Jenna Bush Hager Admits She Was ‘Crying’ at Daughter Mila’s 5th Grade Graduation: ‘It Was Sort of Embarrassing’
She and her husband Henry Chase Hager share daughters Mila, 11, and Poppy, 8, and son Hal, 4
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty
Jenna Bush HagerJenna Bush Hager’s little girl is growing up fast!
On the Monday, June 10th episode of The Today Show with Hoda and Jenna, the co-host admitted that she "totally lost it" at oldest daughter Mila’s fifth grade graduation. “Mila stood up and walked across the stage and received her little diploma,” she explained, adding that, “I was cheering and I was crying. It was sort of embarrassing.”
Even her 8-year-old daughter, Poppy, felt embarrassed of her mom. “First of all Poppy [is] sitting next to me like, ‘You totally lost it.’ She’s like, ‘Mom, this is fifth grade!’ ” Bush Hager said.
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Although the mom of three is extremely proud of her, she admitted she couldn’t stop thinking about how fast Mila’s growing up — cueing the tears. “I felt like, I’m proud of her — the way that we are proud of our children. But also, I just kept thinking, ‘She used to be this big and it feels like it was yesterday,’ ” Bush Hager said.
“And I think, sometimes when we really sit in the passage of time and let it be with us for a little bit, it can be overwhelming. I can barely get the words out. I can’t believe how fast life goes. And I feel like you do have to mark the moments,” she continued.
Bush Hager then explained how events like these make the months of May and June so difficult for mothers. “Even when — of course, we’re all tired. May and June put a lot on the mothers; a lot on the mother systems. But also, I was so happy I got to be there. I don’t get to be at that many of the things. But to get to sit there and cheer for her and root for her was great,” she said.
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Co-host Hoda Kotb joined in, saying, “That’s awesome. I know so many people are going through, they’re empty nesters.”
“I know,” Bush Hager replied. “She’s just graduating fifth grade, y’all. I’m acting as though…”
“I know, but that’s a big thing!” Kotb reassured her co-host. “I do think this is the time of year where you take stock. Sometimes you put your head down and keep pushing through. ‘Everything’s going to be great, everything’s going to be great, we can’t wait’ — and it will be, it will be great things ahead. But I do think there is something about, for even a brief minute, sitting in it and saying, ‘Wow. Look at my little babe.’ "
“She’s all grown up,” the proud mom, who shares Mila, Poppy, as well as son Hal, 4, with husband Henry Chase Hager, concluded.
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