Hoda Kotb Explains Why You Should Never Hand A Tissue To Your Crying Friend

Hoda Kotb from TODAY has explained why you should never hand a tissue to your crying friend. Of course, it seems like natural instinct to hand some tissues to your friend who is crying, but Hoda argues why that’s a big no-no, and honestly, it makes sense.

“Let me tell you what that does when someone hands you a Kleenex: It makes you stop,” she explains to co-host Jenna Bush Hager. “You’re not done yet; you need to get it out.”

Hoda Kotb on why you shouldn’t hand a tissue to your crying friend: they stop

Instead, Hoda advises another route: “Be there; be right next to them. Do not hand a Kleenex unless they ask … just be next to them.” Hoda says that she had to learn this lesson herself when someone pointed it out to her. “I’m always trying to stop the sadness,” she says, “and I think particularly with kids, right?” Jenna adds. “Let them get angry or get sad.”

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Hoda additionally references a book that she reads with daughters Haley and Hope about a rabbit who doesn’t try to fix things, and instead, sits and waits until the child is ready to share their experience or feelings. “The hardest thing is to sit next to somebody and let them let it out,” she said.

This advice may be coming in hot for a lot of Hoda’s friends as she recently called off her engagement and broke up with long-time partner Joel Schiffman. “Joel and I have had a lot of prayerful and meaningful conversations over the holidays and we decided that we’re better as friends and parents than we are as an engaged couple, so we decided we are going to start this new year … on our new path as loving parents to our adorable, delightful children, and as friends,” Hoda announced the sad news.