Giada De Laurentiis is experiencing all the emotions as her only daughter begins college.
The celebrity chef helped 18-year-old Jade move into her dorm at New York University on August 28. Giada documented the bittersweet milestone on Instagram, sharing photographs of the family unpacking and preparing Jade’s new room.
“It takes a village…my heart,” she captioned the post.
Giada Helped Jade Settle Into Her Dorm
One photograph showed Giada helping her daughter unpack and arrange her clothing inside the dorm room.
Another captured Jade posing with Giada, her father Todd Thompson and Giada’s current partner, Shane Farley. Giada shares her only child with Thompson, to whom she was married from 2003 until 2015.
The family came together earlier in August for another celebration marking Jade’s upcoming departure. Giada shared photographs from a beachside lunch attended by relatives and friends.
“Celebrating our girl yesterday before we send her off,” she wrote at the time. “We are sooo proud of you @jademarie_dlt—it’s time to go to college!”
Giada wore a breezy white sundress and wide-brimmed straw hat for the occasion. Her lookalike daughter selected a yellow floral maxi dress, gold hoop earrings and a delicate necklace.
The Chef Has Mixed Feelings About Becoming an Empty Nester
Although Giada is excited about her daughter’s future, she has been candid about the sadness accompanying the transition.
“To be honest, I have really sad days, and then I have really happy days,” she told Us Weekly in July.
The 56-year-old explained that she spent much of the summer with Jade as she attempted to make the most of their remaining time together at home.
“I’ve spent most of my summer hanging out with her because I’m trying to hold on,” she said. “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.”
While Giada’s role as a mother is far from over, Jade’s move marks the end of the daily routines they shared under one roof.
Jade Will Be Living Across the Country
The physical distance will also require a significant adjustment for the mother and daughter.
Giada is based in California, while Jade will now be attending school in New York City. The chef acknowledged that conversations about college frequently focus on the student’s new beginning without addressing how the transition affects parents.
“I don’t think people talk about how it affects you, especially as a mother,” she explained. “It’s almost like your purpose is done. It’s weird.”
Despite those complicated emotions, Giada made sure Jade’s college journey began with the support of their entire family.
The chef’s latest post captured a familiar experience for many parents: feeling proud of the person their child has become while wishing they could hold on to the years that passed far too quickly.
Giada Reunited With Ex-Husband Todd Thompson
Giada shares Jade with her ex-husband, fashion designer Todd Thompson.
The former couple married in 2003 and welcomed their daughter in 2008. Their marriage ended in 2015 after more than a decade, but they have continued to come together for important moments in Jade’s life.
Although Giada and Todd have moved forward separately, their presence at Jade’s college move-in demonstrated their continued commitment to supporting their daughter.
Giada has been in a relationship with television producer Shane Farley since 2015. His appearance alongside Todd in the family photograph also reflected the supportive blended dynamic surrounding Jade as she began college.
