TODAY host Hoda Kotb has been cutting back from her morning show job so that the hands-on mother can focus on her family.
An insider exclusively told The U.S. Sun that the beloved morning show anchor has been scaling back on additional work responsibilities at Today after her youngest daughter Hope, three, fell seriously ill last month.
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Hoda Kotb has been cutting back on additional Today duties to focus on her family after her youngest daughter’s health crisisCredit: Getty
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The hands-on mother of two was out from Today for nearly three weeks to tend to her youngest daughterCredit: Instagram/@hodakotb
The insider said that Hoda’s priorities underwent a major shift after her youngest daughter fell seriously ill, which took her away from her seat at Today for nearly three weeks.
“Hoda is a very hands-on mother and she doesn’t want to leave Today, but she has been reconfiguring her approach to work so that she is able to focus more on her daughters,” the source said.
Hoda, 58, has been retooling her workload after Hope’s health complications landed her in the ICU.
“When your child falls ill, it changes your life. She is looking to scale back on the ways she is working.
“She isn’t taking on the extra events and speeches that have been meaningful to her unless they are absolutely necessary or exceedingly special,” the insider added.
“GETTING BETTER”
Hoda first revealed her youngest daughter’s health struggles last month.
She told viewers upon her return to work: “My youngest daughter Hope was in the ICU for a few days and in the hospital for a little more than a week and I’m so grateful she’s home.”
“She is back home and I’ve been waiting for that day to come and we are watching her closely.
“I realize when your child is ill, the amount of gratitude you can have for people for who helped you out…” she continued.
“I’m grateful for the doctors at Weill Cornell who are amazing and the nurses and I’m grateful to my family and friends like you who were there every single day.”
She then talked about Hope’s issues during an interview with the podcast Biscuits and Jam earlier this week.
The news star revealed her daughter is “getting better” and opened up about how “strong” she is.
“My daughters are strong women already. You know, my daughter, Hope had a health scare, but she’s getting better.
“But I think I didn’t realize how much is already in you when it comes to your strength.
“To watch her go through a difficult time at just three years old is really tough for any parent, ’cause you’re helpless,” Hoda shared.
BALANCING IT ALL
On her show Hoda and Jenna, the star opened up to co-host Jenna Bush Hager during an emotional moment, discussing how Hope’s illness has been difficult on her older daughter Haley Joy, six, as well.
“We fall short,” the mom of two said during the segment last month.
“I was even thinking this too. You know, Hope hasn’t been feeling great, and all the attention’s on Hope and Haley wonders too. Like, ‘I’m here, see me. I need something, too. Carry me. Do what you’re doing for Hope.'”
During the segment, Hoda expressed the difficulty of balancing her daughters’ needs.
“How do you do it? How do you make everyone feel seen?” she questioned during the segment.
“So for us, it was little Hope had to go to the hospital, and she was in the ICU for a few days and then the hospital for another week and it was really scary,” Kotb continued. “And she’s vibrant and brilliant.”
“That’s the thing I learned through all this. The nurses who stood by her all the way. The nurses who checked on her constantly, the doctors who came in, the people who took care of us. I felt like we were held,” she said.
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Hoda recently opened up that dealing with her youngest daughter’s health crisis has been difficult for her oldest daughter Haley Joy as wellCredit: Instagram/Hoda Kotb
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The mother of two has discussed the difficulties in finding a balance in her attention while dealing with a family crisisCredit: Getty
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Hoda has scaled back on extra events and speaking engagements to focus on her family
