Sasha was joining her mom on the job from the start
Michelle Obama/Instagram
Malia and Sasha Obama were born — both reportedly delivered by
family friend, Anita Blanchard — just before their father's political
ambitions began to really take stride. Michelle Obama revealed to Parade
that when the former President was beginning his journey to the Senate
seat for the state of Illinois, Sasha was still an infant and Michelle
had to bring her to a job interview.
"I didn't have a babysitter, so I took Sasha right in there with me in her crib and her rocker," she explained. "I told my boss, 'This is what I have: two small kids. My husband is running for the U.S. Senate. I will not work part time. I need flexibility. I need a good salary. I need to be able to afford babysitting. And if you can do all that… I can work hard on a flexible schedule.' I was very clear. And he said yes to everything."
"I didn't have a babysitter, so I took Sasha right in there with me in her crib and her rocker," she explained. "I told my boss, 'This is what I have: two small kids. My husband is running for the U.S. Senate. I will not work part time. I need flexibility. I need a good salary. I need to be able to afford babysitting. And if you can do all that… I can work hard on a flexible schedule.' I was very clear. And he said yes to everything."
Sasha was very sick as an infant
Getty Images
Around the same time Barack Obama was seeking a Senate seat,
Sasha was diagnosed with meningitis, and despite his many challenges in
the Oval Office, the former Father in Chief still counts her illness as
the most difficult point in his life. During a 2009 town hall (via Politico), Obama explained that his "precious pea" developed the disease when she was just 3 months old.
"People ask me what was the hardest time in my life — they ask, well what about during the debt ceiling debate and this and that and the other thing. Sasha got meningitis when she was 3 months old. I still remember going to the hospital together and they had to give her a spinal tap. Your world narrows to this very small point. There's one thing you care about and you don't care about anything else."
Ultimately, Sasha pulled through and went on to become the youngest child to reside in the White House since John F. Kennedy was President, according to Today.
"People ask me what was the hardest time in my life — they ask, well what about during the debt ceiling debate and this and that and the other thing. Sasha got meningitis when she was 3 months old. I still remember going to the hospital together and they had to give her a spinal tap. Your world narrows to this very small point. There's one thing you care about and you don't care about anything else."
Ultimately, Sasha pulled through and went on to become the youngest child to reside in the White House since John F. Kennedy was President, according to Today.
They weren't spoiled with riches
Michelle Obama/Instagram
Despite their status as part of America's First Family, the
Obamas made efforts to keep their daughters grounded in reality while
growing up in the nation's capital. One such tactic, the couple
revealed, was to keep their materialism to a minimum. They told People
they didn't give the girls gifts on their birthdays — justifying that
the expenses of the party alone was enough reward for the occasion — and
that they didn't want them to become spoiled.
"They get so much stuff that it just becomes numbing. Malia believes there is still a Santa Claus even though she's a little wary because some of her friends are non-believers. But Malia says, 'Ma, I know there is a Santa because there's no way you'd buy me all that stuff,'" Michelle explained. Their allowance for chores while back in Chicago, too, was pretty slim — they made just a dollar a week for helping out around the house, with obligations like setting the table and picking up their toys. They also had technology and television restrictions to only the weekends while in the White House and were forbidden from having dessert or post-dinner snacks if they skipped their vegetables at supper, Michelle revealed to The New York Times.
Of course, they also weren't denied certain privileges associated with their parents' achievements. The girls were sent to some of the finest private schools in Chicago and Washington, D.C. — the University of Chicago Laboratory School and Sidwell Friends School, respectively.
"They get so much stuff that it just becomes numbing. Malia believes there is still a Santa Claus even though she's a little wary because some of her friends are non-believers. But Malia says, 'Ma, I know there is a Santa because there's no way you'd buy me all that stuff,'" Michelle explained. Their allowance for chores while back in Chicago, too, was pretty slim — they made just a dollar a week for helping out around the house, with obligations like setting the table and picking up their toys. They also had technology and television restrictions to only the weekends while in the White House and were forbidden from having dessert or post-dinner snacks if they skipped their vegetables at supper, Michelle revealed to The New York Times.
