Laura Bush apologised to daughter Jenna Bush Hager over parenting misstep

The former First Lady of the United States once apologised to her daughter for parenting missteps she may have made, Jenna Bush Hager says.

Jenna, who is the daughter of former US president George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush, recalled her mum had written her a letter after learning she may have overstepped as a mum.

The author and journalist, 43, opened up about the moment in a conversation with developmental psychologist Aliza Pressman, author of The 5 Principles of Parenting, on the latest episode of her podcast Open Book with Jenna.

Watch the video above.

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During their chat, Jenna recalled her mum had come across an article about a mother’s tendency to project their own wants and needs on to their daughters.

“She read an article in the Washington Post about how, basically, women look at their daughters as mirrors, you know, and sometimes they’ll be like, ‘Oh, get the hair out of your face,’ because it’s sort of like them talking to themselves,” Jenna said.

After reading the article, Jenna recalled, her mum gave her a copy of the article and had marked it with a simple but poignant apology.

“She wrote in her cursive next to the article like, ‘I know that this has been me and I’m sorry’,” Jenna revealed.

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She continued to refer to Pressman’s work and the importance of communicating missteps between mothers and daughters even into adulthood.

“It’s so interesting because one of the things you talk about that’s sort of a cornerstone of wonderful parenting is the repair and it’s wild that it can happen even as an adult,” Jenna said.

In response, Pressman shared that what what Bush Hager’s mum had done was “so beautiful”.

”I really lean into that science of repair because I believe it,” she added. “I think it is important for us to know that the door is open forever.”

Jenna agreed, sharing, “You should be having those conversations even as an adult”.

The former US president and first lady share their two twin daughters, Jenna and Barbara Pierce Bush.

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Earlier this week, Jenna shared a photo of the family of four – Laura, George, Barbara and herself- out for dinner.

The family moment came as the pair visited their parents in Texas. The visit also coincided with their high school reunion.

“Spring feels: 25 year HS reunion, and the parents that put up with us during that time (GODbless them!)” Jenna wrote on Instagram.

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These days, the family of four has expanded with Jenna sharing three children with her husband Henry Hager and Barbara sharing two children with husband Craig Coyne making Laura and George Bush grandparents.

“I’m thrilled to have grandchildren,” Laura said in conversation with her two daughters on the US Today Show.

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“For one thing, we can be with them, we can play with them and then we can send them all back to y’all,” she joked.

“One of the things that’s been so fun is to watch you become a grandma,” Jenna said in reply.

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