Plus, inside Hoda’s younger daughter Hope’s health issue

TODAY alum Hoda Kotb posted a sweet Father’s Day tribute to her ex-fiance Joel Schiffman, but it was her household rules in the background of the photo that had fans gushing.

Hoda, 60, shares daughters Haley, 9, and Hope, 6, with her ex Joel Schiffman.

Hoda Kotb smiling on The Kelly Clarkson Show.
Hoda Kotb wished her ex-fiance a Happy Father’s DayCredit: Getty

A man hugging two girls. House rules are visible on a refrigerator in the background.
They are parents to Haley, 9, and Hope, 6Credit: Instagram/hodakotb

Handwritten house rules emphasizing kindness.
Fans noticed Hoda’s house rules in the back of a photoCredit: Instagram/hodakotb
On Sunday, the former Today anchor shared a rare photo of her daughters with their dad, as she captioned the sweet snap, “A great father’s day for a great dad! Happy father’s day Joel!”

While fans praised Hoda and Joel’s co-parenting relationship in the comments, they noticed something in the background of the photo.

Taped to the fridge was a handwritten piece of paper that said “House Rules” in capital red letters.

The first rule read, “Kindness to all of the people in our house!”

The second and third read, “Kindness to our friends” and “Kindness to all.”

One fan wrote of her rules, “Great photo! Happy Father’s Day!! Ps: love the ‘house rules’ on the fridge! Kindness to all.”

A second wrote, “I love the house rules. They should be world rules!”

Another commented, “Lovely family! Your girls are well loved! Blessings to you all as you raise your daughters to be kind to all.”
Hoda Kotb reveals heartbreaking admission about 6-year-old daughter Hope’s ongoing health battle
Hoda and Joel began dating in 2015 and split in 2022.

They adopted Haley Joy in 2017 and Hope Catherine in 2019.

BRAVE BATTLE

In May, Hoda opened up about Hope’s health issues in an interview with People.

In February 2023, Hope had a sudden onset of mysterious symptoms, with the young girl then forced to spend two weeks in the hospital.

Hoda was forced to take a leave of absence from the Today show.

Hoda opened up about how Hope is living with type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disease which prevents the pancreas from making its own insulin.

Speaking about the impacts of Hope’s health, Hoda said, “It’s kind of constant care for Hope.

“We’re monitoring her 24/7,” she told the outlet.

She went on, “She was getting shots — four or five a day — every day for a year.

“Now she is getting them less frequently because we have some other means to get her what she needs, but there’s a lot to it.

“Some kids can have sweets and she can’t. If she’s up in the night, we have to take care of her at night.”

She then added some more positive comments about her daughter and how she is “a happy, healthy, rambunctious, amazing kid.”

Hoda noted how diabetes is a part of her, “but not all of her” and she hopes it will “shape her” but “never define her.”

She then opened up about how being able to watch over her and be there for her children was not possible when she had a long-term job at Today.

Speaking candidly, she said, “I really wanted to and needed to be here to watch over her. So, whenever she needs anything, and it can happen at night, multiple times, I’m up — I’m up up up.

“It wasn’t that alone. But if you look at it cumulatively, it was a part of that decision,” she went on.

Since leaving Today, Hoda now works from home and noted how there’s a “split verdict” on her kids having mom there for them all of the time.

“I think that on some days they love it and sometimes I think I might be cramping their style a little bit, because they were used to a morning routine minus me,” she said.

Hoda left Today after 17 years in January.

She revealed on Today on Wednesday, May 28 that she is launching a wellness app.

Hoda Kotb and Joel Schiffman at the 2018 Time 100 Gala.
Hoda and Joel split in 2022Credit: Getty

Hoda Kotb with her two daughters at breakfast.
Hoda with her two childrenCredit: Instagram/hodakotb