Madonna has been one of the most renowned pop singers in recent times. Her fame extends globally, and she appears extremely extravagant when performing on the stage. However, once her tours come to an end, Madonna resumes her role as a mother of six.
Excited for Motherhood
Madonna has revealed that she eagerly anticipated motherhood. In an interview with People magazine, the celebrity discussed her journey towards becoming a mother.
According to her, she used to imagine in her mind of children dancing in her kitchen and got emotional about the fact that many children don’t have a home. Eventually, she decided to take action and adopt children of her own, which shows that she followed her own advice.
Lourdes Leon
On October 14th, 1996, Madonna gave birth to her first child, Lourdes Leon, while she was still married to Carlos Leon, her former husband.
The celebrity’s affection for her child was evident and widely known from the very beginning. It took merely two years for the musician to unveil the album Ray of Light, which included the track Little Star, dedicated to her daughter. Presently, Lourdes has gained recognition as a model, collaborating with renowned global companies.
Rocco Ritchie
Madonna and Carlos Leon’s relationship had a limited lifespan and subsequently, she initiated a romantic partnership with Guy Ritchie. As a result, the couple welcomed their son, Rocco Ritchie, in August 2000.
Madonna and her son have experienced some public conflict. Rocco, in an interview with talk show host Ellen Degeneres, stated that while his mother is a good parent, she is quite strict but in a positive manner. Following the interview, Rocco opted to reside with Ritchie instead of remaining with the pop star.
David Banda
Approximately five years after the birth of their son Rocco, Madonna and Ritchie made the decision to extend their family through adoption.
Madonna, who launched the Raising Malawi charity, adopted David Banda while on a visit to Malawi with her partner. The music icon expressed to British Vogue that she feels deeply connected with David, as they share a strong genetic resemblance, being the child she has the most similarity with so far.
Mercy James
Mercy, who was born in 2006, was adopted by Madonna in 2009 and is approximately one year younger than her older brother. They both came from Malawi.
The pair frequently show up together on social media and give the impression of having a strong connection. The vocalist once referred to her daughter as the most benevolent, insightful, and enchanting girl in the world! Additionally, in the year 2017, she established the Mercy James Institute for Pediatric Surgery with Intensive Care in Malawi, naming it after her daughter.
Adopting Twins
In 2017, the pop singer adopted five-year-old twins, named Stella and Estere, who are currently her youngest children.
It appears that the twins are receiving a lot of attention and affection from their mother, who expresses admiration for them. She commented that the twins quickly adapted to their surroundings and acknowledged her as their mother, indicating that their bond is strong and unbreakable.
Her Philosophy
Regarding the act of raising children, there are varying methodologies adopted by people. Hence, how does the Queen of Pop undertake the task of parenting?
The celebrity has not publicly criticized her fellow stars’ approaches to parenting, but has opened up a bit about her own experiences over time. As per CBS, the star has previously expressed that she cannot speak about other people’s parenting methods, but recognizes that it demands significant investment and focus.
A Familiar Approach
Madonna has stated that certain principles she employs in her professional life can be implemented in her personal life when it comes to her parenting approach.
The vocalist previously stated that their ongoing achievements were due to various qualities, including determination, concentration, persistence, openness to bargaining and cooperation, endurance, and dedication. Furthermore, she mentioned that all of these principles could also be utilized in raising children.
One More Value
Madona believes that instilling multitasking skills in children is important for parenting and generally a good idea.
In 2001, she mentioned that juggling her career and being a parent is like finding a balance, and she is capable of achieving it with the assistance of her husband, excellent team, and the ability to work extended hours without taking breaks. Moreover, she considers multitasking and having a remarkable memory crucial for her success.
But Not Just a Mother
Being a mother is a significant part of life for many individuals. However, Madonna acknowledges that it is just one of the various roles she has assumed.
At one point, she revealed that simply being a homemaker and focusing on her kids and husband doesn’t fulfill her desires. She yearns for something greater. Therefore, her mentioned abilities of juggling tasks and enduring strength become even more valuable.
Handling Identity
It can be difficult to comprehend how odd it would be to have grown up being aware that your mother was one of the most well-known figures on the planet.
