The anchor who gave up her weekends found something far more precious in return — love, laughter, and a lesson from her little boy
It was supposed to be another busy Saturday for Laura Jarrett, the 41-year-old co-anchor of Saturday TODAY. Between breaking news, early call times, and endless studio lights, weekends have become workdays but what she gained instead, she says, is “something I’ll treasure forever.”
The mother of two revealed that one innocent question from her 4-year-old son, James, stopped her in her tracks. “I was heading out the door, and he asked, ‘Mommy, are you going to work?’” she recalled. “I said, ‘Yes, James.’ And he said, ‘Do a great job!’”
That tiny sentence, Jarrett admits, hit her harder than any news headline ever could. “He was cheering me on — not because he wanted me gone, but because he understood why I go. That moment made me realize I’m working hard for them — for the most precious part of my life.”
From Courtrooms to the Couch — A New Chapter at TODAY
Known for her sharp legal reporting on trials, impeachments, and political storms, Jarrett’s career has taken her from Washington to New York — and now, to the bright, friendly world of Saturday TODAY. “I’m thrilled to show a lighter side of myself,” she told PEOPLE. “The viewers know me for serious news, but I’m excited for them to see the mom side — the real me, the chaotic mornings, the laughter, and the love.”
She co-hosts the weekend edition alongside Peter Alexander, bringing warmth and wit to the show. And while her schedule means fewer lazy Saturdays, Jarrett says it’s also brought her family closer than ever. “I’m gone on weekends now, but during the week, I get to come home early enough to have breakfast with my kids,” she explained. “That’s our special time — before the world gets loud.”
“There Is No Balance — Only Love and Honesty”
Like so many working parents, Jarrett refuses to pretend she’s found a perfect balance. “My position is: there is no balance. You just do your best every day and make sure your kids know you love them.”
She’s refreshingly open with her children — James, 4, and baby June, now just over 1. “I tell them the truth that I enjoy my work, and that it’s okay to love what you do,” she said. “I don’t hide the hard parts, but I also want them to see that passion can live alongside parenthood.”
Her husband, Tony Balkissoon, has been her partner in navigating the chaos of dual careers and diapers. Together, they make sure weekends when she isn’t anchoring are sacred.
A Home Filled with Laughter and Little Lessons
At home, Jarrett says her children keep her grounded — and laughing. “James is in this intense puzzle and Sudoku phase,” she laughed. “I tried to help him the other day, and he looked at me and said, ‘That’s okay, Mom — I don’t think you get it.’”
And baby June? “From the second she wakes up, she’s smiling,” Jarrett beamed. “When I walk in the door, she squeals. I just want to squeeze her all day.”
Why She’ll Never Take It for Granted
For Jarrett, the exhaustion is real but so is the joy. Between sleepless nights and breaking news, she still finds gratitude in the madness. “I know this season of life won’t last forever,” she said. “When it slows down, I’ll probably miss it.”
She calls it “a privilege” to balance history-making journalism with motherhood. “Not everyone gets to do what they love and come home to what they love even more.”
A Lesson for Every Working Parent
Laura Jarrett’s story isn’t about perfection, it’s about perspective. Her son’s tiny voice “Do a great job!” has become her personal mantra, reminding her that love isn’t measured in hours at home, but in moments that matter. “At the end of the day,” she said, “I just want them to know — Mommy shows up. For work. For them. For life.”
