Why JWoww Is “Holding on for Dear Life” With Daughter Meilani

She also emphasized that she’s learning as she goes while raising a “very, very strong and independent” daughter.

“She knows who she wants to be, and I never want to dim that light,” JWoww reflected. “I just want to be by her side as her friend while also trying to be her parent. It’s a very fine line you have to walk when it comes to friendship versus parenting.”

The 41-year-old credits her parenting style to the most important pillars of her life: gym, tan and the millennial experience.

“We all go to bed in tears, worrying about the little tiny things like, ‘Did we screw up? Did we do this? Did we do that?'” she explained. “It all comes from love because we never want them to experience what we did growing up, and we want our children to have a voice in the house.”

“But having that voice comes with challenges,” she conceded, “because they’re going to talk back and they’re going to give you their opinion, and that opinion might be something you don’t want.” 

And she is especially grateful for the peace that Zack—whom she wed in June—has brought during this time in their lives.

“Spending seven years together before getting married, there’s something beautiful about that because I truly believe you know the person inside and out,” she said. “When we decided to take our relationship to the next chapter, it wasn’t about anything other than solidifying the fact that we will just grow old together.”

Steps premieres on Netflix Nov. 20.

As JWoww and Zach embrace life as newlyweds, keep reading for a closer look at their sweetest family moments.