When it comes to parenting, even the best-laid plans can sometimes go awry. Jenna Bush Hager, cohost of "Today's" fourth hour, recently opened up about her own experience with chaos during her daughter Mila’s 11th birthday party at a water park. Jenna, who's no stranger to juggling the demands of motherhood, confessed that the event left her feeling overwhelmed, leading her to reflect on the challenges of raising kids in today's fast-paced world.
Jenna, now 42, and her fellow cohost Hoda Kotb, 59, took some time to reflect on the unexpected twist in their segment on the April 15 episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna. They shared their thoughts with People magazine ahead of their Mother’s Day special, where they discussed how even the most carefully planned moments can turn into memorable (and sometimes stressful) experiences.
“We were supposed to talk about Coachella,” Jenna admitted with a laugh, explaining how the conversation took an unexpected turn. It wasn’t exactly the topic they had planned to discuss, but sometimes life throws you a curveball, and this was one of those moments.
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A Birthday Party Turns Into a Lesson in Parenting
Hoda, also 59, chimed in with a story that left everyone laughing but also nodding in agreement. “Yeah, we couldn’t talk about Coachella because Jenna took her daughter and 20 young kids to the Dream Mall and lost one of them,” she joked, referring to the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey, which includes a water park. It’s the kind of place where kids can easily get lost in the excitement, and as any parent knows, that’s when things can get hairy.
“And then she was exhausted, and we realized that there’s just too much on the plate,” Hoda continued, reflecting on the pressures of motherhood. She added, “There are so many times our kids say, ‘I don’t want my dinner, I don’t want it like that. I don’t like how it feels.’” Hoda, who has two adopted daughters, Haley, 7, and Hope, 4, knows firsthand how overwhelming parenting can be.
“I’m sorry I lost a child,” Jenna quipped, trying to keep things light. But Hoda reassured her, “Yes, I mean, it happens.” Jenna, originally from Texas, explained, “But I lost a child because I’ve been overwhelmed by my own children. So, mama is done.” Jenna and her husband, Henry Hager, have three kids of their own: Mila, daughter Poppy, 8, and son Hal, 4.

Looking Back on Mila's Birthday
During the April segment, Jenna recounted the details of Mila’s birthday party disaster. “We went to the American Dream Mall, which, if any of y’all visit this area or live here, it’s quite the extravaganza. I don’t know why I thought it was a good idea to take 15 girls to a water park and then a theme park,” she admitted, laughing at the absurdity of it all.
“And we were in the water park — I forgot my bathing suit. But Mila and her friends had a blast. It was wonderful until we lost one child,” Jenna explained. She had set up a buddy system for all the guests, but even the best-laid plans can fall apart when you’re dealing with a group of excited and energetic kids. “I said, ‘Stay with your partner.’ That’s the No. 1 rule. And the No. 2 rule is, ‘Be up here at 2:15.’ Well, nobody turned up at 2:15,” Jenna shared, revealing that daughter Poppy’s friend ended up getting lost.
When Hoda asked how her friend handled the situation, Jenna responded, “How do you think I handled it? Absolute panic. ‘Poppy, there was a buddy system for a reason!’ ‘Well, she didn’t want to go on the scary ride.’ And I said, ‘We never leave people behind.’” It’s the kind of moment that every parent can relate to — the mix of fear, frustration, and love that comes with keeping kids safe and happy.
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