Hoda Kotb opens up about her first solo trip with her daughters following split from her ex-fiancé

Hoda Kotb has revealed the lesson she learned after her first solo journey with her young daughters as a single mother, saying she realized that “life is better when you ask for help.”

Today’s co-anchor, 58, talked about her trip to Delaware’s Rehoboth Beach on the morning show this week after she and her daughters, Haley, five, and Hope, three, spent last weekend with her mother, Sameha, and her sister, Hala.

Kotb explained that it was the first time she traveled alone with her children after her divorce from her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman, and that she “learned a lot.”

“I had two car seats in backpacks, a roll-up bag and my backpack. So I thought, “Okay, girls, everybody’s in,” she told her co-host Jenna Bush Hager that she’d been lugging all their stuff on the train.

The co-anchor and her daughters, Haley, five, and Hope, three, took a train to meet her mother, Sameha, and sister, Hala, at the beach

“So I took the backpack with the car seat and put it on Haley, and she said, ‘Ahhh…’ Like I almost knocked her down.”

Kotb noted that her daughters also had “minor fevers” and were “not feeling their best” when she was trying to figure out how to manage things on her own.

“I’ve learned how nice people are. How do people help,” she said, remembering how to take Hope to the bathroom while Haley cuddled in her chair.

‘I looked in the train’ [and said], “Who has children?” And the man said, “I have a four-year-old.” I’m going…”You watch her. I take her to the bathroom. When she says, “Where’s mommy?” I’m here, okay?” He was like, “I get it.”‘

Kotb told her co-host Jenna Bush Hager to lug two car seats in backpacks, a roll-up bag, and her backpack, and said Haley nearly fell when she tried to help her.

The mother of two said she’d offered people help with her bags, and a father agreed to watch Haley on the train as she took Hope to the bathroom.

Kotb said it was an eye opening experience for her as she is not one to ask for help in her daily life.

“The people were so nice and wonderful. When you struggle, people help. And I’m often one who says, “I’ve got it, I’ve got it, I’ve got it.” You know what? Here’s my takeaway: ask for help,” she advised.

“Don’t sit there and think, ‘I’m going to be a martyr, and I’m going to do it. I’m going to carry them on my back. I’ll carry one child here.” Why?’

Kotb also had an offer from a Hertz employee to help her with all her bags when she picked up her rental car in Delaware.

Kotb admitted she is someone who tries to do everything herself, but the journey made her realize that ‘life is better when you ask for help’

“My girls were just so happy to be with my mom,” Kotb added. ‘We had so much fun’

“It takes a lot of effort to ask for help, and I realized during this journey that life is better when you ask for help and realize how nice everyone is,” she said.

The mother of two shared photos from the journey on the show, including a sweet snapshot of her daughters curled up in their seats on the train.

Kotb also had a family selfie on the beach and a photo of Haley and Hope posing with their grandmother.

‘My mother, my sister and I, we had the best time. We enjoyed the weather,” she said of the trip. “My girls were so happy to be with my mom. We had so much fun.’

Kotb co-parents her adopted daughters with her ex-fiancé, Joel Schiffman, after their divorce in January after eight years together

“He’s a great dad, but I also know I’m on the right track,” Kotb told People earlier this month.

Kotb shares her adopted daughters with Schiffman, and she recently shared how they are co-parenting in a “healthy” way after their breakup.

They had been together for eight years and got engaged for two when she announced their split on the Today show in late January. After more than six months of co-parenting, the journalist said they “didn’t do it.”

‘He has a Saturday and I have a Sunday. We switch weekly. He takes the girls and does some fun stuff, and I take some rest. It’s a healthy mix and the kids love it. He’s a great dad,” she said People magazine.

Kotb praised their open line of communication and the help of their two nannies for navigating their busy schedules while raising their daughters together.

“Does that work for you?” “Should I change that?” We’re very open about arranging things to meet everyone’s needs,” she explained, adding: “He’s a great dad, but I also know I’m on the right track.”