Michelle Obama explains important parenting decision she and Barack made while their daughters were growing up
Michelle Obama has opened up about what it was like to be bringing up their kids in the White House, admitting there was one aspect of it that was 'mighty effort'.
When you’re the former first lady and former president of the US, people might make some wide speculation about how you take care of your children.
From tutors to nannies, the assumptions of what people would believe you do to upkeep your family is sometimes accurate, and sometimes not so much.
Instead of being left wondering, Michelle has taken it into her own hands spilled all about how they balanced family life with presidential life.
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Talking about parenting in the White House, she shared all in an episode of her podcast, IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson on Wednesday (June 11).
She explained to legendary singer Bruce Springsteen that it was essential they leave behind their important roles and focus on being parents to their children, like any other family.
Michelle said: “And it took a mighty effort to leave the grandeur at the door and to just be there and talk about fifth grade.”
However, she praised her husband for being able to leave it behind and continue to show up for their girls, regardless of the fact that he was running an entire nation.
Michelle shared: “I think Barack is just like you as a tremendous father, doing it in a lot of grandeur, right.
“Yeah, you’re the commander in chief of the United States of America. And so finding that balance of, you know, when you’ve got the nuclear code in your grasp and world leaders calling you and big, important, heavy decisions coming at you every day and valets and aides and on and on, and security, and oh, it’s just all grandeur.”
She added that it was ‘important’ both of them were there for Sasha, 24, and Malia, 26.
“Trying to wipe all that stuff away and leave it at the door before he would enter the residence of the White House to sit at a dinner table with his two daughters and only talk about them.
"It was important for both of us, for me and Barack, to carve out that time in those eight years when our girls were in their formative years, you know,” Michelle added.
However, that doesn’t mean it wasn’t without its sacrifices and issues.
Springsteen agreed with her, sharing that when you’re on the road and touring, ‘you are the king’.
But when you go back home to your family, ‘you’re the chauffeur’.
He explained to Michelle of the contrast in roles: “You know, making that transition can be funny, and everybody has some version of that, that you need to transition into your domestic life and to be able to transition into their domestic life, and to understand who you are there and to identify.”
Michelle has been very open about her relationship with the former president since creating her podcast, having even shut down rumors that the pair were divorcing, and also making light-hearted jokes at his expense.
Topics: Barack Obama, Parenting, Podcast, Politics, Michelle Obama
Britt Jones