No one can make Hoda Kotb feel shameful about becoming a mom later in life. On a recent episode of Today with Hoda & Jenna, she opened up about how older moms often make themselves the butt of a joke so that no one can tease them about it. But she stood firm in her decision to become a mom after 50.
__More from Mom.com: __Hoda Kotb Opens Up About the Challenges & Worries of Being an Older Mom
Hoda gets what it feels like to be an older mom
On the show, Hoda and her co-host Jenna Bush Hager were discussing actress Sienna Miller getting pregnant at 41. In an interview with Vogue, Sienna said, "I’d love to get to a point where I didn’t feel the need to make a joke of me being older and having a baby. To show I'm in on the joke."
Hoda shared that she understood where Sienna was coming from.
"Yeah, I think a lot of people do that, like you want to beat them to the punch, so you make the joke about, oh, 'I'm an older mom' or if you feel heavy and… you make the joke about it. I was always a fat kid. That's the joke you make so no one else can make it," she said.
Hoda doesn't care what people have to say about her decision
"I am so happy and fulfilled with my decision that I don't feel any ounce of shame because my dad died when I was in college," she explained. "You get your parent for as long as you get your parent and they lay a foundation that you cannot shake."
Hoda adopted her daughter Haley in 2017, when she was 52. She adopted her daughter Hope in 2019.
Hoda's stance inspired her cohost
After Hoda finished, Jenna commended her for not needing to joke about her journey to motherhood.
"Hoda doesn't feel like she needs a joke," Jenna said. "Because she's so delighted by them that when you lead with delight, guess what follows? Delight! When you lead with enthusiasm and this has to do with everything, people are enthusiastic back."
"I love that you're totally secure in it," Jenna said, to which Hoda replied, "Yes, it was the best decisions I've ever made."
A lot of women agree with Hoda
The show shared the clip to Instagram, and there were women in the comment section who agreed and supported Hoda and her decision to become a mom later in life.
"I had my first and only healthy baby boy a week before my 51st Birthday!❤️" one woman commented.
"Raised by an older parent here ♀️ my dad was 46 when I was born and I’ll tell you what NOTHING can compare to the wisdom you learn being raised by an older parent," another person said.
"I love y’all!!! We adopted five after I was 40 and my husband was 47. I always make jokes like yep we won’t ever be empty nesters! But I wouldn’t change a thing!! I love it your lead with delight you get delight!! I just love you both!! You bring JOY!" another shared.
