We’re pulling back the curtain for a look at motherhood across generations as Andrea sits down to interview her mom, Marilyn. No filters, no rehearsed answers; just authentic mom-to-mom real talk about the joys, challenges, and surprising truths of motherhood.

What do you consider one of your greatest accomplishments (big or small!) in motherhood?

My kids know they are loved, totally. We’ve been through a lot together and they have been hurt by my mistakes. Sometimes they have hurt me too, but we truly love and enjoy each other. I feel like they are dear friends. I felt that way about my Mom, and that unconditional love is a great gift to have in life.

What's your favorite Tubby Todd product?

AOO. You’re never too old to have itchy spots! It’s great.

One of your all-time favorite memories of being a mom (or grandma!)?

My 70th birthday was one of the greatest days of my life, in Japan with all of the adult kids and their spouses, in Kimonos feasting on Japanese food and having them read 70 memories of happy times together. For me, it was perfect joy.

Describe me as a child in three words.

Enthusiastic, loving and sensitive.

What's one thing you hope to see happen for your family in the next few years to come?

I want to learn to be a better Grandma. I look forward to spending more time with each of the grandkids as they get older.

What do you think one of the biggest struggles for parents is today that might have been different when you were raising kids?

The internet certainly is a challenge, but I think it may be a bigger challenge for the parents than the kids. The constant comparison on social media is debilitating, and it’s so hard to actually be with your kids and not on the phone. I have the same challenge when I am with the grandkids, I find myself taking pictures and checking the phone. I’ve decided to define love in one word: focus, and make that my goal. It’s a challenge for all of us.

If you could tell your pre-mom self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Don’t worry so much about them being “well-rounded.” Everybody doesn’t need to play sports, do music, gymnastics, etc. I’m not sure what is the best way to do that but we often pushed the kids to do things they were not good at and didn’t enjoy, for fitness, or for balance, or whatever. I’d ease up on all of that.