Being First Lady is no easy gig. But being a mom to two curious, adventurous girls while living in the White House, under the world's microscope? That's next-level. Michelle Obama opened up about what it really took to raise Malia and Sasha Obama into grounded adults without letting their normal teenage drama splash across tabloids.
During a candid chat on SiriusXM's "Let's Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa" on April 29, Michelle didn't sugarcoat the reality of parenting while also being a global figure. As her daughters Malia (now 26) and Sasha (23) moved into their teenage years during Barack Obama's presidency, keeping them out of the tabloids became an Olympic sport.
"That was a lot of work," Michelle admitted. "And it got harder as they got older."
The former First Lady explained that her daughters, like any teenagers, wanted to explore. With prom, parties, driving lessons, and college visits, they were living regular lives with not-so-regular stakes.
"They had drinks, they tried smoking, they did all the things," she said. "And every weekend was a nightmare because we had to work to make sure that them being regular teenagers didn't wind up on Page Six."
So, while other parents might worry about their teens sneaking out, Michelle and Barack had to consider the logistics of Secret Service agents trailing behind a date to junior prom.
When Michelle says it took "intentionality" to keep things normal, she means serious planning. Forget spontaneous sleepovers. Even a simple playdate involved security sweeps, background checks, and questions about firearms and drugs. "Imagine setting up the first playdate," she said. "The process of having my children at your house meant that an advance team had to come and question and search your house."
Post-Presidency Parenting
Now that Malia and Sasha are fully grown and living adult lives, Michelle has entered a new phase of motherhood. One where it's less about protecting them from paparazzi, and more about keeping them humble and mentally strong in the shadow of their father's legacy.
"We call that the Obama tax," Michelle joked. "You'll have it the rest of your life, but you also have a lot of benefits."
Her goal now is to teach her daughters that their dad's fame isn't their identity. "This world is not about you. This is just your dad's job," she explained. You don't want them to start thinking they're the center of the universe."
Why Michelle Said "No" to Baby #3
In another recent chat, this time on "Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce," Michelle shared a sweet and very real moment about family planning. It turns out Barack once floated the idea of baby number three. "Barack told me, 'We should have a third,' and I said, 'Oh!'" she recalled with a laugh. "At that moment, I thought, 'I think I've been lucky with these two.'"
Postpartum sadness, long days, early bedtimes, and a deep sense of emotional responsibility shaped Michelle's decision to stop at two. "I would look at them and think, 'Oh my God, they only have me. I feel so bad for them,'" she admitted, reflecting on the weight of motherhood.
Even now, she values her alone time just as much as she did during those early parenting years. "A couple of hours without anyone asking me for anything after dinner is something I really appreciate," she said.
From First Lady to Podcast Host
Michelle has clearly entered her most open and honest era yet. Between launching The IMO (In My Opinion) Podcast with her brother Craig Robinson and dropping truth bombs about everything from mom guilt to secret-service-monitored prom nights, she's letting us see the mother behind the headlines.