Barack Obama and Michelle Obama could never pick a favorite child.
However, the personalities of Malia Obama, age 27, and Sasha Obama, age 23, whom they raised as their daughters, were starkly distinct from one another.
During the August 20th episode of their podcast, IMO, Michelle remarked about Sasha: “Sasha acts just like a cat. She seems aloof, ‘Keep your distance, don’t try to pet me. I don’t exist for your approval. You approach me.’
In addition, Barack sometimes found her challenging, she clarified that their youngest daughter was not a typical “people-pleaser” like their oldest; instead, she had a unique personality trait.
Because for her part, Malia would often seek out her father to have discussions about politics.
As a teenager, Michelle reminisced, Malia didn’t seem to spend any less time outside or alter her usual habits. Instead, she would inform Michelle, “I’ll be away this weekend, but I’m planning to drop by and hang with Dad for about 15 minutes.
She’d step into the Treaty Room and ask, “Can you fill me in on the situation in Syria?”, continuing her words. Often, Barack would emerge from their discussion reporting, “I had a truly captivating talk with Malia.
In addition, as Michelle strives to grasp the distinct characters of her daughters, she once shared the dating advice she believed would be helpful for both of them.
She clarified during a recent podcast that she attempts to keep others receptive to new encounters. Previously, she had accumulated a wealth of dating experiences, which allowed her to compare Barack favorably when he entered the picture.
To clarify, Michelle Obama, who married Barack in 1992 at the age of 61, underscored the importance of her previous dating experiences, as they helped her understand her preferences and dislikes in romantic partnerships.
As an ardent admirer, let me share what she elaborated – “Barack and I reminisce about our romantic journeys,” she put forth. “Our aim is to enlighten the younger generation with our stories. In essence, my advice would be to date extensively, and if a date turns sour or an experience proves unfavorable, promptly move forward. If it’s not clicking, switch to the next one.
Indeed, as it turns out, Michelle-having initially crossed paths with the former president while both were in their professional beginnings, Michelle as a first-year attorney and him as a law student-was an embodiment of the transformative power that comes from seizing opportunities and offering people a chance to shine.
She mentioned that everyone was excitedly discussing him, referring to Barack’s first day at her firm. It seemed that all the senior lawyers from the Harvard recruitment team couldn’t stop talking about the exceptionally talented first-year law student from Harvard who was incredibly intelligent.
As a devoted admirer, I mused aloud, “Gosh, I wonder about the origin of the name Barack Obama. In my mind, he seemed like an unassuming, studious individual, a bit like the typical bookworm.
Initially, Michelle wasn’t confident about any romantic spark between them, but soon enough, their relationship blossomed swiftly.
She recalled that during our meal together, there was a strong connection. We engaged in deep conversation for quite some time, and it felt like there was a subtle but noticeable mutual attraction starting to develop between us.
For more of Michelle and Barack’s most candid confessions, keep reading.
It’s not to suggest that Barack Obama, a Harvard Law student at the time, wasn’t smitten with Michelle Robinson, the mentor assigned to guide him during his internship at her Chicago law firm in the summer of 1988. However, their relationship didn’t immediately blossom into love.
He just hadn’t thought about what came next all that much.
Michelle found marriage to be inevitable, the natural progression in a relationship as profound as ours, as per her former president’s account in his 2020 memoir A Promised Land. On the other hand, given my background with a mother who had multiple marriages that didn’t endure, formalizing a relationship never seemed crucial to me.
They tied the knot Oct. 3, 1992.
As a devoted supporter, I stood by Michelle during the 2008 presidential race, cheering Barack on every step of the way. Yet, behind the scenes, I found myself secretly hoping he wouldn’t run for office at all – my dear husband included.
According to him, his wife said, ‘I’m afraid the answer is no. I don’t want you to run for president.’ In a moment of exasperation, she added, ‘Oh, Barack, when will it be enough?’
In the “Wild Card” podcast by NPR in June 2025, Michelle referred to their achievements as “our joint aspiration,” acknowledging that she sometimes reluctantly agreed with this characterization, suggesting a struggle or resistance.
