Laura Jarrett, the 41-year-old legal powerhouse turned broadcast journalist whose sharp intellect and warm presence have made her a rising star at NBC News, has embraced a new role as co-anchor of Saturday TODAY, a gig that demands her weekends and pulls her away from precious moments with her two young children, James, 6, and Charlotte, 3—but in return, it has gifted her a different, deeper kind of family time that has crystallized her purpose in a single, tear-jerking moment of encouragement from her kids. Jarrett, who joined the weekend desk in September 2025 alongside Peter Alexander, shared the emotional trade-off in a candid People interview on November 13, 2025, revealing how her demanding schedule—early alarms, live hits from Rockefeller Plaza, and post-show prep—has reshaped her motherhood, yet illuminated the “most precious thing in my life” through her children’s unwavering support.

The shift began when Jarrett, daughter of Valerie Jarrett and granddaughter of Chicago civil rights icon Vernon Jarrett, left her CNN legal analyst role in 2023 for NBC, drawn to the network’s “family-first ethos.” Co-anchoring Saturday TODAY, viewed by 3.5 million weekly, means 4 a.m. wake-ups and studio time until noon, stealing lazy pancake mornings and park playdates. “Weekends were sacred—now they’re scripted,” Jarrett admitted, her voice softening as she recalled the guilt of missing Charlotte’s first ballet recital for a breaking news segment. Yet, the role’s silver lining emerged in unexpected ways: James and Charlotte, sensing Mom’s “big job,” began leaving sticky notes on her makeup mirror—”Go get ’em, Mommy!”—and cheering her on-screen appearances from the living room, their pride a balm for the lost hours.

The heartfelt moment that “made everything click” came one Saturday post-broadcast, when Jarrett, exhausted from a three-hour show covering a national election recap, returned home to find her kids had “anchored” their own news desk with toy microphones, reenacting her segment. “Mommy, you help people know the truth—we’re proud,” James said, Charlotte nodding vigorously. Jarrett, tears welling, realized: “I’m not just working for airtime—I’m modeling resilience, purpose, for them.” The exchange, shared in a viral Instagram reel with 2.1 million views, has fans flooding #MommyAnchor with support: “Laura’s showing kids hustle with heart!”

Jarrett’s journey mirrors modern working mothers: 60% of U.S. moms with kids under 6 work full-time (BLS 2025), balancing ambition and absence. Her husband, attorney Tony Balkissoon, handles weekend logistics, their partnership a “tag-team triumph.” “Sacrificing Saturdays hurts, but gaining their admiration? Priceless,” she said. As Saturday TODAY ratings climb 15%, Jarrett’s story resonates: Success isn’t zero-sum—it’s redefined by the love it inspires.