ABSTRACT
294Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have been the target of much public scrutiny about their relationship and their children. Both Angelina and Brad have been married previously, but in their relationship together they have chosen not to enter this legally binding commitment and share somewhat of a nontraditional relationship. They are also the parents to six children. Before meeting Brad, Angelina adopted her son, Maddox, from Cambodia and her daughter, Zahara, from Ethiopia. After Brad and Angelina got together, Brad became the adoptive father of Maddox and Zahara and the couple adopted their third son, Pax, from Vietnam. Brad and Angelina are also the biological parents to three children: their daughter Shiloh and their twins Knox and Viviene. Although the diversity of the “Brangelina” clan is somewhat unique, Brad and Angelina's decisions about their family mirror some of the trends that have been observed in the modern American family, such as an increased number of step-families, blended families, and non-married parents. Not surprisingly, these diverse family situations confront unique communication challenges.
