In the glow of morning television fame, Jenna Bush Hager has always radiated warmth, sharing glimpses of her bustling family life with husband Henry and their three spirited children: daughters Mila, 12, Poppy, 10, and son Hal, 7. But beneath the polished segments on Today with Jenna & Friends, a quiet storm has been brewing—one that recently culminated in a decision so gut-wrenching it left the former first daughter fighting back tears on air. On a recent episode, Jenna opened up about her eldest, Mila, whose deepening emotional struggles have reached a breaking point, forcing the family to confront an agonizing choice: separating her from her siblings to foster healing.

Mila, the mini-me of her mother with her sharp wit and boundless heart, has long been the family’s anchor. Named Margaret Laura “Mila” after her grandmothers, she arrived prematurely in 2013, weighing just 6 pounds, 15 ounces, and quickly became the center of Jenna’s world. From milestone birthdays—where Jenna gushed over her “burrata-loving, cat-obsessed Grey’s Anatomy queen”—to tween triumphs like her first shave this fall, Mila’s journey has been chronicled with pride. Yet, as she navigates the turbulent waters of middle school, the pressures have mounted. Seventh grade brought a whirlwind of social anxieties, academic demands, and the raw ache of growing up in a spotlight-adjacent life. Jenna described Mila’s “serious mental health challenges” as escalating over months, marked by sleepless nights, withdrawn silences, and heartbreaking pleas like, “Mommy, I miss feeling okay.”

The tipping point came subtly but devastatingly. What began as typical tween mood swings—fueled by friend drama and the relentless scroll of social media—evolved into something more profound. Mila’s once-vibrant energy dimmed; her laughter, a hallmark Jenna often celebrated, faded into isolation. Family game nights turned tense, sibling squabbles amplified her distress, and even the comfort of her beloved cat (after the lingering sorrow of losing Hollywood last summer) couldn’t bridge the gap. “She’s our light,” Jenna shared, voice cracking, “but watching her fade… it’s like losing pieces of our home.”

After exhaustive consultations with therapists and pediatric specialists, Jenna and Henry faced the unimaginable: Mila’s condition had intensified to where shared spaces triggered overwhelming anxiety. The decision? A temporary separation—Mila would move to a specialized therapeutic boarding program designed for young teens grappling with mental health, away from the daily dynamics of her siblings. “We had to choose her healing over keeping us all under one roof,” Jenna explained, tears welling. “It’s not forever, but it feels like ripping out my heart. Poppy and Hal miss her already, and so do we.”

This revelation underscores a broader, often unspoken reality in modern parenting: the silent epidemic of youth mental health crises. With rates of anxiety and depression surging among preteens—exacerbated by post-pandemic isolation and digital overload—families like the Hagers are navigating uncharted territory. Jenna’s candor is a beacon, destigmatizing the pain and emphasizing early intervention. “We’re fighting for her, every day,” she affirmed. “And in sharing this, maybe we help another family feel less alone.” As Mila embarks on this path to recovery, her story reminds us: strength isn’t in perfection, but in the courage to let go for love’s sake. The Hager home may be quieter now, but hope flickers brighter than ever.