Giada De Laurentiis’ Quotes on Parenting Daughter Jade Thompson

More than two decades after finding fame as a celebrity chef, Giada De Laurentiis is still captivating audiences with her many Food Network shows. The Everyday Italian host has traveled the world, written several successful books and became a mom to her daughter, Jade Thompson, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Todd Thompson.

Before their 2013 divorce announcement, Giada and Todd welcomed Jade, their only child together, in March 2008. Their family gatherings and vacations were featured on many episodes of Giada’s popular series including Giada’s Weekend Getaways and Giada at Home. The youngster quickly became her mom’s little helper in the kitchen, learning new cooking techniques and proving that the pair have an adorable bond.

Giada did not initially plan on having children, however, a devastating life event shifted her perspective. Her brother, Dino, was diagnosed with melanoma at age 29. He died in November 2003 at the age of 31. The Next Food Network Star mentor is now an advocate for skin cancer prevention and research. She shared with Parade in May 2013 that having a child “reopened” her eyes after such a dark time.

“When my brother died, I was so close to him that I became very vulnerable and I was afraid to open my heart up again. I didn’t want to experience that kind of loss and pain anymore in my life, and it took me a while to really think about a child,” the Giadzy creator said. “Well, my daughter Jade just turned 5. She’s probably the best thing I’ve ever done in my life and she’s also opened my eyes up to really enjoying every day and not taking things too seriously.”

The chef began dating producer Shane Farley in 2015 and lives with Jade in a stunning Pacific Palisades home. Giada and Todd have continued to coparent their daughter despite their split.

“I think you have to ask for help whenever possible and I do,” the hard-working mom told People in July 2017. “Her dad is pretty good at juggling, so I think you just need to be okay with asking for help because you’re going to need it.”

Keep scrolling to see Giada’s sweetest quotes about being a mom.

On Jade’s Future Career

Giada is always gushing on social media whenever her daughter decides to join her in the kitchen. However, she wants Jade to find her own career path that she is passionate about and to follow her dreams.

“There’s not one single part of her that’s like, ‘I’m going to be a cook like my mom.’ No, it’s like, ‘That’s my mom and I am my own person,’” Giada told People. “She likes to do other things. One day she wants to be a professional horseback rider, the next day she wants to be a gymnast in the Olympics and the next day she wants to sing. It changes every day. Cooking is never on that list.”

On Their Sweet Tradition

During a March 2021 “Homemade” podcast appearance, Giada shared that she and Jade loved having pizza nights together. The pair make pizzas with whatever toppings they want and watch movies, the ultimate girls’ night in.

“Jade likes to explore and sort of try lots of different things. So, sometimes it’s chocolate pizza and then sometimes it’s sausage and mushrooms and sometimes it’s just straight pepperoni and cheese,” she shared. “We pop a big bowl of popcorn with chocolate chips in it, half milk, half dark — because I like dark and she likes milk — and then we watch a movie, and that’s basically our night together.”

On Prioritizing Her Daughter

The television personality is often kept busy with her schedule but has declined certain opportunities to spend time with her daughter instead.

“Years ago, I used to jump on a plane every week and go to New York, do the Today Show and work. And then I realized, ‘If I continue this, I will not see her grow up,’” the Emmy winner told The Cut in May 2018. “I started to make decisions about my schedule — what I can bring Jade to and what I just had to say no to. I started to say no to a lot more things, and then I got divorced, and now I say no to even more things because my time with her is limited.”

On Being Best Friends

Giada and Jade have a special mother-daughter relationship that blossomed in the kitchen when she was just a toddler. The pair are inseparable both on and off camera.

“I know I’m her mother, but she’s become my best friend. We have so much fun together,” the restaurant owner told Parade. “I never realized I could have so much fun with a 5-year-old! I didn’t think it was possible, but we laugh so much, and she’s so inquisitive. I thought maybe she wouldn’t want to cook like me because she’d want to do her own thing, but she’s so into what I do and wants to be by my side every day.”