Hoda Kotb's Heartwarming Story of Motherhood: Juggling Work and Family

Hoda Kotb Shares Relatable Anecdote About Being a Mom

Courtesy of Hoda Kotb/Instagram

Hoda Kotb recently took a break from Today for a reason that many moms can understand.

On April 18, during the second hour of the NBC morning show, Savannah Guthrie revealed that Kotb, who is 59 years old, had temporarily left the set to attend her daughter Haley's school recital. Kotb returned to 30 Rockefeller Plaza in time for that morning's episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna, where she shared about her eventful day.

Kotb admitted to her cohost, Jenna Bush Hager, that she is one of those moms who tend to forget things. Hager jokingly mentioned how Kotb had been rushing around the city.

She went on to reveal that she had completely forgotten about Haley's school event until her 7-year-old daughter reminded her last minute. Kotb shared, "Yesterday, Haley asked me, 'Are you coming to my spring concert?' And I was like, 'When is it?' She replied, 'It's tomorrow.' Well, tomorrow is today." (Kotb is the mother of Haley and her youngest daughter, Hope, 4, with her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman.)

Despite the tight deadline, Kotb made a promise to support Haley. She reassured her by saying, "Momma's gonna come in hot. You look at that door, I'm gonna be there. OK?"

After leaving the second hour of Today show early, Kotb shared that she and her driver, Eddie, listened to Beyoncé's cover of "Blackbird" to relax as they hurried through the busy New York City traffic.

Kotb shared her experience at the school concert, where she arrived, said peace out, and ran inside to see her daughter. She mentioned how Haley gave her a wave and a smile when she made eye contact with her in the audience. Despite the noisy 15-minute concert of children banging on instruments, Kotb described the event as "so beautiful."

Hoda Kotb shared a post on her social media account.

She expressed her excitement at being in the presence of someone who recognized her, while holding her other daughter.

Kotb mentioned that the moment was brief, from 8:45 to 9, as they had a pre-tape scheduled for 9:25. She decided to go with the flow with her partner, Eddie.

Kotb shared with Bush Hager that she and Eddie enjoyed listening to Beyoncé's "YA YA" on their way back to the studio. They were heading back to film an interview with Orlando Bloom for tomorrow's episode of Hoda & Jenna.

Kotb and her partner Schiffman, who is 66 years old, adopted Haley in 2017 and Hope in 2019. They recently ended their eight-year relationship in 2022. Kotb took some time off from Today last month to spend quality time with her daughters.

Hoda Kotb recently shared a March Instagram slideshow showcasing her family's tropical spring break vacation, captioning it with "Beautiful days ... magical nights ️️️." She then bid farewell to Today before the March 27 episode of Hoda & Jenna, posting a sweet Instagram video of her daughter Hope joyfully riding her scooter in NYC while singing Katy Perry's "Firework."

The next day, Kotb revealed her absence was to show support for her and Bush Hager's hairstylist, Laura Castorino, who had recently lost her mother.

Editor's P/S:

Hoda Kotb's recent absence from the Today show highlights the relatable struggles of motherhood. Despite her hectic schedule, Kotb prioritized attending her daughter's school recital, a testament to the unwavering bond between a parent and child. Her admission of forgetting the event until her daughter's last-minute reminder underscores the mental load that mothers often carry.

Kotb's efforts to make it to the recital despite the tight deadline demonstrate her commitment to being present for her daughters. Her description of the concert as "so beautiful" amidst the noise and chaos reflects the profound joy and connection that can be found in these moments. Kotb's experience serves as a reminder to cherish the precious time we have with our loved ones, even when life's demands may pull us in different directions.