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MONTHLY ARCHIVES
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Michelle Obama on Life as First Lady: Not Missing Cooking, Saving the Hard Jobs for the President
April 23, 2009 12:52 PM
From Sunlen Miller
First lady Michelle Obama spent some time this morning answering questions from children of White House employees as part of national "Take Your Child to Work Day."
"Most important, you don't have to go to school today," the First lady cheered to the kids of White House employees who were spending the day at work with their parents.
Among the 17 questions raised by the children aged 7 to 13 most had to do with the Obama family's new life as the First Family.
Perhaps the most poignant moment of the twenty-minute question and answer session –and the only negative question (besides what would happen if Bo the dog went missing) was when a young boy stood up and asked, "What will happen if something bad happened to our country…..like the earthquake in China. What would you do?"
"Well first of all I would wake my husband up," the first lady responded, "that's the beauty of my job. I'm married to the president and he has to worry about all of that."
Mrs. Obama explained to the boy that the President would likely gather his cabinet and call the leaders of other countries to figure out how to help.
"And I'd go back to sleep and ask him how it turned out," she joked.
LIFE AS MOM-IN-CHIEF
While answering many questions what it's like to be First Lady, Mrs. Obama regularly tired to explain that she is not someone on a pedestal but someone just like their own moms.
"It feels just like probably being a mom. You know, being a worker," Mrs. Obama said when asked what it feels like to be the First Lady, "I consider this a very important job."
"I have the best job being first lady. I think I have the best job in the White House because, like I said, I get to, I don't have to deal with the hard problems everyday. I have some problems that I have to deal with but I get to do the fun stuff. And there’s so much fun to be had with service."
Michelle said because she doesn't get paid she can do whatever she wants to do resulting in a "mix of substantive stuff, things dealing with issues, but also fun stuff."
When asked what she does with her free time, besides walking Bo, Mrs. Obama says likes to "sneak out without telling anybody" and test out places to eat in Washington, DC, like Five Guys restaurant.
"I probably do just what your mom does everyday. I spent my free time with my kids," she added, mentioning that she likes to go to her daughter's soccer games.
But unlike other moms, the First lady has a whole staff to help her out with the cleaning and the cooking, something she said she's lucky for.
"There's a big staff of people who work in the kitchen, and people who clean the chandeliers. So it takes a lot to run the White House and fortunately I don't have to do it by myself."
And a moment of honesty from the First Lady.
“I don’t miss cooking,” she answered, “I’m just fine with other people cooking.”
When asked how much she gets to see the President, Mrs. Obama said compared it to the campaign life that they had just lived though.
“I spend more time with him here in the White House than I did in the last few years,” Mrs. Obama said, adding that her family eats dinner together every night and if she needs to her husband she can just walk into the his office, "I can see him whenever I want.”
BO-MANIA
The kids really wanted to know about all-things Bo Obama, the first puppy.
"Oh he is a crazy dog. He loves to chew on people’s feet,” the First Lady joked and then recalled that the first puppy was being loud last night at 10 pm.
“The President and I came out and we thought someone was out there. And it was just Bo. And he was playing with his ball. And it was like another person was in the house.”
Mrs. Obama said she is spending a lot of time right now doing a lot of dog walking and dog training.
And in responding to a question as to what she would do if Bo got lost, she said she'd be confident in his return.
“I would be very sad first of all,” the First lady says, “he has tags and hopefully somebody would find him and bring him back. But the South Lawn is gated, it’s a very gated area so it would be pretty hard for him to get out.”
THE FIRST HOUSE
The children also wanted to know housing logistics of the White House. The blue room is the First Lady’s favorite room in the White House because it’s one of the brightest with the best view. During sleepovers the First lady answered, the friends of her daughters wither sleep in their room or “upstairs where there is a TV.”
And just where does a First Lady Sleep?
“Its just the master bedroom. It’s just a bedroom it doesn't have a particular name," the First lady laughed at the question.
PUBLIC SERVICE
Mrs. Obama used her opening and closing remarks to the children to address the need for public service, no matter how young – and said that the children should be proud of their parents who are public servants in the White House.
“Working at the White House is an honor and a privilege...none of us could do it without your parents,” the First Lady said, “Your parents got here because they worked hard when they were your age."
The 180 children will spend the remainder of the day at the White House touring the garden, taste testing goodies from the pastry chef, meeting the K-9 unit of Secret Service, and walking in the South Lawn.
“You’ll to see where Barney," the First Lady said accidentally mistaking the last dog occupant in the White House, "not Barney – but where Barney used to run and now where Bo our dog plays.”
April 23, 2009 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (84)
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Mz. Obama, like her husband, is a light thinker.
Posted by: d gee | Apr 28, 2009 3:42:02 AM
she made me laugh, i enjoyed her clever humor, especially "I dont miss cooking" and I looooooooooove her response about waking her husband up to the call of duty and going back to sleep, i thought gosh this woman is funny and clever, i like her.
