Hoda Kotb emotionally reflected on a ‘difficult time’ while parenting her two daughters during a candid discussion about motherhood.
The TV personality, 59 – who recently addressed Kelly Rowland walking off the Today set – opened up about an experience with one of her children on Wednesday’s episode of her Making Space With Hoda Kotb podcast.
She also explained that Savannah Guthrie’s book about faith titled Mostly What God Does: Reflections On Seeking And Finding His Love Everywhere had helped her through a moment of self-doubt.
‘You know, what’s funny, I read the book when you first sent [it] to me – chapter by chapter,’ the mother-of-two expressed to Guthrie.
‘And I re-read it last night when I was going through a difficult time with my daughter and I was worried, “Am I enough? Am I doing it right?”‘
Hoda Kotb, 59, emotionally reflected on a ‘difficult time’ while parenting her two daughters during a candid discussion about motherhood; seen in May 2023 in NYC
The TV personality opened up about an experience with one of her children on Wednesday’s episode of her Making Space With Hoda Kotb podcast
While getting teary over having such worries, she remembered a specific line from Savannah’s book – which was officially released on Tuesday, February 20.
‘It’s so interesting because there is a part in here that – I don’t remember where it is now because I have so many dog ears – but it makes a parallel on how God loves us like how we love our own children.’
‘I had already read that, by the way, a few months ago and it didn’t hit me but it hit me last night like it was meant for me in that moment,’ Kotb continued.
The star didn’t give details on the ‘difficult’ situation with her daughter, but later gushed that motherhood was a very ‘transformative’ experience.
Hoda adopted daughters Haley, seven, in 2017 and Hope, four, in 2019 – and co-parents the two little ones with her ex, Joel Schiffman.
Also during a separate discussion that was aired on Wednesday on Today, Guthrie sat down with Hoda as well as Al Roker, Craig Melvin and Carson Daly to talk about the book and their own faith.
Kotb talked about how her faith has changed over the years, from becoming a mother to experiencing the heartbreaking loss following her father’s passing. ‘I feel like my path to faith has been evolving throughout my life.’
‘Each day I have a little journal where I write, “Dear God, thank you for this precious day.” And I feel him all the time, more so now than I think I ever have before.’
She explained that Savannah Guthrie’s book about faith titled Mostly What God Does: Reflections On Seeking And Finding His Love Everywhere had helped her through a moment of self-doubt
‘And I reread it last night when I was going through a difficult time with my daughter and I was worried, “Am I enough? Am I doing it right?”‘ she said
‘He used to be someone I was mad at. Like, when my dad died, I was mad at him. And then all of the sudden, in due time, here I sit with two kids and I think to myself, “God’s been present, sitting here.”‘
She continued, ‘I asked him and begged him on bended knee for Haley and Hope, and they came.’
The TV personality later expressed that she tries to make choices that would be in God’s ‘favor.’
‘I see it every day, and I seek it. I seek it. And I feel like God gives us that ability to decide. And I feel like every day I make choices that I hope would be in his favor.’
During the conversation, Savannah briefly talked about her book and the message she wishes to share to readers. ‘The book is called Mostly What God Does, and the rest of the sentence is mostly what God does is love you.’
‘And the idea is if we could really feel God’s love, not only would it transform us, but it would be contagious and we’d want share that love everywhere.’
Earlier last year in February, Hoda’s youngest daughter, Hope, was hospitalized and spent ‘a few days’ in the ICU.
She took time off from hosting on Today but returned the following month in March and gave a positive update on her child’s health.
Kotb talked about how her faith has changed over the years, from becoming a mother to experiencing the heartbreaking loss following her father’s passing. ‘I feel like my path to faith has been evolving throughout my life’; seen in 2022 in NYC
She continued, ‘I asked him and begged him on bended knee for Haley and Hope, and they came’
‘I’m so grateful she’s home. She is back home. I was waiting for that day to come. And we are watching her closely. I’m just so happy,’ Kotb said.
Hoda then emotionally expressed her gratitude for her daughter’s recovery and for the ‘people who helped’ while talking to Guthrie. ‘I’m grateful for the doctors at Weill Cornell who were amazing and the nurses.
‘And I’m grateful to my family, and I’m grateful to friends like you who were there every single day. So, I want to say thank you for that. I love you.’
During an interview with People back in 2022, the star talked about being mother to her two daughters Haley and Hope.
‘Family to me is everything – and having one of my own is something I never thought I’d have,’ she admitted. At the age of 42, Hoda notably underwent treatment for breast cancer which left her unable to conceive.
‘I always imagined family as my mom, my dad, my brother, my sister. I envisioned it that way until I was 50. Imagine someone saying, “Hey, guess what? You’re actually going to have a whole family.”‘
‘It still surprises me! It delights me to know that I have Haley and Hope,’ the talk show host gushed.
‘They fell asleep on me yesterday after having meltdowns, and I sang to them, and in that moment I was just thinking to myself, “I get to feel these things. We get to have this together.”‘
During an interview with People back in 2022, the star talked about being mother to her two daughters Haley and Hope
Despite her split from her ex-fiance, Joel Schiffman, in 2022, the pair still are on good terms and co-parent the two little girls
‘It blows my mind that I get to have this adorable little family that’s just right for me,’ Hoda added to the outlet.
Despite her split from her ex-fiance, Joel Schiffman, in 2022, the pair still are on good terms and co-parent the two little girls.
‘I don’t regret one day, not one minute, not one second of our time together because it brought me here. I have two incredible children I share with him.’
‘And it’s because of Joel that I have Haley and Hope, without question. I think I might have been too afraid to do it alone. That’s not something I love to admit, but it’s true.’
During Tuesday’s episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna, Kotb said, ‘I just wanna say this, I have great love and admiration for Kelly Rowland. I adore her. And I want her to come back on our show, and I want her to host again’
However, an insider recently told The Wrap that Rowland didn’t leave the set due to issues with a dressing room, but due to Guthrie ‘ aggressively’ peppering her with questions about Beyonce
Hoda’s latest podcast episode and candid discussion on parenting comes shortly after she finally addressed Kelly Rowland walking off the Today set following the dressing room drama.
During Tuesday’s episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna, Kotb said, ‘I just wanna say this, I have great love and admiration for Kelly Rowland. I adore her. And I want her to come back on our show, and I want her to host again.’
The TV personality then added, ‘She can share my dressing room – we’ll be in it together.’
However, an insider recently told The Wrap that Rowland didn’t leave the set due to issues with a dressing room, but due to Guthrie ‘aggressively’ peppering her with questions about Beyonce.