In a refreshingly honest discussion, Michelle Obama peeled back the curtain on what parenting really looked like for her family—both in and out of the White House. Speaking at Parents magazine’s Next Gen Awards, the former First Lady, 61, dismissed the myth of perfect parenting, sharing how she learned to embrace the chaos of raising Malia and Sasha with husband Barack.
“Social media makes it seem like everyone else has it figured out,” Michelle observed. “But we all have moments where we feel like we’re failing.” She encouraged parents to extend themselves grace, noting that children—like adults—will have highs and lows. “The journey isn’t about getting everything right,” she said. “It’s about showing up through all of it.”
Michelle revealed how she and Barack intentionally created structure for their daughters amidst the whirlwind of presidential life. From mundane chores to part-time jobs, these routines helped ground the girls. “They needed to understand hard work and accountability,” she explained. Today, seeing her daughters thrive as young women fills her with pride: “They’ve developed this incredible resilience—they know the spotlight follows them, but they don’t let it define them.”
The conversation took a humorous turn as Michelle recounted negotiating parenting duties with Barack. “Just because he was President didn’t mean he got a pass on teacher conferences,” she joked, emphasizing their shared commitment to hands-on parenting. She also spoke about overcoming initial hesitations to form friendships in Washington. “I realized my girls needed to feel like they belonged somewhere,” Michelle reflected. “That meant we all had to be brave about building connections.”
