In the ’80s, I was an awkward teen sporting metal braces and bangs that never quite fell into place, no matter how much hairspray I used. I admired Molly Ringwald as the quintessential cool girl—a blend of beauty and approachability who made high school seem far more thrilling than my own experience. While I didn’t share my first kiss until I was 16, I lived vicariously through her iconic roles, dreaming of finding my own Jake Ryan someday.
Fast forward to now, and Molly, now 47, continues to shine in the entertainment world. She’s not just acting—having recently appeared in the Jem and the Holograms movie—she’s also carved out a successful career as a jazz singer and an author. Most importantly, she’s a mom to three kids: Mathilda, 11, and twins Roman and Adele, 5. As it happens, this beloved Gen-X star is grappling with the same challenges of raising children in a digital age that many of us face.
Storytelling has always been a central theme in Molly’s life, whether through film, music, or literature. She now shares this passion with her family; her daughter Mathilda has begun creating short films featuring her siblings. I had the chance to meet Molly at Dove’s Beauty Bar event during the Mom 2.0 Summit, and I admit, my inner pre-teen was in a frenzy. It’s one thing to interview a celebrity, and an entirely different experience to meet someone whose work has been part of your life for so long. I was nervous she might be distant or too starry-eyed, leaving my nostalgic self heartbroken.
To my relief, Molly was warm and approachable—just like you would hope she’d be. We chatted about the challenges of modern storytelling and the complexities of raising tweens in a world dominated by technology. Molly shared how her mom’s storytelling influenced her own love for narratives: “There’s always one person in the family who keeps the memories, and I’m that person,” she explained. “Family stories help shape who we are.”
She also recognized how communication has shifted with the rise of platforms like Twitter. “The character limit changes the way we express ourselves,” she said. “It’s not all bad, though; it forces you to be concise.” As someone active on Twitter, she often shares snippets of her life, from her music performances to everyday family moments. But she also expressed the desire to disconnect sometimes, to relish in real-life experiences without the constant urge to share them online.
Molly, like many parents, is navigating the complexities of social media with her children. “It’s a delicate balance,” she noted, wanting to share her joys while also respecting her children’s privacy. “It’s an ongoing conversation between my husband and me.”
Mathilda, too, is starting to engage with social media. Molly described how they frequently discuss its impact, noting that Mathilda loves to create films and theater. Yet, the young girl is conscious of the digital world, often asking, “Are you going to post that?” after they share a moment together. Molly laughed as she recalled a recent instance when Mathilda deleted her Instagram account on her own accord, claiming, “I just think I was doing it too much.”
In a moment that resonates with every parent, Molly mused about how different her daughter’s generation is, contrasting it with her own. “We used to have a break from school, but now social media keeps going,” she said. “Kids today are missing out on those moments of genuine connection.”
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In summary, Molly Ringwald may be a former teen icon, but she’s also a relatable mom facing the same struggles as many of us in the digital age. Her ability to balance storytelling and parenting in this modern world is something we can all learn from.
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