For me growing up Christmas time was always the most fantastic exciting time of year and you'd stay up until three in the morning. You'd hear the parents wrapping in the other room but you knew that also maybe they were in collusion with Santa Claus.

The problem with growing up in a cafe was the cafe never closed my parents worked every day of the year from morning to night. So it was a big menagerie of kids business and cooking!

Because my parents growing up they worked hard. Everyone in my family woke up early in the morning. I used to see my mother and my father go off to work and come back and no matter what they had time for the kids.

Sometimes it's so weird just to do an interview. This morning I was back in my parents' house with my brother and we went for a jog together then had breakfast as a family. And a couple of hours later I'm wearing high heels and a dress and makeup and talking about my job.

I had three children while doing a show as demanding as 'Good Morning America ' so this is - you know it's almost like I'm less daunted about motherhood and parenting at this point in time. And I think I'm just much more fit and healthy than I was 20-years-ago.

We hear the stories every day now: the father who puts on a suit every morning and leaves the house so his daughter doesn't know he lost his job the recent college grad facing up to the painful reality that the only door that's open to her after four years of study and a pile of debt is her parents'. These are the faces of the Obama economy.

I remember thinking that I'd way rather give my parents my money and not have to like have them go to work anymore you know what I mean. Because I'd way rather spend more time with them.

I don't know what your childhood was like but we didn't have much money. We'd go to a movie on a Saturday night then on Wednesday night my parents would walk us over to the library. It was such a big deal to go in and get my own book.

Clearly this is a tough economic time and a lot of families are hurting. So when we talk to parents we talk about small changes for kids and things that don't cost extra money. Like adding water and eliminating sugary drinks and sodas. That's going to save money right there. Or adding a few more vegetables.

I decided to pursue music so I dropped out of school and I told my parents I didn't want any money from them. I got three jobs and I just hit the ground running.