Madonna attempted to conceal something during her children’s younger years, which became increasingly difficult to do as they aged. Nonetheless, in an interview with People, she mentioned that it was fortunate her kids had no idea and that she was simply their mother.
A General Note on Parenting
Madonna has made it quite evident that she is willing to confront some of the more difficult obstacles when it comes to her responsibilities as a parent.
In the past, she stated that she is the bad cop and assumes responsibility for being the one who denies things. She acknowledges her role and understands that she may not be the preferred parent. This position requires her to establish boundaries, and some of them are particularly significant.
But That’s Not All
Although she is not afraid to play the role of a strict parent, it doesn’t imply that she won’t display a pleasant expression in front of her children.
The celebrity has been vocal about the significance of humor in her parenting style. In an interview with Parents, she emphasized that humor is a crucial aspect of teaching children. It’s important for kids to learn that being a respectable individual doesn’t imply that they can’t enjoy themselves.
A Strict Approach
Despite her wild image in the past, one might assume that the pop star is a calm and relaxed parent. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
On the contrary, the celebrity is reputed for managing a quite disciplined household. Lourdes, her daughter, has shared her experience of growing up with Madonna as her mother, stating that there was an endless list of things she was prohibited from doing.
Clean Your Room
As you grow up, there are certain things that you dislike or find unpleasant. For example, even now, you may still find cleaning your room to be a task that you do not enjoy or find burdensome.
As for Madonna’s kids, they’re sure to make sure to keep their room clean. It seems like something the singer is rather particular about, too. She’s been noted to take some unforgettable methods to make sure everyone remembers to clean their room.
And If You Don’t?
If one of Madonna’s kids forgot to clean their room, though, surely someone else would get it for them, right? Well, not exactly.
When her daughter Lourdes was having trouble picking up her clothes from her floor, Madonna pared down her closet to a single outfit. The musician shared that “she has to earn all of her clothes back by being tidy, picking up things in her room, making her bed in the morning.”
Stay in Touch!
Most moms require kids of a certain age to touch base with them when they’re out and about. It’s all about keeping tabs on everyone.
If they’re not with her, Madonna requests her children check in with her at least three times a day. This way, it’s easier to keep up with where each of them is in case it’s necessary. Yet, as we’ll learn, they’re probably not going to use a smartphone for this one.
Keeping Touch
From the rule about checking in three times a day, it’s easy to see that the pop singer values communication in her relationship with her children.
The star has revealed that she has plenty of questions for her children to understand them, their day, and what they’ve been doing. It seems like they have to answer too, so there’s no way to miss what her children have been up to when they talk.
A Strict Curfew
A lot of teenagers deal with a curfew but it seems like a strict curfew caused a bit of a rift in Madonna’s household.
There’s no word on when the curfew is but there have been rumors that it was one of the things that pushed one of her children, Rocco, to move in with Guy Ritchie instead. According to one source from the New York Daily News that the star’s son could now “meet his friends, eat fast food, he doesn’t have an early curfew.”
Wash Your Hands
There are some habits you definitely want to make sure you teach your kids. One, naturally, is to wash their hands regularly.
There have been stories that this famous mom really takes it seriously. In addition to before meals, be ready to wash your hands after coming in from playing outside — or even playing with the toys that are already in the house. We suppose it’s better than washing them too little!
Going the Extra Mile
The fact that Madonna makes her kids wash their hands isn’t all that shocking or out of the ordinary. To a point, it’s a matter of basic hygiene.
What’s really caught people’s attention is how the pop superstar makes her kids keep their hands clean. Reportedly, the singer has her children go as far as to clean their hands with disinfectant to really keep the germs away.
No TV!
A lot of people picture a celebrity’s kids having all the latest technology. You won’t find a TV in Madonna’s household, though.
This might come as a surprise since Madonna was a fairly common sight on television screens for a while. She once said, “TV is trash. I was raised without it. I didn’t miss anything. TV is poison. No one talks about it around here. We don’t have magazines or newspapers in the house either.” They still have movie nights, though!
And a Limited Library
If you don’t have access to a TV, you might think reading is the next step. However, we’ve seen that Madonna loves to start conversations with her family instead.
