Madonna admits 'growing up with a mother like me is a challenge' and she's 'still struggling to understand how to be a mother' to her six children
Twice-divorced mother-of-six Madonna admitted that 'growing up with a mother like me is a challenge' in her new cover story for Vanity Fair's Spanish, Italian, and French editions.
'It has been the most difficult, the hardest battle,' the 64-year-old Queen of Pop told the mag of motherhood.
'Today I am still struggling to understand how to be a mother and do my job. Because, whoever you are, having children and raising them is a work of art. And no one gives you a manual. You have to learn from mistakes. It is a profession that requires a lot of time. And it is exhausting because there is never rest.'
!['It has been the most difficult, the hardest battle': Twice-divorced mother-of-six Madonna admitted that 'growing up with a mother like me is a challenge' in her new cover story for Vanity Fair's Spanish, Italian, and French editions (pictured on Thanksgiving)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/18/21/64948963-11650329-_It_has_been_the_most_difficult_the_hardest_battle_Twice_divorce-a-23_1674077360001.jpg)
'It has been the most difficult, the hardest battle': Twice-divorced mother-of-six Madonna admitted that 'growing up with a mother like me is a challenge' in her new cover story for Vanity Fair's Spanish, Italian, and French editions (pictured on Thanksgiving)
This Sunday, Michigan-born Madge - who was 5 when her mother Madonna died in 1963 - will celebrate the 17th birthday of her daughter Chifundo 'Mercy' James.
The seven-time Grammy winner is also mother to daughter Lourdes, 26 (with Carlos Leon); son Rocco, 22 (with ex-husband #2 Guy Ritchie); son David Banda, 17; twin daughters Estere + Stella, 10; and 'much of my happiness comes from them.'
'What makes me happiest is seeing how each of them has discovered their own creativity, and that it comes from an authentic place,' Madonna gushed.
'I have never encouraged my daughter Lola to make music or my son Rocco to paint. But I've always exposed them to art, to music, and I'm happy that they've found ways to express themselves. I have respect and admiration for them and for what they do.'
![The 64-year-old Queen of Pop told the mag of motherhood: 'Today I am still struggling to understand how to be a mother and do my job. Because, whoever you are, having children and raising them is a work of art'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/18/21/66713817-11650329-The_64_year_old_Queen_of_Pop_told_the_mag_of_motherhood_Today_I_-a-27_1674077360688.jpg)
The 64-year-old Queen of Pop told the mag of motherhood: 'Today I am still struggling to understand how to be a mother and do my job. Because, whoever you are, having children and raising them is a work of art'
![Michigan-born Madge continued: 'And no one gives you a manual. You have to learn from mistakes. It is a profession that requires a lot of time. And it is exhausting because there is never rest' (pictured Christmas day)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/18/21/66719865-11650329-Michigan_born_Madge_continued_And_no_one_gives_you_a_manual_You_-a-136_1674077522813.jpg)
Michigan-born Madge continued: 'And no one gives you a manual. You have to learn from mistakes. It is a profession that requires a lot of time. And it is exhausting because there is never rest' (pictured Christmas day)
![Birthday girl! This Sunday, the seven-time Grammy winner - who was 5 when her mother Madonna died in 1963 - will celebrate the 17th birthday of her daughter Chifundo 'Mercy' James (R, pictured January 3)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/18/19/66717371-11650329-_R_pictured_January_3_-a-110_1674070484433.jpg)
Birthday girl! This Sunday, the seven-time Grammy winner - who was 5 when her mother Madonna died in 1963 - will celebrate the 17th birthday of her daughter Chifundo 'Mercy' James (R, pictured January 3)
The self-made superstar continued: 'To see them happy, see them grow, evolve and find the things they like. Much of my happiness comes from them. And also to a great extent the inspiration that some artists give me.'
Madonna's 35-date The Celebration Tour - honoring her four-decade career - kicks off July 15 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver with RuPaul's Drag Race #8 champ Bob the Drag Queen as her opening act.
London fans outraged over not getting the first round of pre-sale tickets for the Hung Up on Tokischa singer's October 14th concert at O2 Arena have one more chance if they register through Live Nation for a password before Thursday at 9am.
