01of 19On Becoming a MotherHoda Kotb/Instagram.“It’s one of those things where you think you’ve done it all, you think you’ve felt it all. But I just didn’t know that this kind of love existed."—to PEOPLE in March 2017
01of 19
On Becoming a Mother
Hoda Kotb/Instagram.
“It’s one of those things where you think you’ve done it all, you think you’ve felt it all. But I just didn’t know that this kind of love existed.”
—to PEOPLE in March 2017
02of 19On Treasuring Every Single Second"It’s funny because I thought I had the most perfect life, and then I realized after her I didn’t. I realized that this is infinitely better. Every single day is infinitely better than before she came.“I can’t believe it happened to me, so I treasure every single second. Not every minute, every second."— to PEOPLE in June 2017
02of 19
On Treasuring Every Single Second
“It’s funny because I thought I had the most perfect life, and then I realized after her I didn’t. I realized that this is infinitely better. Every single day is infinitely better than before she came.
“I can’t believe it happened to me, so I treasure every single second. Not every minute, every second.”
— to PEOPLE in June 2017
03of 19
On Nothing Being ‘More Real’ Than Motherhood
04of 19On Holding Daughter Haley for the First Time"It was like a puzzle piece that just snapped in. I felt it. It was as if she had been with me forever."—to PEOPLE in March 2017
04of 19
On Holding Daughter Haley for the First Time
“It was like a puzzle piece that just snapped in. I felt it. It was as if she had been with me forever.”
05of 19
On Getting Emotional When She Met Her Daughter, Haley
06of 19On Seeing Forever"When I look at her, I see forever — I see past me. I see the future … which I guess I never saw [before]."—on theTodayshow in April 2017
06of 19
On Seeing Forever
“When I look at her, I see forever — I see past me. I see the future … which I guess I never saw [before].”
—on theTodayshow in April 2017
07of 19
On Having Her Girls' Backs
— in asweet message to her girlsonTodayin 2017
08of 19On Believing She Could Be a MomHoda Kotb/Instagram"As I was waiting and hoping and wishing forHaley, when I started to believe that maybe I could be a mom too, maybe I didn’t miss my window, maybe there’s still hope here … It was that kind of revival."—to PEOPLE in 2018
08of 19
On Believing She Could Be a Mom
Hoda Kotb/Instagram
“As I was waiting and hoping and wishing forHaley, when I started to believe that maybe I could be a mom too, maybe I didn’t miss my window, maybe there’s still hope here … It was that kind of revival.”
—to PEOPLE in 2018
09of 19On Knowing Who She Is"I know who I am now. I’m Haley’s mom, and I think I always was. But if you would have asked me years ago, ‘What are you?’ I probably would have said journalist, first. But now I know who I am.“And I know who we are as a family and I think that means everything to me. She defines who I am and she also defines priorities and things that matter.“She also reminded me that delight comes in small, tiny moments. You don’t have to plan a big trip to have a good time. You can have it on the living room floor."— toPEOPLE in May 2018
09of 19
On Knowing Who She Is
“I know who I am now. I’m Haley’s mom, and I think I always was. But if you would have asked me years ago, ‘What are you?’ I probably would have said journalist, first. But now I know who I am.
“And I know who we are as a family and I think that means everything to me. She defines who I am and she also defines priorities and things that matter.
“She also reminded me that delight comes in small, tiny moments. You don’t have to plan a big trip to have a good time. You can have it on the living room floor.”
— toPEOPLE in May 2018
10of 19On Renewed Faith After Becoming a Mom"We were just brought up to believe in God. We were all about that, and I feel like when you have a relationship with God, and I feel like I’ve had endless, countless, abundant conversations about it. Sometimes you think, can he hear me? Does he hear me? Am I just talking to myself? Is it for real?“But, I think when Haley arrived, I didn’t have any doubt in that belief, but when Haley arrived, it was personified. Literally when I watch her now, I just feel like she’s proof of everything. Like, everything … She’s the best."—on the Thrive Global Podcast in 2018
10of 19
On Renewed Faith After Becoming a Mom
“We were just brought up to believe in God. We were all about that, and I feel like when you have a relationship with God, and I feel like I’ve had endless, countless, abundant conversations about it. Sometimes you think, can he hear me? Does he hear me? Am I just talking to myself? Is it for real?
“But, I think when Haley arrived, I didn’t have any doubt in that belief, but when Haley arrived, it was personified. Literally when I watch her now, I just feel like she’s proof of everything. Like, everything … She’s the best.”
