Andy Cohen Credits Hoda Kotb with Giving Him the ‘Courage and Strength’ to Have His Kids Later in Life ngocc

The Bravo personality, 56, appeared on Today with Hoda and Jenna on Tuesday, Jan. 7 as part of Kotb's last week on the show. As he listed out the various things he loves about the mom of two, Cohen shared that she'd played a special part in him becoming a father.

"The courage and strength that you gave me to have my kids later in life," Cohen said. "You and I had a very impactful conversation in the hallway at Radio Andy one day."

"I remember," Kotb responded.

"And you were like, 'It's right on time. It's okay,' " 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 was very impactful to me personally and I really thank you for that guidance."

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Cohen welcomed his first baby, son Ben, now 5, in 2019 when he was 50. He went on to welcome daughter Lucy, now 2, three years later. Kotb, on the other hand, welcomed her first daughter Haley when she was 52. She then welcomed daughter Hope two years later.

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

"Ben is love bombing me so much, and Lucy also is so — any quality time that she and I get alone without Ben, she's so excited about," Cohen said.

"I took her to the doctor today and she talked about it like I was taking her to, you know, see the Rockettes. She's like, 'Daddy and I — just Daddy and I — are going to the doctor, just Daddy and I.' So she's very much daddy's little girl."

A month before, Cohen elaborated on the "love bombing" that Ben has been doing when he shared a video on his Instagram of himself as he talked with his son before the two left to take Ben to school. Sitting on the ground and filming himself, Cohen asked, "What do you want to do on a walk to school today?”

“Do you hug me the whole way?” Ben sweetly responded.

“You want me to hug you the whole way to school today?" Cohen asked for clarification, to which his son responded, "Yes."

Noting that he's tempted, Cohen later asked, "Is this a plot for you to get me to carry you the whole way to school, or you just want me to hug you the whole way to school?”

“Just want to hug me the way to school," Ben responded. "Carry me and hug me. The same thing.”