Michelle Obama reflects on grief as she endures first Mother's Day since her mom's death

Daily Mail​

11-05-2025

Michelle Obama has opened up about her grief as she reflected on enduring her first Mother's Day since her mom's death.
The 61-year-old took to Instagram with a clip from her IMO podcast - which she hosts alongside brother Craig Robinson - to discuss the impact of losing mom Marian Robinson in May last year.
She died at age 86 with Michelle confirming her passing on social media at the time.
In the new video shared to Instagram, the mom-of-two candidly opened up about her grief and explained: 'As many people know, we lost our mom and just sorting through how you feel because the first instinct is to say "I feel good, I'm great, I'm good."'
Craig agreed, adding: 'Mom was so beloved by so many people from your orbit - which is gigantic - and my orbit and her own orbit.
'We spent a lot of time managing everybody else's grief and we really haven't talked much about our own grief so I'm happy we are able to do this now.'
Michelle - who shares Malia and Sasha with former president Barack Obama - continued: 'You put it well. You find yourself managing other people's grief because particularly with somebody like mom that was in her own right amazingly - after all these years - she was a famous person.
'She meant a lot to so many people - people who knew her well, friends who grew up with us when we were little kids to... I got letters from heads of state and ambassadors. She became a world figure. That's a pretty amazing thing.'
Reflecting further in the caption, Michelle candidly wrote: 'This Mother's Day will mark my first without my mom.
'My mom was many things: whipsmart, fiercely independent, kind, courageous, and determined. She was incredibly forward thinking, and was someone we could always count on to be there for us, especially during those White House years.
'For Craig and me, reflecting on her life on the IMO podcast has become a true form of solace, and we hope the episode will be helpful to those experiencing the same.
'To all those who are missing their mom or mother-figure a little extra today, we send you so much love.'
It comes after Barack, 63, took to Instagram earlier in the day to share a black-and-white snapshot of Michelle alongside their two daughters.
He wrote a simple caption on both Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) that read: 'Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing moms and mother-figures!
'Michelle, the girls and I are so lucky to have you in our lives. We love you.'
It comes just days after Michelle opened up about losing her own mother on her IMO podcast with brother Craig Robinson.
She exposed the brutal reaction from Barack after the death of mom Marian, as she explained: 'I guess if anything, with mom's loss, I think that - thank God you're my big brother and I have a husband who's older.
'Barack was saying, you know, "Well, you're next up." And I was like, "I'm not really ready to be next up," I told him, "You're next up and Craig is next up." I delegate that power to you.'
'That's really when you become an adult, is when your parents are not in that spot of managing and maintaining,' she continued.
'But that's going to happen at some point where each of us, in our own lives, we become the parent, we become the convener, we become the glue.'
The brother and sister duo admitted on the show that the positions were 'big shoes to fill' after losing both of their parents.
'It's a major shift in your life,' Michelle continued. 'I don't care how old you get. Mom and dad are mom and dad. Even when I was taking care of mom, I still gotta listen to her. I can sort of boss her around but in the end, she's my mother.'
'There's a comfort level in that, knowing that no matter how wise or experienced I am in the world, mom always knew more.'
Michelle has recently set the record straight after speculation over the former first couple's recent public appearances during a podcast with entrepreneur and investor Steven Bartlett.
'If I were having problems with my husband, everybody would know about it,' she said, laughing.
Bartlett mentioned how the media had speculated about pair's future after she skipped out on Donald Trump's inauguration.
The host said her absence left some believing 'there's an issue with you and Barack, there's a divorce coming.'