Giada De Laurentiis is making the most of her final summer with daughter Jade before the 18-year-old begins a new chapter in college.
“To be honest, I have really sad days, and then I have really happy days,” De Laurentiis, 55, exclusively shared with Us Weekly while supporting her partnership with Peroni Nastro Azzurro. “I’ve spent most of my summer hanging out with her because I’m trying to hold on. I think there’s part of me that’s like, this is an exciting new chapter for her and for me, but it’s also sad that a 20-year span of being a mother is over.”
For the bestselling author, it feels like yesterday when she welcomed her daughter with ex-husband Todd Thompson in 2008. Now, she is preparing to send Jade off to college at NYU in the Big Apple.
“Yes, she can call me, but it’s much further [than California],” De Laurentiis pointed out. “It’s OK, but I don’t think people talk about how it affects you, especially as a mother. It’s almost like your purpose is done. It’s weird.”
The founder of Giadzy believes parents in her situation need time to “mourn” for a little bit. While distractions help, De Laurentiis admitted, “I have moments.”
“Just this 4th of July, there were moments where I was really sad,” she recalled. “I just looked at her. I’m like, ‘Oh my God. I don’t know that I’ll have these moments like this again.’ She’ll probably have a boyfriend and friends and she’ll be off.”
After talking it through with other parents, De Laurentiis is comforted in the fact that she’s not alone and her emotions are perfectly normal.
“A lot of moms have said it’s kind of like when you have the first child,” she said. “It’s a shock to the system. … A lot of people have said it’s just another chapter. You’ve got to look at it as you have more freedom too at this point. She has more freedom, but so do you.”
Before De Laurentiis waves goodbye to her daughter outside of a dorm room, she’s ready to bring a taste of Italian culture stateside with Peroni Portals, a new coast-to-coast pop-up experience inspired by Italy’s historic wine windows.
Debuting in New York City on Friday, July 24, the experience brings the Italian tradition of aperitivo to life by inviting consumers to slow down, gather with friends and enjoy an ice-cold Peroni alongside an exclusive Pane di Peroni focaccia created by De Laurentiis.
“It’s a really great way to build community,” the restaurateur shared with Us. “We’re going to give you a slice of focaccia, an ice-cold Peroni from this wine window, and I think it’s charming and fun and people will learn something about Italian culture and experience it without ever going to Italy. I think that’s what Peroni and I do so well in our collaborations.”
Find out if Peroni Portals are coming to your hometown online now.
