NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: The popular NBC talk show ‘Today with Hoda and Jenna’ hosts Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager recently welcomed Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ex-wife, Maria Shriver, on the show who revealed her secret sauce of handling opinionated mothers-in-law.
Maria shared her experiences and approach to how she handles the conflicts of being a mother-in-law. The morning show hosts Hoda and Jenna, who are both mothers, paid attention to Maria's lessons as they often turn to her for advice. While shelling out her knowledge in the "Social Dilemmas" segment of the show, Maria seemed quite confident in her way of dealing with familial relationships.
Who is Maria Shriver?
Maria is a multifaceted American personality known for her contributions to journalism, advocacy, and public service, being the former First Lady of California. Born into the Kennedy family, she has carved her own path and made a name for herself. As a journalist, she has held prominent positions, including being an anchor and correspondent for NBC News. She has authored several bestselling books, focusing on women's empowerment and personal growth. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is recognized for her active involvement in philanthropy and advocacy, particularly in areas related to mental health, Alzheimer's disease, and social justice. Maria also founded the non-profit organization, 'The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement', and was previously married to iconic actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The couple share four children, Kathrine, 33, Christina, 31, Patrick, 29, and Christopher, 25.
'I zip my mouth'
The ‘Today with Hoda and Jenna' hosts welcomed guest anchor Maria on the July 12 episode, who discussed her experience of being a mother-in-law. "She's our guru," Hoda expressed, adding, "She's like a problem solver," before bringing in Maria for the "Social Dilemmas" segment, where the duo tackles questions submitted by the viewers. The first query was from a woman seeking advice on dealing with her opinionated mother-in-law, who frequently criticizes her parenting style.
Hoda read, "She’s constantly zinging me over my parenting style. How do I let her know I appreciate her help, but I would appreciate her laying off the comments, too." Maria, a mother-in-law herself, shared her tip for avoiding conflicts, stating, "I zip my mouth." When Hoda asked about addressing misbehavior or rude comments, saying, “But what if the kid is not behaving — or saying rude things and nobody is correcting? Would you say anything?" Maria reiterated the importance of staying quiet as she said, "I really try to zip my mouth." She also suggested having an open conversation with the mother-in-law and said, "We wouldn’t be able to do it without you… but it sometimes hurts my feelings when you criticize. I’m still trying to figure it out. I really love your support."
When Jenna proposed involving the son as a mediator, Maria cautioned against potential complications saying, "You hear these stories of when the husband does say something… then there’s estrangement." Maria's fondness for her daughter Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt's husband, Chris Pratt, was evident when she commented on his anniversary tribute, writing, "I’m so happy you have one another — love looks good on you both shine on." The couple has been married for four years and has two daughters, Lyla and Eloise. Chris referred to Maria as a "living saint" and praised her caring nature, adding she’s "super doting." The actor added, "She’s fantastic. She’s so engaged and thoughtful and caring and her house is like .... a welcoming kind of retreat. You just kind of relax when you go there. It’s really nice."
