Brad Pitt Is ‘Very Hopeful’ to Spend the Holidays With His Kids: He ‘Just Wants to Be Their Dad’

A very merry time! Brad Pitt is “very hopeful” to spend the holidays with his kids this year, a source told In Touch exclusively. “He’s working with [ex-wife] Angelina Jolie on their visitation agreement, and he sees the situation slowly improving.”

The 55-year-old Fight Club alum hasn’t seen his children — Maddox, 18, Pax, 15, Zahara, 14, Shiloh, 13, and twins Vivienne and Knox, both 11 — as often as he would like. However, he is optimistic that things will change. “Brad basically wants to get to a place where he can incorporate the kids into his everyday life,” the insider continued. “And obviously that means getting along better with Angie, that’s the goal. He’s just hoping this holiday season with the kids is the beginning of reaching that goal. Brad just wants to be their dad.”

In August, the 44-year-old Maleficent star dropped her oldest son off at college in Asia, but his famous father did not tag along for the ride. In a video exclusively obtained by In Touch, a cameraman asked Maddox if his dad would be coming to campus to visit him. “Um, I don’t know about that … what’s happening,” he said. “Whatever happens, happens.”

Another obstacle in the way? The brunette beauty is interested in moving her family to Africa permanently, a second insider told In Touch. “She doesn’t play by anyone’s rules, especially not Brad’s, and she wants kids raised out of the country. Her plan is for the house there to be their new home base.”

The Ad Astra actor feels like Angelina’s move is a “manipulation tactic,” the source added. “He wouldn’t be surprised if stating publicly that she’s building a home in Africa is some kind of ploy. She knows Brad can’t just pick up and move there as well. And if he doesn’t let the children go, well, it makes him look like the bad guy.”

Lately, the mom of six has taken her tots to her movies premieres in Japan, London and other locations while Brad has been busy promoting his own movies. Brad “is already feeling like he’s living a world apart from his children,” the insider shared. “Angie is definitely relishing their time together, and she loves winning the ‘fun parent award.’ Brad misses his kids desperately, and it feels like Angie is just rubbing salt in the wounds.”

If Angie ends up taking her kids overseas, it would not help Brad form more of a bond with them. “Moving to Africa, putting that much distance between them, would ruin any chance Brad has of rebuilding those relationships,” the source said. “This is just another way for Angelina to take control of the kids. But Brad will never give up on them.”

We hope Brad gets a lovely present for the holidays — time with his kids!