"first of all i would make my husband up" she is so funny. By the way she never said she wants money or to be paid, what on earth are you clever people listening to. She is on the money!!!!
Posted by: vanessa evelyn | Apr 27, 2009 10:19:07 PM
"The silliness of Ms. Obama's chatter shows us what a treasure we had in Ms. Bush. She was measured, reflective, and modest."
Don't forget heavily medicated.
Posted by: Silky | Apr 27, 2009 1:23:05 PM
Did we all forget she is talking to children ages 7 to 13 during a Take Your Child to Work Day program?? If we keep that in mind perhaps we can understand the context and tone of her statements.
Posted by: camille | Apr 27, 2009 12:47:58 PM
She doesn't get paid for being The First lady not being a mother.
Posted by: cilla | Apr 24, 2009 7:56:31 PM
Posted by: lisalisalisa | Apr 24, 2009 2:49:30 PM posted: "how many times is michelle obama going to make statements implying she should be paid and that first lady is a job?"
Just in case you have not noticed, for many American women, being a mother IS a job and we don't get paid either.
I re-read this article carefully and there's absolutely no "implication" that our First Lady is asking to be paid. You trolls must live in some alternate universe of hate.
Posted by: Center One | Apr 24, 2009 6:39:08 PM
geez, how many times is michelle obama going to make statements implying she should be paid and that first lady is a job? we get that you want money michelle. we totally get it. you're better than all the other first ladies. you really really deserve it.
Posted by: lisalisalisa | Apr 24, 2009 2:49:30 PM
Posted by: Chuck | Apr 24, 2009 2:10:36 PM: "the vast majority of the negative comments are from American racists".
I agree Chuck. I keep reading remarks about our First Lady that are completely off topic and beyond vicious. These bitter, isolated extremists are living in the last century, wondering why the GOP's power slipped away.
Posted by: Center One | Apr 24, 2009 2:46:37 PM
The only reason her proud of America comment lives on is that we are reminded of it every single solitary day since the Obamas move into the Whitehouse, and we will hear it everyday for the next four years(8 if we're lucky), because the republicans will never get over the loss of the Maverick and Ice Queen by an African American. Plain and simple folks, the vast majority of the negative comments are from American racists. We all know it and that is why we enjoy listening to the whining so much.
Posted by: Chuck | Apr 24, 2009 2:10:36 PM
"For the first time in my adult life, I'm proud of my country".
Posted by: whatajoke | Apr 24, 2009 9:36:40 AM
The silliness of Ms. Obama's chatter shows us what a treasure we had in Ms. Bush. She was measured, reflective, and modest.
The press had so much fun criticizing Ms. Palin on her wardrobe and appearance expenditures. Why don't they take a look at Ms. Obama?
Posted by: Terry | Apr 24, 2009 9:15:16 AM
The English composition and grammar in this article is appalling! You just don't expect to see such a poorly-construed report from the likes of ABC. Since I am OCD about spelling and grammar, I am afraid I would have to FIRE the person responsible for the printing of this article in a heartbeat! There are simply too many errors for this employee to be given a second chance. I couldn't even concentrate on the article due to the syntax or lack thereof. Come on ABC...there's nothing worse than shoddiness.
Posted by: 8oaks | Apr 24, 2009 8:02:17 AM
It is easy to see that Michelle has been ordered to do "First Lady" duties and keep her mouth shut. One of these days, her "anti-American" views will pop up again.
Posted by: Mihann | Apr 24, 2009 4:31:56 AM
the first lady is doing a great jo. Keep it up.
Posted by: Atang | Apr 24, 2009 4:14:27 AM
Marie Antoinette was living it up too...
Posted by: Terry | Apr 24, 2009 12:21:23 AM
Pelosi is the worst politician i have ever come across. She simply like spending. God only knows whether Mr. President could implement some good ideas of his, if Pelosi and team is still there.
Posted by: shivaglal | Apr 24, 2009 12:04:54 AM
We are worried about how many times BHO went to pee, number 2 etc. Have a heart please, its just too bad. Be more realistic about the present need of the hour
Posted by: shivaglal | Apr 24, 2009 12:00:34 AM
I just want to know where do they keep Bo day and night?
She called Bo was crazy, he is only a puppy. Of course he likes to play a lot.
You got to love dogs so you'd enjoy to play with them especially puppies.
It's ashame to hear she was not sure if she could keep Bo from running away.
Please take good care of your pet. It's a commitment.
Posted by: catleya | Apr 24, 2009 12:00:12 AM
Liz:
This is exactly the problem we face now. Worrying too much about silly stuff. I dont think you have great hold on language and grammar. After all the basic idea is to communicate your thoughts.
Nobody is jealous. People are watching and they will decide after 4 years. A crane cant be made a crow and vice versa.
Posted by: shivaglal | Apr 23, 2009 11:45:32 PM
Sounds like a bit of jealousy here. Also, grammar terrible here; gotta go.
Posted by: liz | Apr 23, 2009 11:29:12 PM
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