When it comes to their love of writing books, it's clear Today star Jenna Bush Hager and her sister Barbara Pierce Bush are a dream team. With multiple works under their belts, could there be something that's even more important to them than just writing? As it turns out, there is, and it comes in the form of honoring their family bond as they navigate the most important phase of their lives.
The duo released their newest children's book, I Loved You First, and the work is a surprise deviation from the other titles they've written in the Sisters First series. Instead of being told from the perspective of a child, I Loved You First is centered around the love parents continuously feel for their children while exploring the world of nature through their eyes.
But as Jenna and Barbara explained in a joint interview with Good Housekeeping, the book isn't just for kids. It also focuses on a concept they've never explored before in their writing: how parenthood can change the way a person looks at their relationship with his or her own parents.
"Our past books were all really based on sisterhood, and as a twin, we don't know the world without each other in it," Barbara exclusively shared with us. "We had started talking about the other intimate relationships in our lives, which at this point revolve around our kids. We love the idea of writing a book in which parents could tell their kids how much they love them every night. But the book is also a love letter to our own parents [former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura Bush], who taught us how to love."
But that's not all the sisters have to say about their latest collaboration.
Jenna and Barbara both wanted to touch on growing up, especially as they raise their collective five kids (Jenna shares children Mila, Poppy and Hal with husband Henry Hager, while Barbara raises daughter Cora and son Edward with husband Craig Coyne). What's more, they also wanted to make sure the book reflected the gratitude they have for their own parents.
"One of the things that happens when you become a parent is you realize how much your parents loved you and how much they gave for you," Jenna added. "Barbara and I discussed that and realized the book is a reminder to ourselves. It's a notice to be present and experience all the things our children are for a second time."
We so love to see Jenna and Barbara exploring the joys of parenthood through an inspiring medium. And as for what made writing I Loved You First together so special, it's the fact that they could be by each other's side in ways they haven't had the chance to since they both got married and had children of their own.
"One of the reasons why we keep writing books is to give us an excuse to spend time together," Jenna laughed in conclusion. "Now that we have kids and we're married, it's probably the first time in years we can just enjoy being the two of us. And I think part of the reason for it is so that we have the chance to travel, explore and work together. I mean, books aren't our first collaboration — as twins, our natural state has always been partnership, which leads to some amazing adventures both in writing and in real life."
Well said, indeed.
As the entertainment and news associate editor for Good Housekeeping, Adrianna (she/her) writes about everything TV, movies, music and pop culture. She graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in journalism and a minor in business management. She covers shows like The Rookie, 9-1-1 and Grey's Anatomy, though when she’s not watching the latest show on Netflix, she’s taking martial arts or drinking way too much coffee.
