The first day of school is often an emotional rollercoaster for both kids and parents, 

and Today co-host Jenna Bush Hager recently shared her family’s experience navigating this annual milestone. 

On the September 4 episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna, the 42-year-old mother of three opened up about how her children—Mila, 11, Poppy, 9, 

and Hal, 5—headed off for their first day of school this week.

While excitement filled the air, it was little Hal’s first big step into elementary school that stood out the most. 

His mix of uncertainty and nerves provided a relatable moment for many parents sending their kids off to school for the first time.

Hal’s Hesitation: A Relatable First-Day Moment

During the segment, Bush Hager couldn’t help but laugh as she described Hal’s expression in his back-to-school photo, joking that he looked like either a much older man in a child’s body or someone who wasn’t entirely sure about his new adventure.

“Does it not look like he’s either my father in a 5-year-old body or being held captive?” she joked. “He’s like, ‘Should I go? Should I not go?’”

Despite his hesitation, Bush Hager reassured him, letting him know that nervousness is a completely natural feeling when facing something new. To comfort her children, she shared her own experience of transitioning from a small private middle school to a much larger public high school.

“I told them all, ‘You guys, I went to a public high school from a tiny private middle school with a thousand kids in my freshman class,’” she explained. Her words particularly resonated with her daughter Mila, who had expressed worries about finding her way around in sixth grade.

Encouraging Kids to Embrace Their Nerves

Bush Hager and her co-host, Hoda Kotb, discussed the importance of acknowledging children’s emotions rather than simply trying to reassure them that everything will be fine.

“One of the best things parents can do is validate their child’s feelings instead of brushing them off,” Kotb noted. “Sometimes, kids don’t feel heard when we just tell them they’ll be okay. They need to know it’s okay to feel a little scared.”

Bush Hager agreed, adding that Hal, though he didn’t verbalize his nervousness, wore his emotions on his face. “He wouldn’t say he was nervous, but I could feel it on him,” she said. “And it’s okay. It’s okay.”

A Back-to-School Blunder: The Accidental FaceTime Call

Earlier in the week, Bush Hager shared another emotional moment tied to Hal’s first day—one that didn’t go as planned. In an attempt to make him feel comfortable, she made the well-intentioned decision to FaceTime his teacher before school started. However, this backfired in a way she didn’t expect.

“For some reason, I thought it was a good idea to FaceTime with the teacher,” she told guest host Sheinelle Jones.

Her timing, however, wasn’t ideal. “Guess what that cost? Tears!” she admitted, realizing too late that the added attention only intensified Hal’s emotions.

Jones empathized, reminding her that parenting is all about trial and error. “You just have to swim into it and lean into it and know that you’re doing your best,” she reassured her.

Making the Most of the New School Year

Despite the first-day nerves and a few hiccups, Bush Hager is embracing the back-to-school season with a sense of humor and understanding. Her experience serves as a reminder that no matter how prepared parents try to be, unexpected emotions can arise, and it’s okay to navigate them one step at a time.

As Hal adjusts to his new routine, his mom continues to encourage him and his siblings to embrace new experiences—even if they feel a little nervous at first. After all, as she reminded her kids, even adults feel that way sometimes.

For parents everywhere facing similar situations, Bush Hager’s story is a relatable example of the highs and lows that come with sending children off on their educational journey.

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