Back in the ’80s, I was the quintessential awkward nerd, complete with a mouthful of clunky metal braces and bangs that I could never quite tame into that perfect upward swoop. Despite my heavy-handed use of hairspray, my hair crunched whenever anyone tried to touch it. In contrast, Molly Ringwald was the epitome of the cool girl I admired, much like a stylish older sister: stunning yet relatable, captivating yet familiar. While I didn’t share my first kiss until I was 16, Molly’s on-screen persona allowed me to imagine a much more thrilling high school experience, igniting dreams of one day locking lips with my own Jake Ryan.
Fast forward to today: Molly is now 47 and continues her acting career, recently appearing in the Jem and the Holograms movie adaptation. Beyond acting, she has also carved out a name for herself as a highly regarded jazz singer and a writer of both fiction and non-fiction. These days, she’s navigating the complexities of parenting three kids: 11-year-old Mathilda and twins Roman and Adele, all while managing the unique challenges that come with raising digital natives in our tech-driven world.
Molly’s journey has always revolved around storytelling, whether it be through film, music, or literature. Now, her home is filled with budding storytellers, as Mathilda has taken to creating short films featuring her siblings.
I had the opportunity to chat with Molly at an event hosted by Dove’s Beauty Bar during the Mom 2.0 Summit in Scottsdale. Honestly, I tried to maintain my composure, but my inner 12-year-old was ecstatic. Meeting someone I had admired for so long was surreal. I feared she might be distant or unapproachable, which would have shattered my nostalgic heart. But my worries vanished when I found her to be exactly as I had hoped: warm, genuine, and relatable—just like any mom.
Our conversation revolved around the evolution of storytelling in today’s world and the challenges we share as parents raising tweens amidst the omnipresence of technology. Molly fondly recalls how her mother’s storytelling inspired her love for narratives: “My mom was a fantastic storyteller, and I’ve always been captivated by that. I think every family has one person who preserves the memories, and I’m that person in mine.”
She recognizes the shift in how we express ourselves in 2015, especially with platforms like Twitter limiting us to 140 characters. “It’s a double-edged sword,” she observes. “It helps streamline communication, which can be beneficial.”
Molly shares her own experiences with social media, documenting her life as an artist and a mother. “Sometimes, I just want to unplug and enjoy life in the moment,” she admits. Like many parents, she grapples with the balance of sharing her children’s lives while respecting their privacy. “I want to enjoy these moments but not force my kids into the spotlight before they’re ready,” she explains. “It’s an ongoing discussion with my husband.”
Mathilda, now also engaged with social media, brings her own perspective. “It’s a daily conversation,” Molly notes, emphasizing the importance of dialogue about social media’s impact. “Mathilda is busy with filmmaking and theater, but she still asks, ‘Are you going to post this?’” Molly laughs, recalling a moment when Mathilda expressed a desire to share their experiences online.
Reflecting on the generational differences, Molly adds, “The other day, while listening to some vintage music, Mathilda remarked that this generation seems boring because we’re all glued to our phones.” She notes how the pressures of social media have altered adolescence, where feelings of exclusion are amplified by seeing images of events one wasn’t invited to. “In our day, you’d come home after school and have a break from that,” she explains, “but now it continues even at home.”
Recently, Mathilda even deleted her Instagram account on her own, leading Molly to wonder if something had gone awry. When Mathilda reassured her that she simply felt overwhelmed, Molly couldn’t help but smile and remark, “I’m sure she’ll be back on soon enough.”
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In summary, Molly Ringwald embodies the relatable realities of Gen-X parenting. As she navigates the complexities of modern motherhood, she remains connected to her roots in storytelling, all while fostering creativity and communication with her children in an increasingly digital world.