Jenna Bush Hager reveals her parents' “awkward” birthday surprises growing up.Photo: Nathan Congleton/NBC
Today with Hoda & JennahostJenna Bush Hageropened up about her experience with one of her parent’s “creative” birthday surprises.
During Tuesday’s episode,Bush Hager, 41, and co-hostHoda Kotbchatted about their experiences with surprise birthday parties.
“I had a surprise party for my 16th birthday, me and Barbara,” Bush Hager recalled of the milestone occasion shared with her fraternal twin sisterBarbara Bush. “We had one together and it was a pancake breakfast, which was cute.”
TheEverything Beautiful in Its Time: Seasons of Love and Lossauthor noted that her parents, formerPresident George W. Bushand First LadyLaura Bush, were “creative birthday party planners" who convinced her and Barbara they were going to head to school early to get their driver’s licenses as part of their sweet 16th birthday celebrations.
“Today” co-hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager discussed surprise parties on Aug. 29.Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty
Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty
“My parents were very creative birthday people, which was fun," she said. “But then it gets kind of awkward because it’s like [they have] the old boyfriend sitting next to the new boyfriend.”
Kotb, 59, asked incredulously, “They invited both boyfriends?” before adding in disbelief, “Your parents are wild.”
Bush Hager seemed to enjoy her parents Laura Bush and George W. Bush’s “creative” surprises.Nathan Congleton/NBC
In August, the mother-of-three told PEOPLE about the “absolute best blessing” she experienced when it came to growing up in the public eye, revealing that having the “grace to fail” helped her to navigate her difficult teenage years into adulthood.
“I had parents that really supported us and never made us feel bad about mistakes that we made,” Bush Hager said. “But yeah, it wasn’t easy. And yet I’m so thankful for all of it.”
Bush Hager and Barbara were 7 years old when their grandfather, PresidentGeorge H.W. Bush, was sworn in as U.S. president. When they were 13, their father became the governor of Texas.
Bush Hager, pictured with her husband Henry Chase Hager, recalled her “awkward” sweet 16th that an ex-boyfriend attended.Gary Gershoff/WireImage
The relentless attention Bush Hager received during her young adulthood was difficult to weather but was made easier through the unwavering support of herfamily, which includes her husbandHenry Chase Hager, daughtersMila, 10, andPoppy, 8, and sonHal, 4.
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“I think the world was expecting us to be perfect, even though our parents did not, which is the absolute best blessing that they could have ever given us. The freedom to just be ourselves and to make mistakes,” Bush Hager told PEOPLE. “Because I don’t know how I would be a mother without having the grace to fail. I think kids, teenagers are so scared of making mistakes now.”
source: people.com