In her 2018 memoir “Becoming”, Michelle expressed that she had faith in her husband yet concealed a troubling notion, one she hadn’t been prepared to disclose: She backed him in his campaigning efforts, but also harbored a belief that he might not ultimately succeed.
During his conversation with Stephen Colbert in November 2020, the former president admitted that he has not completely managed to escape the consequences of a decision – running for presidency shortly after a challenging Senate race. This choice led his family through an unusually stressful and difficult period.
He continued by saying that Michelle remained annoyed with him over the incident, and this anger would resurface periodically, lasting throughout the entire eight-year period.
In simpler terms, when Michelle’s husband got into politics and became a member of the Illinois state legislature in 1997, the demands of his schedule started putting strain on their marriage.
As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase that quote as follows:
“In 2018, when I spoke with Oprah for Elle, I confessed that I felt like a leaf caught in the wind. Now, juggling two children, I find myself trying to keep everything afloat while my partner is frequently away on work trips between Washington and Springfield.
After that, there were tasks we needed to tackle together, as a couple, she explained. This involved counseling sessions to help us navigate through these issues.
In 2015, Lin-Manuel Miranda showcased a song from his upcoming blockbuster musical, “Hamilton,” at the White House. The performance was so remarkable that the president claimed it needed to be heard to be believed.
Upon discovering that Lin was crafting a hip-hop play about Alexander Hamilton, Barack penned in “A Promised Land,” “We offered polite encouragement but harbored quiet doubts, until he took the stage, began rapping, and the crowd erupted in wild enthusiasm.
Following Donald Trump’s initial inauguration in 2017, Michelle expressed feeling the need to maintain her composure in her book “Becoming.” Unwilling to endure such emotions once more, she decided not to repeat the experience.
One significant choice I made this year was to remain at home instead of attending various events like funerals, inaugurations, and other gatherings that were expected of me,” said Michelle, who chose not to attend Jimmy Carter’s state funeral in January 2025, as reported on ‘Wild Card’. She accepted the controversy that followed her decision but emphasized that she stood firm in her choices and did not regret it.
In a conversation with Rachel Martin on “Wild Card”, Michelle shared that her husband might find it morbid, but at the age of 61, if things go well and she is fortunate, she has approximately 25 more summers left. She emphasized the importance of being aware of time, as they have been away from work for a decade now.
She expressed a desire for the coming ten years to pass gradually, saying, ‘You know why? I adore life! I cherish my life… However, I fear that if I don’t stay aware, the years will seem to vanish.’
Instead, Michelle intends to ensure that her daughters Malia Obama and Sasha Obama avoid another round of growing up in the public eye as potential future first family members.
In a March 2025 episode of Kylie Kelce’s “Not Gonna Lie” podcast, she stated: “When someone inquires if I would ever consider running, my response is always a firm ‘no.’ It’s crucial to understand the sacrifices children endure when their parents are in leadership positions. If you don’t know that, then you haven’t fully grasped the situation.
Michelle remarked, “Regardless of my own interest, it’s not a good idea for me to return my daughters to the limelight as they are only just beginning to find their footing. They’ve already had their share of public attention.
In June 2025, Michelle shared her relief on the show, IMO. When Angie Martinez asked why there wasn’t a third child, she humorously responded, “I didn’t want another boy because he would have been just like Barack Obama, and I couldn’t bear the thought of what he might go through.
On Wild Card, a bewildered Michelle responded to the gossip about her marriage ending, saying, “People assume that because we don’t often appear together in public dating scenarios, it means there’s trouble in paradise. But let me clarify: Just because we don’t document every moment on social media doesn’t mean we’re any less of a couple. We’re simply over 60 and prefer our private moments that way.
She also promised that she wouldn’t be demure about it if there was trouble in paradise.
She revealed on the April 2025 episode of the Diary of a CEO podcast that if she were experiencing issues with her husband, they would be widely known. He would be aware too, as would everyone else. She emphasized that she’s not a martyr and would address problems openly, stating, “Here’s what he did.
In July 2025, Barack humorously mentioned during his wife and brother-in-law’s podcast that the old gossips were now a thing of the past since “I was given another chance.
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2025-08-20 19:17