Angelina, Angelina, Angelina, They Just Don't Understand You, Do They?

I must say that the "news" articles about Angelina Jolie and her supposed reference to her youngest child being a "blob" had me rolling my eyes. Tell me this: what parent hasn't jokingly said that sort of thing? Consider that she adopted her first two children from countries where their lives would have been--at the very least--difficult. And then she got pregnant. Pregnancy is a joyful, wonderful, private time, but you can bet your Christmas goose that Brad and Angelina didn't have any privacy. No, sir, they were hounded and chased by reporters and photographers. There were dozens of pictures published that showed Brad holding onto Angelina's hand or protectively holding an arm around her back or shoulders, the two of them rushing somewhere to get away from the cameras. And if dozens of pictures were published, then THOUSANDS of pictures were taken. So her time of joy and privacy was clouded by the reporters' and photographers' constant quest for front page "news" of her pregnancy.

Now let's just talk about pregnancy. Anyone who has never been pregnant cannot imagine the number of ways that we (women) refer (during pregnancy) to our ever-growing bellies. The blob is certainly appropriate, especially considering you're heaving around a belly that has grown uncomfortable, is often barely manageable, and throws you off balance when you least expect it. The bump or lump is pretty common, too. The tax deduction, the shelf or table (because in later stages, you can put your plate, coffee cup, book or whatever on it), "junior" or "squirt" (for obvious reasons), or a wide range of other "pet names." So what?

And, really, Angelina and Brad are seen everywhere with their children--carrying them in their arms or on their shoulders usually. So take another look at those pictures: those are not huge kids, but any child over 2 or so is usually walking with the parent, holding onto mom's or dad's hand. These aren't the pictures we see of Brad and Angelina, so sir---THEY ARE HOLDING their children. Wake up, folks, these people are protecting their children, carrying them, loving them, holding them, touching them, reassuring them in a world of crowds and noise that mom and dad are there to protect, holding them close. Away from prying, grasping, grabbing hands from folks who just want to touch the Brad/Angelina babies.

So when you read that she was snappy on the red carpet to Ryan Seacrest, do you really give a flip? I don't. Ryan Seacrest is a big boy and he should put on his "boy boy Superman shorts" and get over it. Did she have a bad day? a busy one? Maybe. Was she worried or stressed? Maybe. Was she having a hormonal moment or reacting to some concern that she doesn't particularly want to tell the world about? Maybe. Or perhaps she just didn't care to share what she did that day besides "make cereal" for the children for breakfast.

In fact, let me see... I'm all dressed up, in the most glamorous clothes, for an exciting evening out with my husband.... (I may be in shoes that are not very comfortable, I may have an ingrown toenail or a backache)... and as soon as I get out of our limo, some stiff-haired emcee sticks a microphone in my face and wants to know what I did that day. Hmm... what would I say? He wouldn't need to know that I'd plucked, shaved, tweezed, scrubbed, poofed, painted, curled, polished, brushed, and flossed everything that I had that day... he wouldn't want to know that I read the mail, ordered my best friend flowers, or ran errands. and the only other thing I did was make cereal for my children for breakfast. so I may well tell him just that. SO WHAT????? so effing what?

There a few simple FACTS about Brad and Angelina: they were both married to other people and it didn't work out; now they're married to each other. (Folks do that.) They have adopted two children and birthed one child together, all of whom will be well loved, well protected and well cared for, lucky children. They do worldwide charitable work and do good things with the tons of money they have EARNED (much more than a BUNCH of other stars I could name but won't(one in particular who has a really bad comb-over, in fact)). They have little to no privacy, are wealthy, beautiful, glamorous people, and probably have a really tough time having friends because of that. That is a sad and unfortunate situation.

But beyond that, so what? If in her private world Angelina's a nasty girl who went through wide-open, in-your-face sexual behavior in the past, so what? We all have our moments, and we've seen Angelina go from a buck-wild teenager, like in Gia, to the sophisticated, worldly woman she is today. If in their private world, they refer to their children or each other by pet names some people would consider gauche or tacky, so what?

I personally have larger, more important things to worry about than all that. And I'm just glad for all the charitable things they do, because Lord knows the world needs a little kindness.

Brad and Angelina probably need a little kindness, too, so, y'all just lighten up. Parenting is hard stuff and takes work. Everyday marriage can be hard stuff and takes work, without Hollywood, and harder stuff still with Hollywood.

Be kind.