When a mood for reading strikes, some sources have said that Madonna once told Guy Ritchie that their kids should only be read her books. The pop singer has quite a few children’s books to her name including Mr. Peabody’s Apple and The Adventures of Abdi.
But Plenty of Ethical Toys
Another interesting concept from Madonna’s co-parenting relationship with Guy Ritchie is the rule she has about her children’s toys.
At one point, Madonna was noted to require that her kids’ toys had to be “spiritually sound.” There isn’t too much public word on exactly what the singer means by this but most sources assume she’s referring to ethical and environmentally-friendly toys. Still, this isn’t exactly certain.
On Diet
Moms are responsible for a lot when you’re growing up, including making sure that you get all the nutrients you need.
Madonna herself is pretty vocal about her macrobiotic diet and she’s confident enough in it that her children have been a part of it from day one. This means that there’s no sugar or preserved goods around but there’s probably plenty of beans, fish, legumes, vegetables, and more on the dinner table.
Who Has Time to Cook?
Madonna has admitted she doesn’t like to cook alone. She even once told ABC, “I don’t think I’ve ever cooked a meal entirely by myself.”
That doesn’t mean that the pop queen has left it all to chefs, though. Sometimes, she does enjoy the cooking talent her children have shown off and maybe they’ll even jump in the kitchen together — kids in the lead. She once said, “My kids all cook really good.”
And Wardrobe
Another aspect of day-to-day life it seems that Madonna takes seriously is her children having the proper wardrobe. This isn’t about limiting their style — just the materials.
The singer prefers her children to wear natural fibers as she reportedly thinks it’s better for them. This means that there are a lot of materials like wool, silk, or cotton in the kids’ closets but they’ll skip the polyester.
But with Honest Opinions
As kids start to pick out their own clothes, the rules tend to change. Now, they really have their own sense of style! This celebrity isn’t one to keep her opinions on these wardrobes to herself.
In fact, during an interview with Elle UK, she revealed that “my daughter is going through a phase of wearing jeans so tight she can’t bend her knees in them. I have a go at her and say, ‘Can’t you wear something else? You have a closet full of clothes and you wear the same pants every day.”
A Bit of Hair Dye
Hair dye is one of those things that many parents hesitate at. When is it appropriate to let your kids play around with some color in their hair?
There are some reports that Madonna won’t let her kids dye their hair but according to Lourdes Leon, that’s not quite the case. Rather, she just had to wait until she was 14 years old to try out something other than her natural color.
Keeping Quiet
This rule isn’t one that Madonna herself shared. Rather, it came from Melissa Dumas, the star’s former nanny.
When Dumas was first discussing the potential of a tell-all about what it was like to work as the star’s nanny, she stopped by to talk to TheTalko and mentioned the star likes things quiet when she sleeps. Dumas said the singer “won’t allow anybody to make noise in the house while she’s sleeping — not even running water for showers.”
On Smartphones
Electronics are a big question in a lot of households. They’re everywhere but how do you make sure your kids consume a healthy amount?
For Madonna, that means she’s the only one in the house that has a smartphone. Well, at least until her kids are a little bit older. The pop star used to offer smartphones to them when they were younger but decided it was for the best to switch things up.
What’s Wrong with Smartphones?
As we mentioned, Madonna didn’t always have this hard and fast rule about smartphones. So, what changed her mind when it came to this rule?
The star once said, “I made a mistake when I gave my older children phones when they were 13. It ended my relationship with [my children], really. Not completely, but it became a very, very big part of their lives.” To solve the problem, she removed smartphones from the situation.
Keeping Up with Their Studies
It’s not surprising that Madonna’s children have gone to some great schools. After all, being the child of a celebrity comes with some extra resources. For that reason, the musician wants to make sure her kids appreciate the education they have.
In one interview with The Independent, the singer very bluntly explained, “And then, of course, the other weapon is — ‘There are kids all over the world who are dying to go to school, who cannot, and here you are complaining about it. Shut up and go to school.”
And Take Language Seriously
This one isn’t bizarre but it does seem to be an important role to the celebrity. Her children have to take their language learning seriously.
While Madonna herself hasn’t said much about this, one course told The Sun, “Madonna is fluent in Italian and very good at French and Spanish. She has found her languages invaluable and is determined that Lourdes get the opportunity to be immersed in a different culture.”
