Like many parents of college-aged kids, Michelle and Barack Obama were secretly thrilled to have their grown daughters, Sasha, 19 and Malia, 22, quarantine at home with them this past year. They ended up with an additional houseguest when Malia’s boyfriend couldn’t go home and the Obamas agreed to house him too. So their empty nest filled up really quick. But according to Michelle, they couldn’t be happier, even though Sasha and Malia dominate the conversation. All the conversations.
Michelle Obama says she and former President Barack Obama have been happily getting an earful from daughters Sasha and Malia.
Speaking with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts on Wednesday, the former first lady shared her thoughts on future generations of young Americans, whom she has often described in inspiring terms — starting with her own kids.
“If you sit around the dinner table, me and Barack, we can’t get a word in edgewise and we like it like that,” said Mrs. Obama, 57. “We want to hear their thoughts and their opinions, and that’s where it begins.”
“I always have wanted them to start practicing the power of their voices very early on” and that “what I hope they learn is that who they are right now is enough,” she said of her girls.
Not one person reading this believes that former president Barack Obama is sitting there silent for any amount of time. The minute he thinks of some cheesy Dad Joke, he’s interrupting just to say it. And then he’s adding his own laugh track if no one else does. Also, and this is slightly off track, but I wonder if he’s one of those lawyer dads who makes Sasha and Malia cite their sources when they’re on a roll about some point or another (asks the child of a lawyer dad).
Michelle’s larger point is that both young ladies have been civically awakened and that’s why they encourage them to talk. Both Sasha and Malia marched in the protests that happened after George Floyd’s murder and they were very vocal about the election, in which they both voted last November. Of course Michelle is right. Children and young adults should always feel like they are allowed a voice and we should encourage them to use it. Once everyone listens to each other, that’s where the real work takes place.
I’ve been so pleasantly surprised by how tuned in the young generation is to what is going on in the world. They need some education and some guidance, but they want to make things better and they are willing to work to get there. Michelle told GMA that she’s, “someone that is comfortable getting out of the way so that the next generation can take the seat that I’m sitting in,” and I am 100% with her. I have a lot of confidence in those kids dominating the dinner table conversation and I’m happy to step back and help them put that chatter into action.
Photo credit: Instagram
Neither can I and he’s 5!
Enjoy it while you can, lol. My boys are both in college and they have become young men of very few words, around their parents at least. I miss the super-chatty little guys they once were.
Child of a lawyer (now judge) Dad! Yes, I was always asked to cite sources and come up with evidence to prove my case every time I challenged him or argued with him about something. It was actually a valuable exercise growing up.
My oldest daughter, 16, is quite the LGBTQ+ advocate right now, and schools me everyday for using an incorrect term or phrase. It’s humbling, to say the least. I’m a professor, and have impressed upon her (and my younger daughter) the importance of sourcing. Where is she getting this information? Is coming from a reputable source or some dude on TikTok? If she does use a first-person narrative as a source, she has to make sure it’s reliable and valid, or it’s just as bad as someone citing Rush Limbaugh as a source. It’s difficult, however, when there isn’t much peer-reviewed research to go off of on some of these issues. The bar for evidence in her generation is lower, and while I get that, trying to impress upon her the importance of evidence and sourcing is a challenge. In the meantime, I support her spirit and motivation to engage with others on these issues.
My husband is a professor and when we have a discussion about anything, he will ask me to cite my source. I just roll my eyes and walk away. I’m not one of your students.
I love it when parents encourage their children this way. Unfortunately, some see their individually-minded children as competition. They tend to condescend and put down their teenaged kids when they share their thoughts and opinions. This is certainly one blessed household.
I grew up in a narcissistic house so yes they are blessed. My mother rolled her eyes when i told her about something id learned in a hobby or a class id taken. Dad insisted the info i had was wrong and repeatedly said so. I was on a basketball team as a kid and we were taught how to do layups, i was a preteen, so i showed him after practice and he insisted i do it his was completely different than i was taught. He could not consider that his info was outdated-he refused to adapt . It was discouraging to say the least
I love this family!
If only more of the older generations (boomers especially) made room for the younger generations in places like Congress, we’d have more policies that reflect the real world needs!
I’m just here to say I love Gen Z’s energy and this millenial is rooting for them!
Same. I 100% feel like that’s who is “on my team” so to speak. Or I’m on their team.
This millenial agrees 100%- I love Gen Z’s energy for activism and change!
Warms my heart to hear they encourage Sasha aspens Malia to use their voices. More parents should actively encourage their kids to do so. Love that family picture…the girls have grown into such intelligent and lovely young ladies.
The love they all share is so evident, it’s inspiring and what the world needs more of, as we see how hate, division and spite seem to be the driving forces on the right. Intelligence and empathy is sorely lacking in the public discourse right now and I can only hope their generation turns it around.
The throwback picture is fun to see!
Love this story and love the pics! Do you think Barack is showing Michelle some Tiktok video on the one where he is showing her his phone
“Honey let me show you this” “Barack, right now??” “It’ll only take a minute” “Oh Ok” — I’m hearing it in my head😂😂😂
Michelle’s dress is gorgeous in the picture with Barack and his phone, and she is gorgeous wearing it.