Inside Brad Pitt's Christmas with his kids

Cape Town – Brad Pitt will be spending quality time with his kids this holiday season.

The Ad Astra actor, who went through a very public divorce and custody battle after his split from Angelina Jolie, has had a complicated relationship with his children – specifically Maddox.

The Maleficent star filed for divorce after the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood actor allegedly laid hands on their son while the family was on a private jet. Since, Maddox hasn't had much contact with his estranged father.

While it's unclear which of his kids will spend time with their dad – he shares Maddox (18), Pax (16), Zahara (14), Shiloh (13), Knox (11) and Vivienne (11) with Angelina – an insider told E! News the family will come to L.A. for the actor's birthday on the 18th and for Christmas Eve.

"It's the same arrangement they have had recently," the source said. "The kids will come over to Brad's house and spend the day with him."

As for what they'll get up to, the source added, "They have some traditions where they eat and exchange gifts. They play music and just hang out. Brad always wants to make it special for them and loves to see the excitement in their eyes. He tries to get them thoughtful gifts and something for them to experience.

"The most important thing is just being together and being a family. He's excited to see them and have them be with him at home. That's really the only thing he wants."

The 55-year-old recently opened up about his struggle with alcoholism and the "mistakes" he's made. "I'm human. We're human, we want purpose, we want meaning in our lives," he said. "But to attain that, the key is two things: staying creative and being with the people you love."

Earlier, the actor also said of fatherhood, "My dad always said he wanted to give me a better life than he had coming from extreme poverty, and he did it. And it makes me think, as a dad, what do I have to offer that's better than I had to my kids?"   

(Photo: Getty Images)