Andy Cohen credits Hoda Kotb with giving him “the courage and strength” to have his children later in life

Andy Cohen shares how Hoda Kotb helped him decide to foster his two children.

The Bravo personality, 56, appeared on Today with Hoda and Jenna on Tuesday, January 7 as part of Kotb’s final week on the show. As he listed the different things he loves about the mother of two, Cohen shared that she played a special role in his success in becoming a father.

“The courage and strength you gave me to have my children later in life,” Cohen said. “One day you and I had a very memorable conversation in the hallway at Radio Andy.”

“I remember,” Kotb replied.

“And you were like, ‘It’s right on time. It’s good,'” Cohen recalled. “Because I was worried about where I was in my life and my age and you really set me straight and that conversation had a really big impact on me personally and I really thank you for that advice. “

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Cohen welcomed his first baby, son Ben, now 5, in 2019, when he was 50. He then welcomed his daughter Lucy, now 2, three years later. Kotb, meanwhile, welcomed her first daughter Haley at the age of 52. She then welcomed her daughter Hope two years later.

Speaking to PEOPLE at SiriusXM’s 10th annual Radio Andy Holiday Hangout in New York City in December, the Bravo host opened up about some sweet moments he’s shared with his two kids recently.

“Ben bombards me with so much love, and so does Lucy – every quality moment that she and I have alone without Ben, she gets so excited,” Cohen said.

“I took her to the doctor today and she talked about it like I was taking her to see the Rockettes. She said, ‘Dad and I, just dad and me, let’s go to the doctor, just dad and me .’ .’ So she really is daddy’s little girl.”

A month prior, Cohen opened up about the “love bombing” Ben was doing when he shared a video on his Instagram of himself talking with his son before the two left to take Ben to school. Sitting on the floor and filming himself, Cohen asked, “What do you want to do when you walk to school today?”

“Are you hugging me all the way?” Ben responded kindly.

“Do you want me to hug you all the way to school today?” Cohen asked for clarification, to which his son replied, “Yes.”

Noting that he was tempted, Cohen later asked: “Is this a plot for me to carry you all the way to school, or do you just want me to hug you all the way to school?”

“I just want to hug each other all the way to school,” Ben replied. “Carry me and hug me. Same thing.”

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