Giada De Laurentiis Gets Sentimental as Daughter Jade Approaches Major Milestone

Giada De Laurentiis is feeling sentimental as she prepares to become an empty-nester.

The former Food Network star shared a sweet selfie with her daughter, Jade, via Instagram on Saturday, August 1. In the post’s caption, De Laurentiis shared how she’s preparing for her and Jade’s major upcoming life change.

“Officially the month Jadey goes to college, not sure how we got here but I’m soaking up every minute of this summer with her,” De Laurentiis wrote. “Happy August!”

Fans reacted to the mother-daughter duo’s major milestone in the post’s comments, with one user writing, “My daughter heads to Belmont for voice and music therapy in a week. I am proud that she is growing up to be who God called her to be, yet so sad that our family is changing.” Another added, “My son goes in early September. It’s such a mixture of emotions. I do not know how we got here so quickly. Best of luck to your daughter.”

Recalling their own experience sending their child to school, someone else shared, “It was the best, most challenging goodbye, but made my son a more independent, kind soul. We love when he comes home to visit & to visit him!” A different person posted, “I remember that feeling very well, Giada! I know you are a celebrity, but mom to mom it ain’t easy.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Giada DeLaurentiis (@giadadelaurentiis)

A separate commenter stated, “It’s a happy and sad time. I cried every time we took him. counted the days til break. It’s natural Mom but they have to fly.”

In a January interview with People, De Laurentiis revealed that Jade will be attending New York University. “She’s going to NYU, and I have an apartment in New York and I’m thinking of buying a house somewhere outside the city, maybe in the Hamptons, just so it doesn’t look like I’m going to hang out with her, looking to hang out with her, but I’m there in case she needs anything,” she shared.

De Laurentiis also noted how Jade going to college will mark a “whole new chapter” in her life. “That moment of being a mom is sort of done. I’m not done, but she goes to college, so I’m not here day-to-day the way that it has been for 18 years, and so that’s a huge change,” she told the outlet. “It’s really exciting, but I think it’s also incredibly emotional because everything I do with her I feel like is one of the last times I’m going to do it in this way. I know people are like, ‘Yeah, but they come home for the holidays.’ But it’s different. They don’t live in your house anymore.”

The chef continued, “She may never live in my house again. And even if she does, she’ll be in her 20s. It’ll be a totally different experience. And I only have one kid, so I’m one and done. So I think it’s emotional, exciting, all wrapped up in one, and it’s a lot to navigate through.”

De Laurentiis shares her only child with her ex-husband, Todd Thompson, to whom she was married from 2003 to 2015. The former couple reunited at Jade’s high school graduation back in May.

“She did it! What an unbelievable milestone for our girl, our world changer, our graduate. Keep shining Jadey, we love you more than you will ever know,” De Laurentiis captioned Instagram pics from the ceremony, including one of her and Thompson posing with Jade in her cap and gown.