is when they can both show up at the same place and at the same time. For kids, it’s very important for both parents to be at their birthday parties, special events, and of course, holidays like Christmas. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened for Brad and Angelina yet, although the actress says that they are definitely working on it. It’s all a work in progress. Angelina Jolie said last year, "We care for each other and care about our family, and we are both working towards the same goal."

9 Respecting Her Children’s Father

It’s without a doubt that Angelina might still be holding some grievances and grudges towards Brad Pitt because of their unsuccessful marriage. After all, he was the love of her life. Despite everything that has happened (or continues to happen), Angelina has to learn to respect the father of her six children. Whatever personal issues she has, they have to work them out. Brad Pitt “wants joint custody and to have a relationship with each one of them. And stubbornness isn’t the sole purview of one or the other. He’s not going to give in, either. It’s extremely sad what’s happened but he’s still hopeful that at the end of this process he’ll have joint custody and can work on his relationships with the kids.”

8 The Constant Shopping Sprees With The Kids

Is Angelina Jolie trying to buy her children’s love with material things? That’s what a lot of fans can’t help but wonder. As a matter of fact, some people have even noticed that she is constantly going on shopping sprees with her kids. As Page Six puts it, “Jolie and soon-to-be-ex-husband, Brad Pitt, seem to increasingly be using the media as a middleman in their divorce. The actress hit up a notoriously paparazzi-infested stretch of Sunset Boulevard with her brood — not once, but twice, over the past few days. Sources tell us that Jolie dropped by Fred Segal, once considered the place for aspiring celebs to get unexpectedly snapped.”

7 Angelina Can’t Move Out Of The Country

It’s no secret that Angelina Jolie is not a fan of the Los Angeles area of Hollywood for that matter. She’s always wanted to live and raise her children abroad but now that she and Brad are separated, she can’t leave California. In other words, those traveling days are sure over. "We travel and I'm the first person to say, 'get the school work done as quickly as possible because let's go out and explore,'" Angelina told The Independent in June 2011. "I'd rather them go to a museum and learn to play guitar and read and pick a book they love."

6 Communication Between The Parents

Right now, reports indicate that Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt are not on speaking terms with one another. Instead, they rely on their lawyers to communicate all of the important decisions between each other. Hopefully, the ex-couple can work on actually picking up the phone and calling each other during times of need in the coming year. “Their family as they knew it was torn apart,” a source says, according to E! News, adding, “and it’s going to take a lot of time and therapy to try and make sense of it all and get back on track. Brad doesn’t know what the long-term effects are.”

5 Less Interviews With The Media

If there is one thing that Brad Pitt doesn’t like to do, it’s talk about his children’s personal feelings and their personal lives to the media. In fact, he was quite upset when details about their separation and the children’s well-being were made public. He’s fought hard to make sure that they are sealed and not accessible to the media. Apparently, he wants Angelina to talk less about the kids, too. Unfortunately for the actor, his ex-wife still likes to talk about how the family is coping post-separation in her interviews. Angelina believes it’s her right to express her feelings and emotions.

4 Keeping The Kids As Their First Priority

If there is one thing that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have done well in the last several years, it’s keep their two children as the center and priority of their lives. This is especially true for Angelina, who just happens to have full custody of their six children. According to the actress, she would rather spend time at home with her kids than be with the Hollywood heavyweights at late night parties and events. "The center of my life is my kids," Jolie told the Los Angeles Times back in 2012. "I woke up at 3 in the morning with four kids with jet lag and two babies. I put myself together for a few hours and go out. And then I go home. This is my job."

3 Dating And Their Next Steps

While there have been plenty of reports that suggest Brad Pitt is once again dipping his toes in the dating pool, the said can’t be said about Angelina. She’s not looking to have another partner in her life right now. Instead, she wants to shift her career to a new direction. Angie has even hinted that she would like to try politics for a try. She said, “If you asked me 20 years ago, I would’ve laughed… I always say I’ll go where I’m needed, I don’t know if I’m fit for politics… but then I’ve also joked that I don’t know if I have a skeleton left in my closet…I am pretty open and out there. I can take a lot on the chin. That’s good. I honestly will do whatever I think can really make change.”

2 Keeping Her Healthy Distance From Brad

Last but not least, Angelina has been keeping a healthy distance from Brad. There are just too many leftover emotions from their ended marriage to deal with right now, and that’s why she thinks everyone is better off living separate lives. But if there is one thing she can’t do, it’s separate the kids from their father. "It’s just been the hardest time, and we’re just kind of coming up for air," she admitted to Vanity Fair in 2017. "[This house] is a big jump forward for us, and we’re all trying to do our best to heal our family."

1 Making Motherhood Her Life Role

Yes, Angelina Jolie has had plenty of roles in her life. She’s a huge A-list star in the entertainment industry. She’s won awards, Golden Globes and Academy Awards. She’s reached the pinnacle of her career. But all of that doesn’t matter when it comes to her kids. That’s because motherhood has been the most important role of her life, and nothing is going to change that. Angie can easily disappear from the spotlight at any given time. The fame doesn’t matter to her. It’s her kids and their happiness that matters the most. Watch this space. We have a feeling there is so much more to come.

References: People, Us Weekly