—on the Thrive Global Podcast in 2018
11of 19On Becoming a New Mom at 52"When you’re a mom late in life, you realize the gift it is. I’m not saying I wouldn’t have realized it when I was younger, but trust me, when you’re a new mom for the first time at 52, you get on your knees and say thank you. Because you get to do something you didn’t think you had a shot at.“It’s like the tectonic plates have shifted. I have a crystal-clear understanding about my purpose in life, which I didn’t before, and it’s to love her all the days I’m allowed to.“I think it is the greatest way to instantly prioritize your life and realize what matters."—to PEOPLE in March 2018
11of 19
On Becoming a New Mom at 52
“When you’re a mom late in life, you realize the gift it is. I’m not saying I wouldn’t have realized it when I was younger, but trust me, when you’re a new mom for the first time at 52, you get on your knees and say thank you. Because you get to do something you didn’t think you had a shot at.
“It’s like the tectonic plates have shifted. I have a crystal-clear understanding about my purpose in life, which I didn’t before, and it’s to love her all the days I’m allowed to.
“I think it is the greatest way to instantly prioritize your life and realize what matters.”
—to PEOPLE in March 2018
12of 19On How Motherhood Has Changed Her"I am the most impatient person on the planet — I have no patience. I think [Haley has] taught me patience, and she’s taught me that no dream’s too big. If you believe in something, it may actually come true."—onTodayin May 2018
12of 19
On How Motherhood Has Changed Her
“I am the most impatient person on the planet — I have no patience. I think [Haley has] taught me patience, and she’s taught me that no dream’s too big. If you believe in something, it may actually come true.”
—onTodayin May 2018
13of 19On Love Beyond Her Imagination"I remember thinking, ‘I’ve loved something for so long that I never saw, that I never felt, that I never touched — that I could only imagine.’ “—onTodayin May 2018
13of 19
On Love Beyond Her Imagination
“I remember thinking, ‘I’ve loved something for so long that I never saw, that I never felt, that I never touched — that I could only imagine.’ "
14of 19
On Becoming a Mother of Two
—to PEOPLE in May 2019
15of 19On Raising Tough but Empathetic GirlsHoda Kotb Instagram"I had all the things in school that a lot of kids have. You get picked on, you’re weird, you have a funky name, crazy glasses. People want to beat you up for no reason. But I know that all of those life experiences turned me into a stronger human. I want [Haley] to be tough, too. I want her to be tough, but I also want her to be gentle. I want all those things for her.“I don’t want them to only be strong, though. I want a strong daughter who has a soft center. I want a tough young girl who also is the most empathetic one in the room."—to PEOPLE in May 2019
15of 19
On Raising Tough but Empathetic Girls
Hoda Kotb Instagram
“I had all the things in school that a lot of kids have. You get picked on, you’re weird, you have a funky name, crazy glasses. People want to beat you up for no reason. But I know that all of those life experiences turned me into a stronger human. I want [Haley] to be tough, too. I want her to be tough, but I also want her to be gentle. I want all those things for her.
“I don’t want them to only be strong, though. I want a strong daughter who has a soft center. I want a tough young girl who also is the most empathetic one in the room.”
16of 19On Raising Her Daughters to Be VulnerableHoda Kotb Instagram"I don’t want to prepare her with a coat of armor to go out into the world. I want her to be open and vulnerable because, look, it is that whole thing about courage does come from vulnerability."—to PEOPLE in May 2019
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On Raising Her Daughters to Be Vulnerable
“I don’t want to prepare her with a coat of armor to go out into the world. I want her to be open and vulnerable because, look, it is that whole thing about courage does come from vulnerability.”
17of 19On Being a Parent Later in Life"When you’re parents later in life … watching Haley and Hope together, all I really want is for them to have someone to hold their hand forever, and that’s it. That’s all I want. I was scared, because we’re older, like maybe [it’s too late]. But then I realized they’ll have each other."—to Ellen DeGeneres in January 2020
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On Being a Parent Later in Life
“When you’re parents later in life … watching Haley and Hope together, all I really want is for them to have someone to hold their hand forever, and that’s it. That’s all I want. I was scared, because we’re older, like maybe [it’s too late]. But then I realized they’ll have each other.”
—to Ellen DeGeneres in January 2020
18of 19On Families of All Shapes and Sizes"I feel like families come in so many different shapes and sizes and as long as there’s lots of love, I think they’ll endure."—to PEOPLE in October 2020
18of 19
On Families of All Shapes and Sizes
“I feel like families come in so many different shapes and sizes and as long as there’s lots of love, I think they’ll endure.”
—to PEOPLE in October 2020
19of 19On How She Talks to Her Kids About Being AdoptedHoda Kotb/Instagram"I tell them they were adopted, and I’m not sure if they 100 percent know what that means. I always say, ‘You didn’t come from Mommy’s tummy, you came from my heart.’ And they understand that."— on PEOPLE’sMe Becoming Mompodcast in October 2021
19of 19
On How She Talks to Her Kids About Being Adopted
“I tell them they were adopted, and I’m not sure if they 100 percent know what that means. I always say, ‘You didn’t come from Mommy’s tummy, you came from my heart.’ And they understand that.”
— on PEOPLE’sMe Becoming Mompodcast in October 2021
source: people.com
