This story was originally posted on 05/19/22 titled: Hoda Kotb Just Opened Up About Her Relationship Status After Joel Schiffman Split: ‘My Heart Is Open’
Hoda Kotb just confessed that she is “open” to finding love again after she and Joel Schiffman, 64, broke off their engagement after eight years together. The 58-year-old Today co-anchor announced the news back in January earlier this year, after eagle-eyed fans spotted that she was no longer wearing her engagement ring, which she had been wearing since the pair got engaged in November 2019.
Kotb made the candid confession about her current relationship status while celebrating the 70th Anniversary of NBC News’ Today, telling People: “I haven’t really thought about who I would see myself with, but I do have to say something. My sister even said and asked me at one point, ‘Are you afraid to be by yourself?’ And I said to her, ‘I’m not going to be by myself.’ And I don’t know why I said it so clearly, but I actually knew that my heart is open. I have an open heart.”
Despite her open heart, the I Really Needed This Today author also revealed to The Daily Mail at the same time that dating isn’t actually the most important thing in her life, as the children she shares with Schiffman are and always will be her top priority. "No, I think especially when you have kids, you take a beat [after going through a breakup]," she said, in reference to daughters Haley Joy, 5, and Hope Catherine, 3, adding, "I'm focusing on them."
Kotb also revealed how she felt about the breakup four months on, and it doesn’t seem like she has any regrets. "We all make choices that are for us, and I feel strong and I feel good about my decision. I'm just kind of marching on with life," she added. We will always love and value Hoda's honesty!
This story was updated on 05/26/22 with the information below:
And it looks like Hoda still has a glass half full attitude to post-breakup-life, as she once again spoke candidly about her relationship status. "I’m really enjoying my kids and my life," Hoda confessed to Entertainment Tonight at the Hollywood Reporter’s 'Most Powerful People' media party on Tuesday, May 17th, adding, "I’m treasuring this time."
The mom-of-two also explained that she is in no rush to start dating again, and said she is just "tiptoeing along." Hoda's Today co-anchors were also keen to protect their co-star and friend's heart, with Savannah Guthrie saying, "Anybody who wants to date Hoda has to go through us first," and Jenna Bush Hager adding, "It’s a feral girl summer, and we’re leading the charge!" Aww! Who needs a man when you have such good girl friends; are we right?!
This story was updated on 08/18/22 with the information below:
Despite previously admitting that she is "treasuring" single life, it appears that Hoda treasures family life even more. So much so, that she is still thinking about expanding her family and giving Haley Joy and Hope Catherine a little brother or sister! Wow, we weren’t expecting this!
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In her candid cover interview with People, Hoda said that she won't rule out adopting again, as family is so important to her! Especially when she thought it was something she would never have after she turned 50 and had already been through a divorce and a breast cancer battle. "Family to me is everything – and having one of my own is something I never thought I'd have," she confessed.
"I always imagined family as my mom, my dad, my brother, my sister. I envisioned it that way until I was 50. Imagine someone saying, 'Hey, guess what? You're actually going to have a whole other family.' It still surprises me! It delights me to know that I have Haley and Hope. 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."
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Hoda has spoken about adopting a third child previously, but her plans were put on hold due to the pandemic and breaking up with Joel. However, she revealed that it's still something she is thinking about! "I've thought about expanding our family, and when I think about it, my eyes just well up," she can be heard saying in the video of herself playing with her daughters, which was shared by People. "I'm open. I'm wide open. If it's meant to come to me, I'm ready. I feel like we have space and love and all the things you need, and if it's meant to be I hope and pray it happens, and if it's not I totally understand, but I feel like we have a place that would be beautiful. And so, is there another child in store? God only knows, but I hope so."
And it seems like both Hoda and Joel will be able to co-parent the potential third child just as seamlessly as they co-parent their daughters, as Hoda revealed in the interview that they "have it down." She said: "He'll have a Saturday, and I'll do the Sunday. We switch each week. He'll take the girls and do some fun things, and I'll take some quiet time. It's a healthy mix, and the kids love it. He's a great dad." We can't wait to see what the future holds for Hoda!
