During the announcement that she would be leaving the Today program, Hoda Kotb wore a piece of jewelry that had a great deal of significance.

After 17 years of service, the anchor said on Thursday, September 26, that she would be quitting her position in order to devote more time to her two kids, Haley Joy, who is seven years old, and Hope Catherine, who is four years old.

Kotb, who is sixty years old, sent a letter to the crew of the NBC morning program, in which he said, “My broadcast career has been beyond meaningful, a new decade of my life lies ahead, and now my daughters and my mother need and deserve a larger slice of my time pie.” In spite of the fact that I shall miss you all terribly, I am prepared and delighted.

In addition, the broadcaster gave an emotional address on the air on Thursday morning. During the speech, she wore her go-to piece of jewelry, which was a gold necklace with a charm that looked like the letter “M.”

Kotb revealed the unique significance of the jewelry on an episode of Today that aired in January 2022 and was devoted to addressing questions from viewers.

She said, “The letter ‘M’ stands for Mom.”

In addition, she drew attention to the other two necklaces that she wore and stated, “I have ‘Haley’ and ‘Hope’ on (one of them). Consequently, I have a “I love you, Mama” written on this one. Every single one of them is one of my girlfriends.

“Do you feel like ‘Mom’ is the best title?” was a question that cohost Jenna Bush Hager posed, and Kotb almost immediately agreed with her.

“The letter ‘M’ is so me,” she remarked. If it weren’t for the initials of my children, that would be the initial that I would like to wear. I mean, who knew that I was going to have the opportunity to wear that initial?

In 2017, Kotb adopted her daughter Haley after receiving a diagnosis of breast cancer in 2007 that rendered her unable to have an offspring. She became a mother to her second daughter, Hope, in the year 2019. Her former boyfriend, Joel Schiffman, is the father of both of her daughters.

An admission that Kotb made in her letter to the staff of NBC was that her “heart is all over the map.”

She continued speaking in the statement by saying, “I am aware that I am making the correct choice, but it is a difficult one.” Each and every one of you is the reason why. The expression “two things can be right at the same time” is something that I am experiencing to a very profound degree right now. Despite the fact that I adore you, it is time for me to quit the program.

She also said that she would continue to serve in her present position until the beginning of the year 2025, and that she will continue to be employed by the network in some form after the new year.

“Happily and gratefully, I plan to remain a part of the NBC family, the longest work relationship I’ve been lucky enough to hold close to my heart,” Kotb concluded his letter.