Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush Aim to Emulate Their Parents’ Parenting Style
Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush have drawn significant inspiration for their parenting approaches from their own parents, George W. Bush and Laura Bush.
“I would describe it as the kind of laissez-faire parenting that was prevalent in the ‘80s and ‘90s,” Barbara, 43, shared exclusively with Us Weekly about her and Jenna’s upbringing under the former President and First Lady. “While our parents were very present, we also enjoyed a lot of freedom—playing outside, exploring around the neighborhood, and just being active in a safe manner. This was during a time when cell phones and constant connectivity weren’t part of our lives.”
In a technology-driven world, Barbara mentioned to Us that she and her twin sister strive to “emulate” their parents as much as possible. “The landscape has changed significantly now. I aspire to embody that kind of parenting in today’s world,” she explained.
Barbara is the mother of a 3-year-old daughter, Cora Georgia, and a 7-month-old son, Edward, with her husband, Craig Coyne. Jenna, also 43, has three children: Mila, 11, Poppy, 9, and Hal, 5, with her husband, Henry Hager.
Jenna echoed her sister’s sentiments, noting to Us that they closely resemble their mom and dad “when it comes to parenting.” The emphasis their parents placed on living in the moment influenced Jenna’s choice to delay giving her eldest daughter, Mila, a cellphone.
“She’s in sixth grade, and many kids her age have them, but we’re holding off for now,” the Today host explained. “But she understands that if she needs to reach me, she can go into a store and call me.”
Jenna cherishes the joyful experiences her parents created during her and Barbara’s upbringing, from George, 78, running beside her as she rode her bike to planning “scavenger hunt” birthday parties for the sisters.
“They made an effort to create joy and wonder for us. When you’re a child, the world holds so much wonder,” she remarked. “It’s about both parents actively engaging in their children’s lives and also finding joy by putting aside their phones to see the humor and fun in their kids’ perspectives.”
Jenna continued, “While parents can show their kids the magic of life, more importantly, they can also gain insights into that magic by viewing the world through their children’s eyes. In a time that can feel dark and challenging, it’s incredibly rewarding to embrace the joy that comes from seeing the world through your kids’ perspective.”
This message served as the foundation for Jenna and Barbara’s new children’s book, I Loved You First, which emphasizes the bond between parents and their children. Barbara shared with Us that the book acts as a “love letter” to their kids, as well as an homage to their own parents.
“What’s more important than a book that encourages you to tell your child just how much you love and value them every night before bedtime?” Barbara stated. “That was our main motivation for writing it: to remind ourselves to express gratitude to our kids for their unique perspectives and simply for being themselves.”
Barbara hopes that parents who read I Loved You First will reflect on their own relationships with their children, and perhaps consider how their own parents inspired them. “When we read this book, I hope it evokes those feelings towards their kids and opens their hearts to think fondly about their own parents in the way we have been inspired by ours,” she expressed.
I Loved You First is available now.
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
