Marian Robinson (Michelle's Mom) is moving to the White House. What's going through her mind?

[Faygo Kid]

Hard working woman who raised a family in Chicago; husband ill much of the time. Knows hardship; could not possibly dream 30 years ago of anything like this, particularly as an African-American.

And now this. Congratulations, Marian. You deserve it.

". . . The Obamas will come to Washington with a fifth family member, one who has so far remained mostly out of the spotlight. Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother, is a widow and retired bank secretary who has served as the girls' chief caretaker during their mother's frequent absences. Aides say they do not yet know whether Robinson will formally move into the White House, but it is certain that Malia and Sasha's grandmother will be near at hand and available when her parents have to travel.

"They are extremely close to their grandmother," Matthews said. "That's why Michelle has been able, with the ease and peace of mind, to be gone."

http://www.mercurynews.com/nationworld/ci_10909675

[Xipe Totec]

1. Truly wonderful nt

[Cirque du So-What]

2. I hope she takes up residence right in the WH

It would go a long way toward easing the girls' adjustment to their new situation. After all, their parents are going to be very busy those first few months.

[JBoy]

3. That's awesome. They are a true American family.

[sandnsea]

4. A First Gramma

I kind of like that idea!

[MassLiberal]

6. First Gramma!

I love it! Love this family.

[rurallib]

10. yet again I have tears in my eyes.

First Gramma - a whole new spin on one of the oldest relationships in humanity.
edit to add:
I have often wondered if Michelle's parents wondered if her young man would ever amount to anything. You know like most parents do. Was he really good enough for their daughter?

[ProgressiveEconomist]

31. Better than 'First Mother-in-Law'

[applexcore]

36. I say we all send "Thank you" cards to first Grandma when they move in

For taking care of the kids during the campaign and raising such a wonderful person- Michelle.

[la la]

5. that is great!

being a grammy who is called on a lot, i'll say she deserves it! and won't it be great for the girls?

I think it's fantastic!

[elleng]

7. Great news!

Wonderful decision!

Hope we in DC will get to see them, and that they will get to see us, from time to time!

[ananda]

8. First Grandma. I love it!

What a family!

[anneboleyn]

9. I hope she gets to move in. The First Grandma!

[MadMaddie]

11. This is truely representative of America!

How many people do you know that have a Grandmother living with them. I know my family did.

[Olney Blue]

12. The girls will have their grandma AND a puppy!

[AnotherMother4Peace]

13. What a good family - First Gramma - so wonderful for the kids. nt

[bleever]

14. Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson:

we love your family more than you can know.

[greenmutha]

42. .

:thumbsup: :hug:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bE1dz6_u2JI

[shireen]

15. Grandmothers RULE!

My grandma was the best friend I've ever had. I can so relate to Obama's relationship with his maternal grandmother; I was hoping she would live to see him elected and felt so glad to hear she had cast an absentee ballot for him. Can you imagine what it feels like to cast a vote for your grandson, to become POTUS? Amazing. I also feel very happy for his Kenyan step-grandmother, who is just bursting with pride and joy in this wonderful photo i found on Huffington Post.

Edited to add ... did you see what happened when the families were on stage last night? Joe Biden pulled his mom to the front of the stage to show her off to the crowd. Obama followed with Michelle's mother. It was a very sweet moment.

[BuelahWitch]

18. Indeed they do!

So glad to hear the Obama girls will have family to look after them instead of just some nanny!

[adigal]

23. My Grandmother, too - my best friend ever

I miss her so much.

[Liberalboy]

16. Oh please let her have the Lincoln Bedroom!!!!!

:-)

[Veruca Salt]

29. I was thinking the same thing!

:thumbsup:

[Metric System]

30. Ooh, creepy. Isn't that the supposedly haunted room? I don't really believe in that sort of thing

but even so, I don't think I'd want to live in that room.

[Sequoia]

58. I think Lincoln's ghost will now now rest in peace.

He'll be glad they are there and hopes the girls, (Biden's too) will jump up and down on the bed with glee.

[Omnibus]

41. What a GREAT idea!

Very symbolic.


If I were snarkier, I would say, "Shouldn't a black woman be sleeping in the Jefferson bedroom?"

But I won't go there. O8)

[Raine]

17. That's just TERRIFIC

that will be so special to have extended family in the WH, I'm sure the girls will love having their grandma there. :-)

[Cha]

19. Yes, it really just wouldn't

work without First Gram.

[grantcart]

20. speaking of grandmothers

we have a little group of Republican grandmothers who walk their dogs at the same time as I do. Over time I got them to be real Obama supporters and everyday we would meet and tell me who said what about Obama at their Bridge game. The eventually came to hate Hannity - who they loved at the beginging of the campaign.

Today we met for a minute and everybody was just so happy. Somebody remarked how beautiful the Obamas looked and I said the strangest thing is that the "Obamas" are the most 'normal' family to live in the White House in many many decades.

This idea that the Obamas are square and normal and as much like the 'Cleavers' as anybody since Teddy Roosevelt struck us all as funny as hell.

[LynneSin]

21. And Marian will have company with Joe Biden's mother Jean.

Jean has been living in a converted Garage on the Biden property (it was beautifully done) but more than likely Jean will also be moving to Washington DC.

