Hoda Kotb is one busy lady. In between hosting the fourth hour of the Today show with Jenna Bush Hager, hosting a podcast called Making Space with Hoda Kotb, and raising two young daughters, Hoda somehow found time to write three children’s books. Her latest book, a picture book called Hope is a Rainbow comes out on March 5. The titular character was inspired by Kotb’s four-year-old daughter, Hope, and Hope’s sunny outlook on life. Her older daughter, Haley, is seven. In a recent interview with Parade, Hoda spoke about her upcoming book, parenthood, and always being in the here and now.
Her daughters inspire her: The bright story encourages young readers to reach for their dreams, whether they’re as big as the night sky or as small as a bowl of purple ice cream. (Chloe Dominique illustrated.) Her oldest daughter served as the inspiration for the title as well as its message: “I’ve learned a lot from her. She loves rainbows and she’s glass half-full and knows bad things will pass and something better is along the way. She’s a walking, talking piece of prose.”
Your kids teach you: My little girl Hope is one the brightest shining stars that I have ever encountered. Even if she weren’t my kid, I’d be like, “Who is that kid?” Somebody said to listen to your kids because they teach. So I love that she sees the sunny side.
Kids are “an extension” of their parents: Well, kids are an extension of us. If we’re feeling funky, they’re feeling funky. If we’re feeling lost, they’re feeling lost. It’s been a tumultuous few years for everyone because we’ve been dealing with so many things, from the pandemic to what’s just been going on in life. There is despair. But there’s also hope. I think you need to choose each day thinking, What am I going to do?
Hoda’s mantra: “Be here now” is one because I don’t ever want to not be present. The other one is “Clear is kind.” When you tell the truth and be straightforward, it’s kindness. I spent some of my life pretending like I wanted everyone to be happy. And then you realize that’s not serving anybody. You know, you don’t need to pretend. Just leave with loving kindness. That’s it. And then, you know, live a good life.
Well, I can’t argue with her mantra about being here now, especially when you have kids who just want your attention and affection. I think Hoda is right about kids being “an extension of us.” Obviously, there are always exceptions, but in my personal experience as a parent, I’ve found that whenever I’m feeling anxious or having a particularly stressful day, my energy rubs off on my kids and they tend to overreact or misbehave. Kids are little empaths that pick up on our moods and feelings. Like Hoda said, kids *do* teach you, and my kids have taught me a lot about not letting something that’s stressing me out make them stressed out as well.
Hoda is right, kids are little sponges. It’s so nice to read that hers are so sunny and positive. She gives them the credit, but I’m sure her daughters got that from her.
I would say that pets are the same! My dog always mirrors my energy; she didn’t even eat last week when I was stressed and having a hard time getting food in.
I understand what she is saying, but I hate the expression that kids are an extension of us. They’re their own people with their own feelings, ideas, personalities, and aspirations. They’re just on borrowed time with us as we raise them.
I agree with her premise here, on the whole. Every kid will dial into the mood of a room differently, but I do agree that kids seem to zero in on the emotional intensity of a situation and reflect it more than a lot of adults do.
Definitely separate people and it’s poor boundaries not to recognize that.
And….. there is plenty of well done research that boils down to the kids probably aren’t going to do much better than the mom is doing so mom’s mental health really should be a priority.
Hence why so many moms wipe their faces off and plaster on a grin even when it feels like their world is crumbling, so it won’t affect the kids. She’s not wrong. They do grow out of it, but in early childhood, they certainly are.