Michelle Obama Reveals Parenting Move Barack Disagreed With—'I Was Wrong'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Michelle Obama revealed a parenting move that her husband, Barack Obama, disagreed with during a recent episode of her podcast IMO With Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson.
Newsweek reached out to Barack Obama's representative via email for comment.
The Context
Barack Obama, 63, was the 44th President of the United States from 2009 until 2017. He and Michelle Obama, 61, wed in 1992 and welcomed daughters Malia Obama, 26, in 1998 and Sasha Obama, 23, in 2001. The family lived at the White House throughout his presidency.
In March, Michelle Obama announced her new podcast with her older brother, Craig Robinson. At the time, the former first lady wrote via Instagram: "Every week, Craig and I will be joined by a special guest as we try to grapple with life's biggest questions."
File photo: From left, Malia, Sasha, Barack and Michelle Obama speak onstage at the TNT Christmas in Washington 2014 at the National Building Museum on December 14, 2014 in Washington, D.C.
File photo: From left, Malia, Sasha, Barack and Michelle Obama speak onstage at the TNT Christmas in Washington 2014 at the National Building Museum on December 14, 2014 in Washington, D.C.
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
What To Know
On the newest episode of IMO, which was released on Wednesday, Michelle Obama and Robinson spoke with soccer star Abby Wambach and her wife, author Glennon Doyle, about the difficulties of parenting.
"Sometimes, I did overkill on the parenting of trying to be normal," Michelle Obama told listeners, before sharing that she once punished Malia Obama for "a whole semester," which Barack Obama questioned.
"It was too much, right?" she polled her guests.
"That's a lot," Wambach said. "Did she do something—like, did she murder a human?"
"No, she didn't murder a human. She did teenage stuff," Michelle Obama said. "But, you know, every time something happened and they're teenagers in the White House, I'm thinking, 'oh my God, this is a sign, they're going to be on the street; they're going to be addicts; and this is really going to mess them up.'"
The attorney added that she "put down the hammer," though it didn't initially start out as a full semester.
"First, it was a month, and then I let her off, and then she didn't make curfew or did something like that."
Michelle Obama noted that she would have "lectures" prepared, but Malia knew exactly what to say. "She understood how to just look me in the eye and go, 'You're right, mom. I don't know what got into me. You're so right.'"
The mom of two felt like she was being "punked," which is why the punishment was extended.
"Barack, he's trying to be the president but also trying to be a good parent, and he's, like, 'Yeah, whatever your mom says,' although he's looking at me, like, 'A semester?!' I was like, 'I said a semester, and I cannot go back on it.'"
Later on in the podcast, Michelle Obama said she "was wrong."
"That was too long. It didn't work, it didn't have the desired effect, but I was learning is my point."
The Chicago native added that she was in a "strange position" where she "didn't have any role models" of people with kids in high school in the White House whose father was the first Black president.
"I was kind of flying blind on this," Michelle added.
Much to the annoyance of Malia, however, Michelle said she went easier on Sasha, who was "rarely on punishment" because she learned from her mistakes.
"The broader point is that sometimes our guilt, our issues, get in the way of our parenting."
What People Are Saying
In the comments underneath the podcast on YouTube, fans thanked Michelle Obama and Robinson.
YouTube user @Jps277 wrote: "Great conversation on real life issues. Thanks Michelle & Craig. We also hope to see Barack on one of these episodes."
@09karolita said: "Some of my favorite people in one podcast!!!!!!!!!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
@juliemack791 posted: "Great topic, great discussion, great advice. I'm really enjoying this podcast with Michelle and Craig."
@amandahiggs3691 added: "Love this podcast & the topics discussed! Thank you."
@Letsgo89765 shared: "Absolutely loving this new avatar of our former First Lady, hearing her voice, her brilliance, her genuine thoughts. She is truly amazing! Love her perspective on every day things that we all think about not just politics. Thank you Mrs. Obama for doing this with your brother, showing what healthy family relationships are like."
What Happens Next
New episodes of IMO With Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson are released on Wednesdays on platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
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