Of course, they also weren't denied certain privileges associated with their parents' achievements. The girls were sent to some of the finest private schools in Chicago and Washington, D.C. — the University of Chicago Laboratory School and Sidwell Friends School, respectively.
The Obama girls inspired their dad to run for office
Michelle Obama/Instagram
After his original inauguration, Barack Obama penned an open letter to his daughters in Parade,
highlighting his hopes for their future. In addition to thanking them
for their participation and patience during his campaign, Obama wrote
his aspirations for his daughters that reflected much of his public
policy decisions while in office.
"I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation." In other words, it was Malia and Sasha who ultimately inspired the former POTUS' decision to run in the first place.
"I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation." In other words, it was Malia and Sasha who ultimately inspired the former POTUS' decision to run in the first place.
Bo, the First Dog, was their prize for patience
Getty Images
Their allowances might've been scant, but the Obama sisters did
get a very nice thank you gift from their parents once Barack Obama won
his bid for the White House: their Portuguese Water Dog, Bo. The animal
was a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy and fit the family's criteria for a
desired breed — namely, he is a hypoallergenic dog, which was of chief
importance because of Malia's allergies. While Bo might seem like a nod
to Barack Obama's initials, he was actually named by the Obama sisters
as a tribute to Bo Diddley, since Michelle's father was nicknamed
Diddley.
The First Family added a second dog in 2013 to help fill the void left by Malia and Sasha growing up and not having as much time for Bo (or their parents, for that matter). As Barack Obama told CNN, "Bo was getting lonely because the two other puppies are grown up. And they still have some responsibilities for him, but they're not always around between school, sports practice, all that stuff. And so Bo was getting a little down in the dumps inside the house."
The First Family added a second dog in 2013 to help fill the void left by Malia and Sasha growing up and not having as much time for Bo (or their parents, for that matter). As Barack Obama told CNN, "Bo was getting lonely because the two other puppies are grown up. And they still have some responsibilities for him, but they're not always around between school, sports practice, all that stuff. And so Bo was getting a little down in the dumps inside the house."
They had chores in the White House, too
Getty Images
If Malia and Sasha thought moving to the White House meant
getting waited on hand and foot, boy were they in for a rude awakening.
Michelle and Barack made sure the girls kept a strict schedule that
included an 8 o'clock sharp bedtime and an ordinary routine of daily chores. As detailed by The New York Times,
Malia and Sasha were expected to make their own beds, clean up their
dog's bathroom piles, and get themselves ready in the mornings for
school.
As Michelle explained, "That was the first thing I said to some of the staff when I did my visit [telling staff] 'Don't make their beds. Make mine. Skip the kids. They have to learn these things.'"
As Michelle explained, "That was the first thing I said to some of the staff when I did my visit [telling staff] 'Don't make their beds. Make mine. Skip the kids. They have to learn these things.'"
Malia had some high-security driving lessons
Getty Images
The Obamas might've tried to give their daughters normal teen
lives where and when they could, but there were some things that just
would never be ordinary about their upbringing at 1600 Pennsylvania
Avenue. One such aspect was the experience of learning to drive. Instead
of taking the wheel with one of her parents to learn the ropes, Malia
was actually trained to drive by her Secret Service officials. Michelle told Rachael Ray (via CNN)
that her then-16-year-old daughter was not only taught to drive by her
protection agents, but that Michelle wasn't allowed to join them for the
occasion.
"The Secret Service [taught her], actually, because they wouldn't let me in the car with her," she explained, adding that Malia has on occasion since been able to ditch her security detail to drive on her own. "She always has security around. But in order for her to learn how to drive, she had to drive on her own. So once she was legally permitted to drive on her own, she gets in her car… Driving for Malia, I think, gives her a sense of normalcy, like the rest of her friends are doing. And my kids have got to learn how to live in the world like normal kids."