And a Strong Work Ethic
It’s not uncommon to see celebrity children following in their parents’ footsteps when they start to chart their own professional lives. As for Madonna, she had her then-teens Lourdes and Rocco come on the road with her on tour.
Lourdes later shared in a blog post, “It’s really a great experience to be able to work on a large production, traveling around like a family, setting up for an amazing show, and all having the same purpose. To be able to be a part of such an inspiring production was one of my best summers so far.”
Dating Rules by Madonna
The musician supposedly has rather strict rules in her household when it comes to romance, too. Specifically, no dating until you’re 18 years old.
Well, this rule was rather short-lived. Madonna’s daughter, Leon Lourdes, did have a famous first boyfriend around 2013, though. The young star described actor Timothée Chalamet as, “My first boyfriend…or anything,” when speaking to Vanity Fair.
Parents Have Rules Too
Co-parenting often means making sure you work together for the best outcome for your children. So, Guy Ritchie and Madonna have a few rules for each other too.
Back when Ritchie was a single man, Madonna reportedly set down the rule that her sons weren’t to meet any of his new girlfriends. On the other hand, it didn’t seem like the same rule applied to her daughters.
The Past Is the Past
While you might think that after Madonna’s experience with it, the topic of divorce wouldn’t be too taboo in the house.
On the contrary, Madonna has shared that she doesn’t like to talk about it. Some sources have claimed the star has banned “any discussion of it in her house.” Her philosophy isn’t to dwell on the past and this is one topic that shouldn’t remain the focus.
Learning About Community
Being the child of a celebrity seems like it would be really easy to get a little out of touch. After all, not many people see that wealth in their lifetimes!
Madonna once said, “I regularly remind my children how fortunate they are to have the things they do and encourage them to share. My daughter [Lourdes] goes to children’s hospitals to read my books to other children, and as she and my son get older, I’m sure they will become more involved in community service.”
A Bit of Independence
Growing up with a wealthy parent, it’s easy to see why people might assume that the way is paved for you for the rest of your life. Lourdes has shared that “we don’t get any handouts in my family.”
In an honest interview with Interview Magazine, she said, “Obviously, I grew up with extreme privilege. There’s no denying that. But I think my mom saw all these other kids of famous people, and she was like, ‘My kids are not going to be like this.’”
No Photographs
If you follow Madonna’s social media accounts, you’ve probably seen countless photos of her children across her several platforms.
On the other hand, you may not have seen as many pictures of her sons with her ex-husband, Guy Ritchie. This is allegedly because the pop singer set out a list of visitation rules for Ritchie, including that her sons shouldn’t be snapshotted by paparazzi when they’re with their dad.
Just with Ritchie, Though
The rule about pictures with Guy Ritchie might seem a little surprising to anyone who’s familiar with Madonna’s content.
While some stars go to great lengths to protect their children’s identities, Madonna’s children have been in the spotlight almost from day one. There have even been a few posts that her children have complained about. Rocco, in particular, is rumored to have more complaints about the social media presence.
Supporting the Kids
There are some things that you just can’t — or, at least, shouldn’t — skip out on as a parent. That’s something Madonna recognizes.
For her, it’s crucial to make sure she uses the resources at her disposal to make sure her kids have a great foundation to chase their dreams. This has included measures as far as relocating to Portugal when David Banda landed a spot in the Benfica Youth Academy.
Why So Tough?
When it comes to strict parenting, sometimes people have questions as to why you might be so strict. Madonna has revealed her thought process is rather simple.
The pop singer’s goal is to make sure that her children don’t end up spoiled as they grow up in the spotlight. She’s said, “I think I am [a tough parent], but honestly, I don’t think I’m as tough as I should be. I think I need to maybe be tougher. It’s hard though. It’s hard, every day is a negotiation.”
Passing on a Message
All parents have certain lessons they want to instill in their children. Lourdes has shared some of Madonna’s words of wisdom.
She shared that the Material Girl herself said, “It’s not about the money or your face or how hot you look. It’s about what you’re bringing into the world and what you’re going to leave behind.” Lourdes said, “That always shakes me awake when I get too caught up in everything.”