[JaneQPublic]

26. Did you see Jean and Marian together last night on stage?

It was one of my favorite moments. Barack collected first one and then the other to go up front on the stage and greet the throngs of people. Although each woman seemed reluctant, Barack took them up anyway. I thought it was a very sweet gesture, especially in light of the fact that he recently lost his grandmother and Jill Biden lost her mother a few weeks earlier. He wanted to make sure the remaining moms got to take part and share in the the applause.

[SallyMander]

27. Anyone have pics of this?

I'd love to see them. :D

[JaneQPublic]

44. Here ya go

Took me long enough to find a pic, but here it is:

[SallyMander]

48. Aww, THANKS!

That is too sweet!!! :D

[Are_grits_groceries]

55. I love Biden's Mom too.

She looks beyond thrilled for her "Joey."

[Sebastian Doyle]

22. It's a big house. Why would anybody have a problem with Grandma moving in?

It's great that she can stay close to the kids. Especially since they just lost their other Grandma :(

[Dukkha]

24. now that's traditional family values!

taking care of all of tyour famiily rather than peddling them off

[stillcool]

25. I love the end of that article..

But in one respect, the Obamas' family life will now become much easier. Since 1996, when he was elected to the Illinois State Senate, Barack Obama has spent long periods away from home, and by his own admission, he is a part-time parent at best.

His election will help realize a long-held, cherished family dream: For the next four years, the Obamas will finally eat dinner together.

[roguevalley]

28. let her have the Lincoln bedroom. :) Maybe she and the family

will see his ghost. That would be awesome.

[smoochpooch]

32. I'd love to be there the first time a stranger asks , "Oh, you have a son-in-law? What does he do?"

"He's the President of the United States."

[slampoet]

50. BINGO!!

[Terran]

33. Oh this is too cool.

You know Mrs. Robinson is gonna be up in the WH baking sweet potato pies for the family, and the staff too probably. :-)

[SweetieD]

34. Cute story.

[gauguin57]

35. Well, that is one foxy First Grandma.

Did you see how FABULOUS FABULOUS FABULOUS she looked during after Barack's victory speech? One person I was watching it with thought she was some 40-something SISTER of someone, rather than Michelle's mom! LOVELY woman!

http://www1.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Barack+Obama+Holds+Election+Night+Gathering+FcuvQV8b9tcl.jpg

[Tinksrival]

40. The nightmare is really over

This is one Grandmother's influence we can do without.

[Virginia Dare]

46. I hope they don't let the dragon lady anywhere near her..

can you imagine what vitriol she would spew?

[snooper2]

64. Eww..can't believe you added that disgusting POS

to this thread

:puke:

Isn't she off this mortal earth already???

[Virginia Dare]

45. She's a beautiful classy lady..

what a welcome addition to Washington.

[qanda]

37. That is excellent

What a wonderful family this is!

[AtomicKitten]

38. Obama clearly cherishes what little family he has.

The Indian tribe (below) adopted Obama into their tribe. It seems America has wrapped its arms around him too.

[redstate_democrat]

47. This is so beautiful

:cry:

[kwolf68]

39. Dare I say it?

FAMILY VALUES

[jazzjunkysue]

43. It's going to be such a happy west wing.Marion will be the WH mascot.

Wonderful. Our president will be loved and supported. And he won't be trying to win his father's approval.

Having grandma around will let Sasha and Malia have more friends over. Can you imagine the sleepovers?? The girls will be sneaking around the white house in the middle of the night, playing hide and seek in all those historic rooms.

This is starting to make up for alot of our loss and shame in our governors.

[Bucky]

52. Maybe "mascot" isn't the word you're looking for. This is really an appeal to Red States

Extended families living together in a rental unit... I think they're already trying to appeal to trailer park voters in the South and thus put all the Dixicrat states into play in the 2012 election.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

59. It's a tradition among hispanic famlies, that the parents live with their children

and take care of the children.

My great grandma was an orphan, but she lived with my grandma, who then lived with my mom and when my mom retires she will live with me. We don't have retirement accounts. You put everything into your kid, and your kid is your retirement account.

[XemaSab]

49. Here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb6ErLPt4t8

[Bucky]

51. But remember all the trouble it caused when Aunt Harriet moved in with Bruce & Dick

Now all of Obama's enemies will use her as a ploy to uncover Barack & Michelle's secret identities.

[Blue Diadem]

53. Oh oh oh...that makes me cry.

I was asking my husband earlier today what would become of the girls' Grandma when they move into the White House. She's played such an important role in their lives that I thought they might move her there too.

:bounce: I'm so happy for Grandma Robinson and the two little girls.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

54. That is just beautiful!

:cry:

[codjh9]

56. I think it's great, and about time!

[kwenu]

57. I think it would be absolutely wonderful to have a First Grandma in the White House!

[Avalux]

60. I was hoping grandma would go along and live with them!!

She spends a great deal of time taking care of the girls now, it's only fitting she would continue to be a part of their daily lives.

:hi:

[Medusa]

61. Will Biden's mom move with them too?

I think she either lives with them now or lives in a guest house on their property.

[Fleshdancer]

62. Sounds like a big win for everyone involved

The more family around the kids, the better in my opinion...not just in this case, but as a general rule.

[frickaline]

63. This hadn't even occurred to me - very cool! /nt