Fun fact: Malia and Sasha's Secret Service code names were Radiance and Rosebud respectively, while their parents' were Renegade (for Barack) and Renaissance (for Michelle).
"The Secret Service [taught her], actually, because they wouldn't let me in the car with her," she explained, adding that Malia has on occasion since been able to ditch her security detail to drive on her own. "She always has security around. But in order for her to learn how to drive, she had to drive on her own. So once she was legally permitted to drive on her own, she gets in her car… Driving for Malia, I think, gives her a sense of normalcy, like the rest of her friends are doing. And my kids have got to learn how to live in the world like normal kids."
Fun fact: Malia and Sasha's Secret Service code names were Radiance and Rosebud respectively, while their parents' were Renegade (for Barack) and Renaissance (for Michelle).
They were raised to play two sports
Getty Images
Barack Obama might've been a notorious fan of basketball and
football, but his daughters' recreational activity of choice (well, sort
of choice) is tennis. Michelle told crowds at the 2013 U.S. Open that
she nudged her kids onto the court because of her own lack of access to
the sport when she was growing up.
"It's a great way to stay healthy, to stay fit, it's a lifelong sport, it's something I've tried to tell my kids — I forced them into playing tennis, because I didn't want them to be like me, but it's a great way to stay active," she said.
She told The New York Times that one of her rules for the girls was to play two sports — one they enjoyed, and one they didn't pick. "I want them to understand what it feels like to do something you don't like and to improve," she explained. Malia in particular became very good at the sport and was even considered to be on track for a potential college career in the sport.
"It's a great way to stay healthy, to stay fit, it's a lifelong sport, it's something I've tried to tell my kids — I forced them into playing tennis, because I didn't want them to be like me, but it's a great way to stay active," she said.
She told The New York Times that one of her rules for the girls was to play two sports — one they enjoyed, and one they didn't pick. "I want them to understand what it feels like to do something you don't like and to improve," she explained. Malia in particular became very good at the sport and was even considered to be on track for a potential college career in the sport.
Malia's second language has come in handy
Pete Souza/Instagram
When the Obama family made their historic trip to Cuba in 2016, it was Malia who did all the talking. The then-President told ABC News
that his eldest daughter had become so strong with her Spanish-speaking
skills that she actually served as his personal interpreter during the
trip. He explained, "Her Spanish is much better than mine, and I'm
hoping she has a chance to get entirely fluent."
To practice, Malia joined some of her classmates on a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico in 2012, then enjoyed a summer 2016 embassy internship in Spain, before embarking on a secret three-month trip to South America later in the year.
To practice, Malia joined some of her classmates on a trip to Oaxaca, Mexico in 2012, then enjoyed a summer 2016 embassy internship in Spain, before embarking on a secret three-month trip to South America later in the year.
Sasha may have a secret digital presence
Getty Images
Although the Obamas have long championed keeping their daughters'
internet use to weekends and school-related work on weekdays, that
doesn't mean they've altogether been barred from social media. In 2016,
while campaigning for Hillary Clinton, Obama inadvertently revealed that
Sasha may have had a secret Twitter account, by declaring (as a dig at
then-candidate Donald Trump), "Everybody can tweet, but nobody actually
knows what it takes to do the job until you've sat behind the desk. I
mean, Sasha tweets, but she doesn't think that she thereby should be
sitting behind the desk." The Twitterverse was subsequently abuzz with a
search for the lowkey account but she's kept her handle under wraps
(for now).
They're dating now, but there's a catch
Getty Images
Once Malia and Sasha became old enough to start dating, Barack
Obama joked that he wasn't concerned about their safety while in the
company of any gentleman callers for the simple fact that they had their
own Secret Service security details to supervise said dates. But
another reason he wasn't fazed by the idea of his daughters developing romantic relationships is the example set for them by Michelle.
