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Molly Ringwald: A Gen-X Parent Just Like Us (Well, Almost)
Back in the ’80s, I was an awkward nerd sporting a mouthful of shiny braces and bangs that never quite reached that perfect swoosh, even with enough hairspray to make my hair crunch. Molly Ringwald was the cool girl I idolized—beautiful yet relatable, intriguing yet familiar. I didn’t share my first kiss until I turned 16, but through her movies, I imagined a much more thrilling high school experience. She made me think I might one day kiss my own version of Jake Ryan.
Fast forward to today, and Molly is now 47, still acting (she recently appeared in the Jem and the Holograms movie) and has carved out a niche as a talented jazz singer and writer of fiction and non-fiction. She’s also a mom to three kids: 11-year-old Lila and 5-year-old twins, Max and Zoe. Like many of us, the once-teenage crush of Gen-X is navigating the unique challenges of raising kids who are digital natives while figuring out how to tell our stories in this fast-paced, tech-driven world.
Storytelling has been a central theme in Molly’s life, whether through film, music, or writing. Now, she shares her home with budding storytellers; her daughter Lila has even started making short films featuring her siblings.
I had the chance to meet Molly at a recent event, and I won’t lie—I was a bundle of nerves. It’s one thing to interview a celebrity; it’s another to chat with someone you’ve admired since childhood. I worried she might be distant or that I might embarrass myself in our cozy little hotel lounge. What could I possibly ask someone who has fielded every question imaginable?
My anxiety was unwarranted. Molly was warm, approachable, and down-to-earth—just like a mom you’d want to be friends with. We discussed modern storytelling and the challenges of raising tweens in a world dominated by technology.
Molly shared how her appreciation for storytelling comes from her mom, who was a fantastic storyteller herself. She believes that familial stories help shape our identities: “There’s always one person in the family who keeps the memories, and I’m that person, always eager to ask my parents and grandparents about their past.”
She acknowledged how much communication has shifted since 2015, particularly with platforms like Twitter forcing people to condense their thoughts into 140 characters. “It’s a double-edged sword,” she said. “It makes you concise, which can be a good thing.”
Molly uses Twitter to share her life as a mom, but she also feels the need to step back sometimes. “Sometimes I want to just live in the moment,” she remarked. Like many of us, she’s figuring out how to balance her social media presence while protecting her kids’ privacy.
Her daughter, Lila, is also getting into social media. “We talk about it every day,” Molly explained. “It’s essential to encourage our kids to engage in activities outside of their screens.” Lila enjoys theater and filmmaking, but she’s also eager to post their adventures online—a fact that makes Molly laugh ruefully.
Molly noted that Lila herself recognizes the impact of social media on her generation. “We were listening to some classic music, and she said, ‘This is so much fun, and we’re just on our phones all the time!’” Molly added, reflecting on how social media changes adolescent experiences. “Back in my day, if you missed a party, you dealt with it at school and had time to recharge at home. Now, it’s a constant reminder.”
Recently, Lila even deleted her Instagram account on her own, demonstrating her awareness of the pressures of online life. “She told me, ‘I think I was doing it too much,’” Molly shared, rolling her eyes in a way that any child of the ’80s would instantly recognize. “I’m sure she’ll be back on Instagram next week!”
In summary, Molly Ringwald is navigating the complexities of parenting in the digital age just like the rest of us. From storytelling traditions to social media challenges, she’s a relatable figure for Gen-X parents.
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