Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager seem to have a whale of a time on Today with Hoda and Jenna. But they also aren’t afraid to get serious – as proven by one of their latest discussions centering on mom guilt.
On the June 4th episode of the show, Hoda, 59, who shares daughters Haley Joy, 7, and Hope Catherine, 4, with ex-husband Joel Schiffman, and Jenna, 42, who shares daughters Mila, 11, and Poppy, 8, and son Hal, 4, with husband Henry Hager, opened up about feeling guilty about missing some important events in their children’s lives due to their busy work schedules.
Hoda Kotb And Jenna Bush Hager Talk About Missing Events In Their Children’s Lives
The co-workers spoke openly about missing events in their children’s lives not just through working, but through working on a morning show which is when many of the children’s events take place…
“My daughter had something today at school that I missed,” Kotb said, adding: “And I was thinking about that, missing things, because I have missed things. Because our shift is so weird and they do all the things in the morning.”
Bush Hager also chimed in, to make her friend and co-worker feel less alone, saying: "No, I know… I've missed everything." Kotb agreed, and added: "We've all missed everything. But then I try to remember that our parents missed many things."
Keen to stop themselves – and any other working moms who might have been watching the show – from suffering too much mom guilt, Jenna recalled a lesson she learned from psychotherapist Esther Perel and kindly shared it with her friend and the viewers.
"You don't need to be at every single thing," Jenna explained. "When you're with them, make wonderful memories. Your kids don't remember where you're not there," she continued, adding: "Maybe y'all disagree and maybe I'm just saying this to make myself feel better – but they will remember when you make a point to be present." Hoda agreed wholeheartedly, and said: "Yes! I totally agree."
