Katherine Schwarzenegger is the eldest child of bodybuilding legend Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver. While her bother, Patrick Schwarzenegger got engaged to Abby Champion, Katherine is the only one among her siblings who understands what it means to be a parent, as she is a mother to two daughters.

Katherine Schwarzenegger has always appreciated her parents and everything they did for her. However, her “perspective on mom Maria Shriver has changed a lot since tackling motherhood herself,” wrote TODAY in their post featuring Maria Shriver and her daughter. The mother-daughter duo appeared on TODAY, where the 33-year-old gave a heartfelt tribute to her mother.

While Katherine Schwarzenegger acknowledged that she “had the most magical childhood,” she now understands how much her mother sacrificed for it. “I feel like since becoming a mom I have like a totally different massive level of respect,” said the 33-year-old author as Maria Shriver stood beside her. While Chris Pratt’s wife has two children, her mother had four.

Maria Shriver had “so much going on with four kids and just working… I look back at all of that and I’m like I have so much more respect for all that she did,” said Katherine Schwarzenegger. The children’s book author highlighted that despite being a working professional, Shriver was always eager to give time to Katherine and her siblings.

“She never ever came off as being stressed out or tired or anything. It was always just like wanting to have fun with us,” said the 33-year-old. Although Arnold Schwarzenegger’s eldest daughter always respected her parents, she now understands what it means to be a mother. Katherine Schwarzenegger is willing to do the same for her kids thanks to Maria Shriver.

While she has showered her mother with praise, Katherine also never misses an opportunity to do the same with her father.

The strict yet fair lesson that Arnold Schwarzenegger taught Katherine

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver contribute equally to inculcating different values in their children. In fact, Arnie didn’t shy away from taking drastic measures. Katherine Schwarzenegger once revealed the bodybuilding legend repeatedly wanted her and her sibling not to keep their shoes lying around. The Austrian Oak was fair and gave them many chances.

However, the kids didn’t listen to their father despite repeated pleas. So, one day, when Arnie saw their shoes lying around on the floor, he threw them in the fireplace. Katherine Schwarzenegger and her siblings were terrified but learned their lesson. While Maria Shriver never resorted to such extreme measures, she also taught them many valuable life lessons.

Katherine Schwarzenegger and her siblings have always admired and respected their mother. However, as a mother of two children, the 33-year-old now has newfound appreciation for Maria Shriver.