Hoda Kotb Shares Her True Feelings About Ex Joel Schiffman After Their Breakup
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Hoda Kotb feels “very peaceful” with daughters Haley Joy and Hope Catherine. But she will always have a special place in her heart for former fiancé Joel Schiffman.
At the beginning of the year, Hoda announced on Today’s fourth hour that she and the financier called off their engagement. The broadcast journalist revealed that they were no longer together and planned to move forward as “friends and parents.” Since then, the Making Space podcast host has continued to share her candid thoughts about co-parenting and finding love again.
Speaking recently with People, Hoda opened up about the joy Joel brought into her life during their eight-year-long relationship and what it’s been like navigating their new dynamic. According to the Today show star, going their separate ways was the right decision for her. "He's a great dad — but I also know I'm on the right road," she told the outlet.
Moreover, she doesn’t look back on their time together as anything but incredible. “I don't regret one day, not one minute, not one second of our time together because it brought me here,” Hoda said to the magazine. “I have two incredible children I share with him. And it's because of Joel that I have Haley and Hope, without question. I think I might have been too afraid to do it alone. That's not something I love to admit, but it's true."
Related video: Hoda Kotb and Joel Schiffman's sweet love story
Hoda has previously revealed that she had a longtime dream of becoming a mother. But when she was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer in 2007 at the age of 42 and underwent treatment, she was informed that she wouldn’t be able to bear children. Even so, her desire to have kids didn’t disappear and she carried that aspiration close to her heart.
In February 2017, Hoda and Joel adopted their first daughter, Haley. Hoda later shared that Joel never hesitated to jump into the journey of parenthood with her — and for that, she’s grateful. (The former couple adopted their second daughter, Hope, in April 2019.)
The I Really Needed This Today author echoed a similar message to Good Housekeeping about having his support. “I don’t think I would’ve adopted if it hadn’t been for Joel,” Hoda said in our April 2022 cover interview. “Having a stable relationship in that moment was really important. Once that fell into place, it didn’t seem as scary to me.”
As for what she envisions for her future, Hoda's not quite sure who it will happen with but she's confident there will eventually be a special someone.
"I've had past loves, and I feel like I'll have future loves," she told People. "Once you know who you are all the way, then love can come in. You know how people say the older you get, the more you know who you are? I think someone who meets me now will meet me for real."
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