Hoda Kotb Relishes First Experience Walking Daughters To School After Suburban Move
Hoda Kotb is embracing her new suburban life with joy and gratitude. During the September 4 episode of Today with Hoda and Jenna, the 60-year-old TV host shared with her co-host, Jenna Bush Hager, how much she’s loving the recent change of pace since moving out of the city. The big highlight? Walking her daughters, 7-year-old Haley and 4-year-old Hope, to school for the first time.
“Everything changed like that,” Hoda reflected on the move. “I have a whole new town and a whole new school, and all the new things. And we went for our first day of school.”
The moment was especially special for Hoda, who had never experienced the simple joy of walking her children to school before. “I carried coffee, I had sneakers, and I walked with my kids to school like normal people! It was awesome! I just loved doing it because I haven’t been able to do that, and it was so fun to walk my kids to school,” she shared enthusiastically.
Hoda cherished every step of the walk, explaining how it made her feel like part of the neighborhood. “And to walk with them and all of a sudden, little kids started [appearing] — it was like a train of 10, 12 kids walking to school in a neighborhood. There’s something about… we’ve had seven great years in the city with kids and that’s amazing, but I also think kids need to have their feet in the grass and in dirt,” she stated.
The move to the suburbs is more than just a change of address for Hoda — it’s a return to the simple things in life that she missed from her own childhood. She fondly remembered how the experience reminded her of growing up in Morgantown, West Virginia, on Dogwood Avenue.
“I called my sister right after and was like, ‘It’s like Morgantown, West Virginia… do you remember the kids, and everybody’s outside?’ Someone will knock on the door!” she recalled.
The excitement of seeing her daughter Hope collect acorns along the way added to the nostalgic feeling, as she recognized how lucky she is to have this time with her children. ” And I know that it’s like a privilege ’cause you gotta work, but I just thought, ‘You know what, sometimes chapters change you and you miss things. I’m gonna do it.’”
Jenna Bush Hager chimed in, praising Hoda’s courage to take on this new chapter of life. “The bravery to say, ‘It’s time. This one’s over and here we go.’ And watching your kids soar,” Jenna remarked, highlighting the beauty of Hoda’s choice to prioritize her family in this new season of life.
