Hoda Kotb and her daughters cover People: She ‘forgot everything’ about baby care

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On our Gossip With Celebitchy podcast this week, Kaiser and I talked about Jennifer Garner being named People’s Most Beautiful. (That’s at about 32 minutes in!) She made a point that I missed in my write up that it was patronizing to their readership and that “People thinks that their readership is all 40-something soccer moms who worship Jennifer Garner.” I said that maybe they’re right. Magazines are expensive and not a lot of people are buying them except older women. (I think I got that from a comment actually, I didn’t come up with it.) We ended up talking about her bad shoes, as that was my comment of the week, but I digress. That’s all to say that Hoda Kotb covers the new People. I’m a 40-something mom and I love her! So I see why People chose her. They know their audience and even cynical bitches like me love Hoda. Hoda and her partner, Joel Schiffman, recently adopted their second baby, daughter Hope Catherine who joins little Haley Joy, two. (I saw that Hoda and her partner adopted the babies but I can’t verify that they legally did it together. She may have adopted the girls as a single mother.) Hoda tells People that it’s harder to have two kids and to balance everything of course, and that she blanked and forgot how to care for a baby once Hope came:

With two children to care for now, Kotb tells PEOPLE that she has been able to let go of some the pressure that comes with being a mom.

“My first time around, I spent my whole time going, ‘I got it! I got it!’ ” she says. “I didn’t know what to expect with two. All of a sudden, with two kids, you’re like, ‘Wait, baby one is crying, baby two needs to be put down. Hope is hungry, Haley needs me.’ “

Kotb adds, “I was always like, ‘I have to fix it! Here I come.’ Now I’m just like, ‘Haley’s safe. She’s good. The baby’s going to eat in a minute. She’ll be okay.’ “

In February 2017, Kotb revealed she had adopted Haley after the baby girl was born on Valentine’s Day that year. In 2007, Kotb battled breast cancer, leaving her unable to conceive. She even told PEOPLE in 2017 that she thought she would never be a mother.

“I felt like, before Haley came, I’d had an average life,” Kotb shares now. “She stepped in it, my heart exploded. And then, all of a sudden, this little girl Hope steps in and you realize how much room there is in there.”

She adds, “You think you’re topped out. But your heart’s ability to expand blows my mind.”

[From People]

I only have one kid, but I always assumed that having a second baby would be like riding a bike or skiing, that muscle memory will kick in and you’ll know what to do. Maybe the part of your brain that’s dedicated to caring for kids gets overwritten with new information for the next phase of childhood. That’s super scientific-sounding, I know. I can imagine just being overwhelmed at caring for both a baby and a toddler and feeling like you’re clueless too. Hoda keeps it real and unlike the last People cover person I don’t think this is any kind of media personna she’s cultivating. She really is just genuinely happy and so grateful to be a mom to two daughters now. I’m happy they picked her for the cover. Also it gives me a chance to check out her Instagram. Her photos are beautiful!

Look at all the NBC peeps visiting her!

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15 Responses to “Hoda Kotb and her daughters cover People: She ‘forgot everything’ about baby care”

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  1. Victoria says:

    What a lil ham the older daughter is 😻😻😻

  2. Mabs A'Mabbin says:

    I’m well over 40, and I love Garner as much as dry salt-free saltines. I don’t, however (nor have I ever), purchased a People Mag.

    Hoda being a mom makes me smile hard! She didn’t forget, she’s simply a very tiny bit overwhelmed and because she’s so freaking on cloud nine with kids, she’s running around on fire being a super woman mom. Her kids are super lucky, and it’ll be fun reading future articles.

    • astrid says:

      +1

    • LT says:

      I enjoy magazines and stock up when I’m taking a vacation so I can read them on the plane. I get everything from The Economist to Real Simple to Food and Wine to Better Homes and Gardens (go ahead and judge me for my reading choices. I have no shame). Yeah, I’m 47, so maybe they are right. But I have never bought People. If I want gossip, I’ll come here. If I want pretty celebrity pictures, I’ll read Vanity Fair.

  3. DiegoInSF says:

    Can she ever dial it down? She always has this extra grin on her face no matter where she is.

    • JoJo says:

      No, she can’t dial it down. I hope she never dials it down that’s why I’m a fan.That she stays positive after Cancer,divorce,etc.
      I’m so happy for her.

      • lucy2 says:

        Yeah, I think she’s finally healthy and happy after a long time. Why not smile and enjoy it?

    • Cidey says:

      How DARE she look so happy!!!! Sheesh. I, for one, feel that her huge smile is infectious.

    • pottymouth pup says:

      believe it or not, that’s not something put on. I went to undergrad with her and this is how she is naturally (it’s not some sort of act to be dialed down)

    • Ash says:

      The irony, I’m glad others feel the same. Shame on a good woman for having light in her eyes and love in her heart. I came here to say her happiness is palpable. I love her. Her outlook, kindness, authenticity….she has been blessed and it radiates from her. She’s been through a lot and now she has both her hope and joy in her life. I could never say a bad thing about the woman. If I were her and my cup runneth over like that, I would be as giddy as a school girl.

  4. Ana says:

    Her eldest has the cutest smile ever!! I am happy for her. And yes…came baby #2, I knew nothing about parenting lol

  5. Sarah B says:

    Baby #2 just turned 1 and I forget almost every milestone of my 1st. When did he stop using a bottle? How many words did he say? What’s normal? It’s learning all over again. The main things–I got. I’m much calmer now , but honestly–no clue about the minutia.