We all know that Madonna is one of the most influential artists of all time, but we also know she can do some pretty bizarre things at the same time. Sometimes she still acts like she's her daughter's age, and at 62, she still parties and dresses like she did in the '80s. But with all of that, are her children affected by it?
The pop singer has been known to place strict rules that her children have to follow, which has resulted in some clashing between them. But what is it like exactly to have Madonna as a mom?
We can tell it's definitely interesting if not a little annoying at times, just by looking at her strange social media posts that have featured her kids.
Madonna Thinks She's A Great Mom
Madonna has done a lot of impressive things in her 30-year career, but she pretty much thinks she's done the impossible by juggling the constant commitment of being an artist, an activist, and a single mother of six.
Apparently no one has done that...ever. (Ahh... well maybe Angelina Jolie).
"There are no living role models for me," she told Vogue last year. "Because nobody does what I do. And that's kind of scary. ...Being a single parent of six children, I continue to be creative and be an artist and be politically active, to have a voice, to do all the things that I do. So I mean, there isn't anybody in my position."
She has two biological kids, Lourdes Leon, who she had with her former personal trainer, Carlos Leon, and Rocco Ritchie, who she had with ex-husband, director, Guy Ritchie. She also has four adoptive children, David Banda, Mercy James, and twins Estere and Stella Mwale.
Besides thinking that she's a supermom, Madonna isn't all talk, she's action as well. She is actually quite a strict parent and has implemented some pretty crazy rules on her children.
They aren't allowed to watch television, look at magazines, drink milk, or eat ice cream, and she always wanted them to be tidy. She once took all of Lourdes's clothes because she was messy and her daughter had to wear the same outfit to school until she was tidier. Lourdes wasn't allowed to dye her hair until she was 14 too.
She's extremely strict about their use of technology as well and has banned cellphones after she thought it ruined her relationship with her two eldest kids, Lourdes and Rocco. Despite her own social media, she thinks that when her children got cellphones they got obsessed with it. Her son David still doesn't have a phone and he's a teenager.
Madonna knows she's strict though. Telling People, she said, "I’m bad-cop, I’m the one that says no. I accept that role. I’m not the popular parent."
Despite thinking she does it all though, Madonna will not do certain parenting responsibilities, especially something as simple as cooking. "I don’t think I’ve ever cooked a meal entirely by myself," she told Daily Mail. "Everybody makes the food. I have a cook, my daughter likes to cook, my son likes to cook."
The children also have a strict curfew, and if they want to date, they have to be over 18. "No boys for [Lourdes] until she turns 18," she told Today. "She’s a good girl, though. She doesn’t have it easy. Late-night TV, junk food, and mess are not tolerated in my house."
Ultimately she's very controlling which has put a major damper on her relationship with them in some ways, so much so that it actually drove her son Rocco away.
What Do Her Children Really Think About Her?
Through all the strictness and controlling behavior they've had to grow up in, her children have begun to rebel against her, especially her son Rocco. After he was a backup dancer in his mother's MDNA tour, Rocco decided separation from her was needed, so he fled America to live with his father in the U.K.
The main reason he fled was that she confiscated his phone. He refused to come home for the holidays so Madonna went to court to bring him home. When that didn't work, and Rocco still didn't return, Madonna and Richie went through a custody battle that lasted until 2016.
"When he’s in England, [Rocco] gets to live a low-key life . . . He can go about his business and talk to girls without paparazzi stalking him, as Guy has carved out a pretty private existence for his family," a source said at the time. "He finds making friendships in New York much more difficult. Over here, everyone [is] trying to score an invitation over to Madonna’s house."
"When he stays with his father . . . Rocco is allowed to play guitar until the early hours of the morning. Guy does have rules, but he had zero confidence growing up and wants his son to feel as empowered as possible."
Shortly after Rocco, was arrested for drug possession but surprisingly his mother was very supportive of him. But that doesn't change the fact that Rocco and Lourdes have reportedly "craved stability" in the past.
Back in 2006, Madonna explained that her two eldest did want her home more often but she said it just wasn't possible if she wanted to tour still and "invoke change in the world."
Even though her children wanted to see her more, her response to it all was; "Just staying home and looking after my children and being a mother and a wife is not what I want. I want more."
On the other hand, Madonna seems to have a good relationship with her other children and says that she's closest to David because he's the most like her. Living with Madonna might not have been the easiest but at least she does go out of her way to give them every opportunity they deserve. She just has to dial back the crazy and controlling behavior.