![2020 family portrait: Madonna is also mother to daughter Lourdes, 26 (with Carlos Leon); son Rocco, 22 (with ex-husband #2 Guy Ritchie); son David Banda, 17; twin daughters Estere + Stella, 10; and 'much of my happiness comes from them'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/18/21/36338452-11650329-2020_family_portrait_Madonna_is_also_mother_to_daughter_Lourdes_-a-24_1674077360251.jpg)
2020 family portrait: Madonna is also mother to daughter Lourdes, 26 (with Carlos Leon); son Rocco, 22 (with ex-husband #2 Guy Ritchie); son David Banda, 17; twin daughters Estere + Stella, 10; and 'much of my happiness comes from them'
![Lourdes 'Lola' Leon pictured last August](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/18/21/66720373-11650329-The_self_made_superstar_gushed_I_have_never_encouraged_my_daught-a-133_1674076948496.jpg)
![Rocco Ritchie pictured last November](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/18/21/66720589-11650329-image-a-134_1674076953942.jpg)
The self-made superstar gushed: 'I have never encouraged my daughter Lola (L) to make music or my son Rocco (R) to paint. But I've always exposed them to art, to music, and I'm happy that they've found ways to express themselves. I have respect and admiration for them and for what they do'
![Madonna continued: 'To see them happy, see them grow, evolve and find the things they like. Much of my happiness comes from them. And also to a great extent the inspiration that some artists give me' (pictured January 10)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/18/21/66719827-11650329-Madonna_continued_To_see_them_happy_see_them_grow_evolve_and_fin-a-135_1674077522503.jpg)
Madonna continued: 'To see them happy, see them grow, evolve and find the things they like. Much of my happiness comes from them. And also to a great extent the inspiration that some artists give me' (pictured January 10)
Here's hoping Madonna has solved her lingering knee and hip injuries, which forced her to cancel 14 shows of her 75-date The Madame X Tour back in 2019-2020.
In the article, the Raising Malawi co-founder barely made mention of the status of her self-directed Universal Pictures biopic titled Little Sparrow.
On August 26, the gossip site DeuxMoi shared leaked texts indicating that Sparrow has been a 'nightmare production' because of the 'script and constant changes' and 'might not happen' because it's 'costing a ton of money.'
!['I'm about to create a new show': The Hung Up on Tokischa singer's 35-date The Celebration Tour - honoring her four-decade career - kicks off July 15 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver with RuPaul's Drag Race #8 champ Bob the Drag Queen as her opening act](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/18/21/66716319-11650329-_I_m_about_to_create_a_new_show_The_Hung_Up_on_Tokischa_singer_s-a-30_1674077360861.jpg)
'I'm about to create a new show': The Hung Up on Tokischa singer's 35-date The Celebration Tour - honoring her four-decade career - kicks off July 15 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver with RuPaul's Drag Race #8 champ Bob the Drag Queen as her opening act
![High demand: London fans outraged over not getting the first round of pre-sale tickets for Madonna's October 14th concert at O2 Arena have one more chance if they register through Live Nation for a password before Thursday at 9am](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/18/19/66717281-11650329-image-a-107_1674069952506.jpg)
High demand: London fans outraged over not getting the first round of pre-sale tickets for Madonna's October 14th concert at O2 Arena have one more chance if they register through Live Nation for a password before Thursday at 9am
![Everything okay? Here's hoping the Raising Malawi co-founder has solved her lingering knee and hip injuries, which forced her to cancel 14 shows of her 75-date The Madame X Tour back in 2019-2020 (pictured in 2019)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/18/21/39438064-11650329-Everything_okay_Here_s_hoping_the_Raising_Malawi_co_founder_has_-a-137_1674077523074.jpg)
Everything okay? Here's hoping the Raising Malawi co-founder has solved her lingering knee and hip injuries, which forced her to cancel 14 shows of her 75-date The Madame X Tour back in 2019-2020 (pictured in 2019)
Madonna co-wrote the script with Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody, who was later replaced by Independent Spirit Award-winning screenwriter Erin Wilson (The Girl on the Train, Secretary).
Ozark's Julia Garner had been offered the plum part of the two-time Golden Globe winner - according to Variety - while Julia Fox is the frontrunner to play her longtime gal pal Debi Mazar.
Madonna previously helmed two dismally-reviewed box office bombs - Filth and Wisdom in 2008, and W.E. in 2011.
!['I've been working on a script for a movie about my life': In the article, Madonna barely made mention of the status of her self-directed Universal Pictures biopic titled Little Sparrow (pictured February 1)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/18/21/53664293-11650329-Still_happening_The_Hung_Up_on_Tokischa_singer_is_also_still_in_-a-114_1674075975603.jpg)
'I've been working on a script for a movie about my life': In the article, Madonna barely made mention of the status of her self-directed Universal Pictures biopic titled Little Sparrow (pictured February 1)
!['Nightmare production?' The two-time Golden Globe winner co-wrote the script with Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody, who was later replaced by Independent Spirit Award-winning screenwriter Erin Wilson (L, pictured in 2021)](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/18/21/44180619-11650329-_Nightmare_production_The_two_time_Golden_Globe_winner_co_wrote_-a-28_1674077360730.jpg)
'Nightmare production?' The two-time Golden Globe winner co-wrote the script with Oscar-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody, who was later replaced by Independent Spirit Award-winning screenwriter Erin Wilson (L, pictured in 2021)
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