Hoda Kotb Reveals Her Children Have Never Seen a Movie

In a recent episode of Today With Hoda & Jenna, Hoda Kotb shared that her two children – who are 5 years old and 3 years old – have never watched a movie. It’s something that shocked parents around the country, considering movies are a go-to for many parents when trying to get their children to relax. 

It all started when Hoda and her co-host, Jenna Bush, were talking about the upcoming film The Little Mermaid – a movie Jenna can’t wait to take her three children to see when it’s released in the movie theater. It resulted in Jenna asking Hoda if she had ever been to the movie theater with her own children. 

“No, and my kids have never seen a movie,” said Kotb. As you can imagine, this left Jenna shell-shocked as she searched for an explanation. She went on to blame the COVID-19 pandemic for her decision, which is understandable for those that want to keep their kids – and themselves – out of harm’s way.

RELATED: Hoda Kotb Reveals Unconventional Way She Squashed Her Daughter’s Public Meltdown

After she doubled down on her decision, Jenna suggested that she give it a try – adding there’s no judgment, either way. “I think you should start not with that because then they’re going to think all movies are that. I think you need to see Puss and Boots in the theater,” said Jenna, giving her suggestion. 

Kotb appeared to mull it over, but wouldn’t give a definitive answer on whether or not she’ll take that next step. Of course, it’s not just the movie theater because she also revealed they have never seen a full movie on television, either. At the end of the day, it’s her children and she can raise them how she wants!

Hoda Kotb is a mother to two adorable daughters – both of whom were adopted. Her first daughter, Haley Joy Kotb, was adopted in February 2017 and her second daughter, Hope Catherine Kotb, was adopted in April 2019. Kotb and Schiffman split in 2022. She co-parents both children with her ex, Joel Schiffman.

Schiffman is a New York financier who worked as the Head of U.S. Defined Contribution and Insurance Sales for an investment management firm. He met Hoda in 2013 and they struck a relationship soon after. The former couple got engaged in 2019, but ended their engagement three years later in January 2022. 

Hoda Kotb Opens Up About Being a Mother

Hoda Kotb has been open about her journey into motherhood – including both the beauty and fears that come with it. She has previously expressed how she knew she was doing the right thing for herself when she started the adoption process, but also knew that it would be her biggest challenge of her life so far. 

She has talked about how being a mother has taken her out of her comfort zone, opening herself up to a world she never knew existed. She always used to think of her mother, father, and siblings as her family, but that all changed when she finally had a family of her own. It gave her new meaning to the word family.

“They fell asleep on me yesterday after having meltdowns, and I sang to them, and in that moment I was just thinking to myself, ‘I get to feel these things. We get to have this together. It blows my mind that I get to have this adorable little family that’s just right for me,” said Kotb in an interview with PEOPLE in 2022. 

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Hoda Kotb Has An Encouraging And Empowering Message For Older Moms

She also praised Joel for being the perfect father for her two daughters. “He’s a great guy, and he’s a very kind and loving person, and I feel privileged to have spent eight years with him. We are both good, and we are both going on our way and our path, and we’ll be good parents to those two lovely kids,” she said.