Moms are pulled in many different directions when they work outside of the home. You want to be there for your kids at all times but you have responsibilities at work that take you away from them. Hoda Kotba and Jenna Bush Hager can relate.
They opened up about feeling mom guilt when they have to miss their kids’ events due to their unconventional work schedule on the June 4, 2024 episode of Today. Luckily, psychotherapist Esther Perel gave them some good advice. This has helped them reframe their perspectives.
This topic came up because Hoda missed an event at her daughter’s school. “I was thinking about that, missing things, because I have missed things,” she explained. “Because our shift is so weird and they do all the things in the morning.”
Hoda has two girls Haley, 7, and Hope, 4, whom she shares with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman.
Jenna totally got it. “No, I know … I’ve missed everything,” she responded. She shares Mila, 11, Poppy, 8, and Hal, 4, with husband Henry Hager.
“We’ve all missed everything,” Hoda went on to say. “But then I try to remember that our parents missed many things.”
More from LittleThings: Hoda Kotb, 57, Recalls The Emotional Moment She First Knew She Wanted To Be A Mom
Thankfully, Jenna recalled Esther’s words of wisdom and shared them. “You don’t need to be at every single thing. When you’re with them, make wonderful memories,” she mused. “Your kids don’t remember where you’re not there — 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.”
To heart more of Jenna and Hoda's discussion, watch this video.
