Why Jenna Bush Hager Hates the Term ‘Mom Friends'
'Some of my best 'mom friends' — which I sort of hate that term because it implies they're not my true friends — but some of my best mom friends are from the time I had my 12 year old,' Jenna told her TODAY with Jenna & Friends co-host Dwyane Wade on July 11.
Jenna and her husband Henry Hager share daughters Mila, 12, and Poppy, 9 and son Hal, 5.
'We were all in this baby group together,' continued Jenna. 'One of my best friends in the world, we met through the baby group and now we have pre-teens. So, to go through every stage of life together? I think it is necessary to have that community.'
Wade, a former NBA star, agreed.
'Especially for your kids,' said Wade. 'Once they get their friends ... you have to have a relationship with their parents. One, for them to allow their kids to come over or vice versa, but also two, if their parents are going to come over.'
Wade and his wife Gabrielle Union share 6-year-old daughter Kaavia. The athlete is also a father to three other children from a previous relationship and the legal guardian of an adult nephew.
'We've got to be into them,' said Jenna, referring to the parents of her kids' friends.
'Something — or, I'm just not going to ever be around for playdates,' joked Wade.
According to the American Psychological Association, friendship can protect against loneliness and depression, while lowering blood pressure and increasing overall life span.
Shared experiences, such as parenting for example, may also enhance life. One study found that when people partook in an experience together, they rated it more highly than they would if they embarked on it alone.
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
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