Exclusive: Angelina Jolie’s Death Talk With Her Children Has Experts Weighing In
Exclusive: Angelina Jolie’s Death Talk With Her Children Has Experts Weighing In
Krittika Mukherjee Sat, July 18, 2026 at 6:15 PM UTC
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Experts weigh in on Angelina Jolie’s mortality discussion with her children (Image Source: Cancillería Ecuador / Ecuador Foreign Ministry)
After Angelina Jolie revealed that she has prepared her children for her eventual death, parenting coaches and child psychologists weighed in on her parenting during an exclusive interview with Morning Honey.
Jolie recently appeared in Alice Winocour’s Couture, playing Maxine, a film director who is juggling work and divorce when she receives a devastating breast cancer diagnosis.
The film mirrors Jolie’s real-life experiences, considering how she underwent a preventive double mastectomy after losing her mother and maternal grandmother to cancer.
However, such tragedies in her family not only prepared Jolie for the worst, but also led the actress to prepare her children for her absence. Speaking with Variety, she said: “I raise my kids almost preparing them for my absence and not as much preparing to be a grandmother. That’s what happens when you consider death as a reality.”
Following the actress’s response, we reached out to Conscious Parenting Revolution founder and parenting coach Katherine Winter-Sellery, alongside developmental psychologist and author Dr. Dona Matthews, for an exclusive interview.
When asked about how important it is for parents to discuss mortality with their children, Winter-Sellery responded, “As parents, we often worry about having the right conversation at the right time… but [parents need to] shift their focus from having the perfect conversation to building the kind of relationship where every conversation feels safe.”
According to her, since “children process difficult realities over time,” Winter-Sellery believes “talking about mortality isn’t really about preparing children for death. It’s about preparing them for life by building trust, emotional safety, and connection.”
Even Dr. Matthews shared a similar view, stating, “If, like Jolie, you’re a parent who’s been diagnosed with a life-threatening condition, it’s important to talk to your kids about your mortality and future plans.”
She believes, “You don’t want to tell them too much, but you also don’t want to add extra worries by avoiding or trivializing the topic.” She urged parents to “treat the topic very carefully, with sensitivity to your children’s different personalities, vulnerabilities, and ages.”
Given that conversations about mortality could cause fear and anxiety in children, we asked the experts if Jolie’s approach reflects emotional preparedness or could cause unnecessary emotional harm.
Since the actress’ children are all young adults, the developmental psychologist stated, “Talking to them openly—telling them about the diagnosis and sharing as many details as they request—will help them cope with their worries.”
However, Dr. Matthews believes, “If Jolie were to dwell on the topic, or talk about it too frequently or morbidly,” it could create anxiety in her kids. Meanwhile, Winter-Sellery delivered a more inclusive response.
She said, “Children are remarkably perceptive. They often sense when something is happening long before anyone explains it,” while adding that topics about mortality must be approached “with honesty, calm, and emotional steadiness.”
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Later in the interview, Dr. Matthews discussed how parents can discuss topics like death more reassuringly with their children. The psychologist initially urged parents to “get whatever help you need—whether it’s talking to a friend, a partner, or a therapist.”
She said parents need to answer “children’s questions and concerns thoughtfully, attentively, and honestly.” But the most important thing is to “focus on the gifts that each day brings. Make sure your kids don’t feel guilty about happy experiences, accomplishments, plan-making, laughter, or easy time spent with friends.”
Meanwhile, the parenting coach discussed the psychological benefits and potential risks of discussing mortality with kids. She said, “The greatest benefit isn’t making children less afraid of death. It’s helping them discover that fear, sadness, and uncertainty don’t have to be faced alone.”
As for the greatest risks, Winter-Sellery said they occur when “children begin carrying emotions that belong to the adults around them. Children should never feel responsible for managing a parent’s fear or providing emotional reassurance.”
Further into the conversation, we asked Dr. Matthews for her advice on how to prepare their children for life’s uncertainties. Dropping a brief response, she said, “Resilience is built on support, connection, and hard work over time.”
Explaining further, the psychologist stated, “As your child processes the situation, you can expect drama and disruption. Their emotions will be volatile, as will your own.” But despite the chaos, she urged parents to “respond with calm kindness.”
“If there was ever a time to depend on friends and family, this is it. Let them know what you need, and what your child needs,” she added. “Give yourself permission not to see them for a while. But don’t shut out those who can give you and your kids some help, comfort, or pleasure.”
On being asked about the best age to discuss topics like death with children, Winter-Sellery said, “There isn’t one perfect age because every child develops differently.” However, instead of “waiting for a certain age or planning one big conversation,” she encouraged parents to “create a home where difficult conversations are always welcome.”
She added, “This conversation isn’t really about preparing children for death. It’s about preparing them for life.” Meanwhile, Dr. Matthews concluded with an important piece of advice, saying, “Try to identify the child’s underlying concerns, and address only those.”
She advised parents not to provide “any unnecessary information about funerals or finances or anything else they don’t ask about… If your child wants more information, respond briefly and honestly.”
Read more at Morning Honey.
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Source: “AOL Entertainment”
