‘Today‘ co-anchor Hoda Kotb has two daughters, 7-year-old Haley and 4-year-old Hope, and like most parents… she’s still trying to figure it all out.
But one thing she’s pretty sure on? Some change is good for kids. The 59-year-old star is getting ready to move into new house with her girls, and during a conversation with PEOPLE, Hoda talked about how everyone is handling it.
I know they take cues from us. It’s like if you’re scared, if I’m nervous, are they going to be okay? Look, they’re going to be fine. Off to a new school, like, what is going to happen? They’re going to have a good time. I think change is good for kids. I feel like another thing I learned from the podcast is the more people kind of re-pot, they pick themselves up by their roots and go back to another… They just get stronger.
It’s hard to argue with that. Obviously you don’t want too much change. Kids do need stability as well, but that can come in a variety of ways. You can move to a new house (change) but still be home every night for dinner and have a nighttime routine.
Sounds like Hoda has a great handle on things. This move has also made her reflect on her own childhood…
I remember when my parents relocated us to Nigeria when I was in fourth grade, it was a shock. The language was unfamiliar, everyone seemed different, and it was a challenging adjustment. And then again in sixth grade. It’s interesting because now, as an adult, the stories I share are about how I persevered or coped. Yet, as I prepare my children, I feel this instinct to shield them from experiences they might actually benefit from.
