I just love Michelle Obama more and more every day....

[FM123]

Of course she was a magnificent First Lady, but more than that she was (and will always be) a magnificent First Mom.

"Being a mother has been a masterclass in letting go. Try as we might, there’s only so much we can control," Michelle started, when asked what she learned from motherhood. "And, boy, have I tried—especially at first. As mothers, we just don’t want anything or anyone to hurt our babies. But life has other plans. Bruised knees, bumpy roads and broken hearts are part of the deal. What’s both humbled and heartened me is seeing the resiliency of my daughters. In some ways, Malia and Sasha couldn’t be more different. One speaks freely and often, one opens up on her own terms. One shares her innermost feelings, the other is content to let you figure it out. Neither approach is better or worse, because they’ve both grown into smart, compassionate and independent young women, fully capable of paving their own paths."

"Motherhood has taught me that, most of the time, my job is to give them the space to explore and develop into the people they want to be," Michelle continued. "Not who I want them to be or who I wish I was at that age, but who they are, deep inside. Motherhood has also taught me that my job is not to bulldoze a path for them in an effort to eliminate all possible adversity. But instead, I need to be a safe and consistent place for them to land when they inevitably fail; and to show them, again and again, how to get up on their own."

read more:
https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/michelle-obama-duchess-of-sussex-interview-2019

[NNadir]

1. I know she's talking about mothers, but a father of young men in their twenties...

...she speaks for me as a father as well.

[Johnyawl]

4. the truth she speaks is for all parents...

...no matter the age of your offspring. I have 2 boys, now in their 30s, both successful (the oldest is tattoo artist, the younger is a veterinarian). I still have to occasionally remind myself of these truths.

[NNadir]

5. I especially enjoyed the part of the piece in which she spoke of the difference...

...between her daughters:

One speaks freely and often, one opens up on her own terms. One shares her innermost feelings, the other is content to let you figure it out. Neither approach is better or worse, because they’ve both grown into smart, compassionate and independent young women, fully capable of paving their own paths

Substitute "young men" for "young women" and she's described my sons to a T.

[CTyankee]

2. Please don't make me start crying all over again...

I mourned, how I mourned, over losing that family from the WH for MONTHS. I cried a lot and thought about them all the time and what a loss we suffered and why did this have to happen to ME...and on and on and on.

Then one day I woke up and, while it certainly wasn't OK, I could function better and be ready to do battle with the enemy at hand.

We all had to have our time of mourning and that is healthy.

I'll look back but not in sorrow and grief. I'll look back at a whole lot f tenderness, gentility, and a sense of decency and grace. Bless that entire family for their service to this country.

[Scarsdale]

3. Amen.

They personified EVERYTHING we all hope a First Family would be. Highly intelligent, cultured, classy, caring. All the qualities sadly missing in the grifters who now occupy the WH.

[dlk]

6. Michelle's Wisdom is a Gift to us All

How fortunate we are to have her guidance.

[crazytown]

7. 'One opens up on her own terms'

One of the Obama daughters takes right after Daddy

[Skidmore]

8. I miss them both so much.

So happy I was able to live during those eight years.

[Turbineguy]

9. Who can blame you?