He told WDCJ News (via ABC News), "Michelle, she's such a great example of how she carries herself, her self-esteem not depending on boys to validate how you look or you know, not letting yourself be judged by anything other than your character and intelligence. And hopefully I've been a good example in terms of how I've shown respect to my wife."
He told WDCJ News (via ABC News), "Michelle, she's such a great example of how she carries herself, her self-esteem not depending on boys to validate how you look or you know, not letting yourself be judged by anything other than your character and intelligence. And hopefully I've been a good example in terms of how I've shown respect to my wife."
The Obama sisters have rolled up their sleeves to go to work
After their dollar-a-week chore salary became too little for the
girls to work for, they began taking up real part-time occupations
outside of the White House. Malia interned for HBO's Girls and got to work on the set of the Halle Berry show Extant
as a production assistant, which meant she was often fetching coffee
for the cast and crew while helping to keep the set free of
interference. About the experience of working with the First Daughter,
Berry said, "she is graceful, and lovely, and just charming and
delightful… she's pretty remarkable." Malia's interest in the Hollywood
industry hasn't stopped there, as she will also intern for The Weinstein
Company in New York City for the months leading up to her first year of
college.
Meanwhile, Sasha's first job was working the drive-through window at a seafood restaurant in Martha's Vineyard called Nancy's, a job which included everything from manning the cash register to cleaning tables. The restaurant is reportedly a frequent haunt for her parents when they are in town.
Meanwhile, Sasha's first job was working the drive-through window at a seafood restaurant in Martha's Vineyard called Nancy's, a job which included everything from manning the cash register to cleaning tables. The restaurant is reportedly a frequent haunt for her parents when they are in town.
Malia had a bit of a smoke scandal
Getty Images
Although Malia and Sasha Obama walked away from the White House
with their dignities intact, there were a few scandals to surround Malia
during her stay as the First Daughter. In the late summer of 2016,
rumors swirled that Malia was part of a wild party on Martha's Vineyard
that had to be broken up by police while the family was on vacation in
the area. Just before the incident, she was reportedly caught smoking
marijuana on camera during the Lollapalooza music festival in Chicago,
Illinois.
School always comes first for the Obama sisters
Getty Images
After graduating from high school in 2016, Malia Obama decided to
choose Harvard University for her post-secondary education, but there
was a catch; she was taking a year off before beginning her curriculum.
Her decision to take a "gap year" was met with both praise and
condemnation by outsiders, but the idea was that she would spent a year
after high school engaging in other life experiences and adventures
before becoming a full-time student again.
Also subject to intense speculation was the fact that Sasha was missing from her father's final farewell address in Chicago, Illinois, especially since part of his speech was a touching tribute to his family. As important as the event may have been, priorities are priorities, and Sasha's main job at the moment is being a student at her school. She reportedly had a science test scheduled for the morning after the speech, so she was unable to travel to her home city to witness her father's speech in person. Keeping her curriculum unblemished by her parents' political life is so important, in fact, that the family plans to reside in Washington D.C. until she has finished high school.
Also subject to intense speculation was the fact that Sasha was missing from her father's final farewell address in Chicago, Illinois, especially since part of his speech was a touching tribute to his family. As important as the event may have been, priorities are priorities, and Sasha's main job at the moment is being a student at her school. She reportedly had a science test scheduled for the morning after the speech, so she was unable to travel to her home city to witness her father's speech in person. Keeping her curriculum unblemished by her parents' political life is so important, in fact, that the family plans to reside in Washington D.C. until she has finished high school.
Trump's election put the girls in a slump
Getty Images
He added, though, that he and Michelle have tried to impart them with the wisdom of resilience and that "They have not assumed that because their side didn't win or because some of the values that they care about don't seem as if they were vindicated that automatically America has somehow rejected them or rejected their values."
No comments:
Post a Comment