When Hoda Kotb announced that she was leaving the Today show last fall, there was a lot of speculation as to why. After all, Hoda is 60 years old with two young daughters, so it’s not unheard of that she’d be ready to retire. However, a Puck report said she peaced out because she was asked to take a big pay cut, which is also a very valid reason to leave a longtime job. Hoda and her daughters, Haley, eight, and Hope, six, are the cover story of this week’s People mag. In the interview, she reveals that part of the reason she left was to care for Hope, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in February 2023. Hope’s diagnosis and two week hospital stay is also the reason for Hoda’s mysterious leave of absence from Today during that time period.
People has more information about Hope’s diagnosis. It sounds like it was a really scary time, and I don’t blame Hoda for changing her priorities. She’s launching a wellness company called Joy 101 on June 11. In People, Hoda talked about how happy she is to be more present for her daughters. Working from home has also given her a brand new perspective on life. She appreciates the little things now.
It’s been five months since Kotb, 60, walked away from one of the most coveted spots in broadcasting, and in that time she’s been settling into a new life, relishing the amount of time she has for her daughters and making plans for the future. She’s been hard at work launching a wellness company, Joy 101, complete with an app, live events and a subscription newsletter that will all center around themes of joy, mindfulness, meditation and wellness.
But it’s the small things that have been filling her days with the most joy. “It’s really cool to just realize that there’s so much more to life,” she says. “I wasn’t able to bear witness to my kids’ daily lives because of what I was doing. I got to see Haley sing ‘What a Wonderful World’ at 9:15 a.m. — I would have missed that. I used to think life was the big things, but it really is all the stuff that happens in between.”
Now that she is working from home, Kotb jokes there’s a “split verdict” on having mom available all the time. “I think that on some days they love it and sometimes I think I might be cramping their style a little bit, because they were used to a morning routine minus me,” she says. “I still feel like I’m learning how to be a calmer mother, and I want to be that mom for them, so I’m still a work in progress there.”
But for Kotb, it’s heaven. She wakes up at 4:30 — her version of “sleeping in” after years of an even worse schedule — meditates and writes in her journal before the girls get up. After walking her kids to school in a big neighborhood group, Kotb sometimes hits the gym or heads for a tennis lesson — a new hobby! — before zeroing in on work plans.
Afternoons are filled with an array of after-school activities, from bracelet-making to field hockey for Haley and lacrosse for Hope. In between, “I pick up my guitar a lot more just because I can,” Kotb says. “I go on walks with the other moms from the ‘burbs here after dinner and I love that. Things I didn’t do before because I was too tired.”
And nothing can replace the feeling of seeing her children totally relaxed, knowing Mom is not going anywhere. “Sometimes I’m right there working in my office, and they’ll run up to the window and wave to me and throw up a heart [with their hands]. They’re fine because they want me to be here, they’re just happy to see me, and then they’ll go off and play,” she says.
And at night — with no more call times — the girls cuddle up on either side of Kotb in bed. “I sleep in the middle so there’s no rolling over — and it is not my favorite sleeping position — but when I wake up and they’re both nuzzled into me, I’m thinking to myself like, ‘Oh my gosh, look at me! I get to lay here with these two kids, and all they want to do is be as close to me as they can get.’”
”I used to think life was the big things, but it really is all the stuff that happens in between.” This quote really struck me. I have two sons, in fifth and first grade. One of my favorite parts of my day is picking them up from their after-school program and hearing them go on and on about their day. The other day, my younger son dramatically told me that the day was, ”both good and bad.” When I pressed him further, he revealed in colorful detail how they planted seeds during science. There were four types to choose from: watermelon, sunflower, pumpkin, and pea. His table had to pick last, so of course, they were out of all seeds except for peas. His journey was telling the story of how he watched the other three seeds run out, and I would not have missed hearing about it for the world. We took them to Tokyo last month for Star Wars Celebration, and I really thought that it would be some big, momentous occasion in their lives. It wasn’t. It’s the little things that make up the day-by-day that mean something to them. I’m really happy that Hoda gets to be there for Haley and Hope’s “in-between” moments like that.
Rosie, if it’s any consolation to your son, the peas will probably sprout, blossom and give peas faster than the other seeds will do their thing.
Right?! “Just give peas a chance!!” 🎶
Awww I love the peas story. i love when my boys tell me stories about what happened at school and half the time i cant follow along (who did what to whom and then what?!?!) but I love that they tell me those things.
And yes, its the little things that happen in between. my kids love traveling and we go away a lot and I know those big trips are in their core memories. but they have so many core memories besides those and for me, when I think back on their childhoods. i remember the little things more.
for Hoda, I imagine this is so freeing. Getting up at whatever god awful time (230? 3?) meant she had to go to bed at 8 or something like that so she missed out on both ends of the day in many ways. Being able to wake up with her girls probably feels like such a gift to her.