‘Today Show’: Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb Share Thoughts on Parenting Later in Life
Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb draw in massive ratings as co-anchors of NBC’s Today Show. Both balancing full home lives with their high-profile careers, the two journalists recently spoke on the blessings of becoming parents later in life.
‘Today Show’ stars find more ‘peace’ and ‘calm’ at a later age
Guthrie has gotten used to juggling her Today Show schedule with that of her kids, daughter Vale, 7, and son Charley, 5. The NBC anchor considers herself in a better place overall at 50 years old, where she can provide her children with a more steady environment.
“Hoda and I are both at a point in our careers where we have a lot more certainty about our schedules — that helps,” Guthrie told Good Housekeeping. “By this time in life you’ve seen a few things and you know how to weather the ups and downs. I’m glad my kids don’t have the stressed, anxious and insecure 30-year-old version of me. The peace and calmness that comes with age is a great thing for kids to see in action.”
Kotb, who co-parents daughters Haley, 5, and Hope, 3, with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman, has a positive perspective when it comes to being a mom despite whatever challenges may arise.
“All of a sudden all the things about having little kids that seem like a problem, you see in a whole different way,” Kotb remarked. “And I find myself being so much more patient and calm than I ever would have been at a younger age. You realize we sometimes blow things out of proportion.”
Savannah Guthrie finds that exhaustion isn’t limited to age
Guthrie welcomed her first child in her early 40s and pointed out she sometimes deals with a waning energy level.
“We live in New York City, and there are a lot of older parents, so you don’t stick out like a sore thumb,” the Today star explained. “But sometimes I wonder, on a Saturday afternoon when I’m really tired, Do younger parents feel this way?“
Though she battles fatigue at time, Guthrie noted that the demands of being a parent can tire out people of any age.
“The answer is yes,” she said. “I know them, they’re my friends — and they’re exhausted. All parents have those moments of low energy and times they’re frustrated. That’s just the nature of it.”
Hoda Kotb shares her ‘epiphany’
Kotb revealed that she’s been subjected to judgment for adopting her children in her early 50s, with one viewer putting her opinion in writing.
“I got a letter at my house from some lady, and she said, Who do you think you are, having those kids at this age?” Kotb recalled. “It was handwritten, with a stamp on it. And I remember thinking, She took a piece of paper out on her desk and wrote this down, folded it up, put it in an envelope, got my home address and put a stamp on it and mailed it.“
Rather than focus on the critical spirit of the letter, Kotb discovered that she has the power to choose where to put her energy.
“I’ve come to learn that there are two ways to live your life,” the Today anchor shared. “You can live your life worrying about what people think of your life, or you can live your life. And I realized that sometimes I was living my life being concerned about the perceptions of it. I sort of had this epiphany: I have a choice.“
‘Today Show’s’ Savannah Guthrie Says This Is The 1 Question She Wishes She Never Asked
