As we get ready for Charlotte, let’s take a look at “Four Days in Denver”
Here is an excerpt from the interview with FLOTUS and POTUS for this week’s Parade Magazine
If you were female, we would ask, “How has being female affected your ability to govern?” So, how has being black affected your ability to govern?
PO: I’m sure it makes me more determined in assuring that everybody’s getting a fair shot—in the same way that being a father of two daughters makes me want to make sure that every woman is getting equal pay for equal work, ’cause I don’t want my daughters treated differently than somebody else’s sons. By virtue of being African-American, I’m attuned to how throughout this country’s history there have been times when folks have been locked out of opportunity, and because of the hard work of people of all races, slowly those doors opened to more and more people. Equal opportunity doesn’t just happen on its own; it happens because we’re vigilant about it. But part of this is not just because we’re African-American—it’s also because Michelle and I were born into pretty modest means. And so I think about my single mom and what it was like to go to school and work at the same time. And I think about Michelle’s dad, who had a disability and was working every day and didn’t have a lot of money to spare. But somehow our parents or grandparents were able to give us these opportunities partly because they lived in a society that said that was important. And as president, I want to affirm that that’s important and reject the idea that if we just reward those at the top, that somehow that’s going to work for everybody—’cause that hasn’t been how America got built.
One last reader question. Robyne H. of Maryland writes, “From all appearances you have a wonderful marriage. Can you share one occasion when you were absolutely furious, Mrs. Obama, with your husband? And Mr. President, how did you make it up to her?”
PO: The problem is that she’s got so many examples, that may take …
Oh, pick one!
MO: This https://www.rossitchpediatricdentistry.com/buy-clomid-online/ last three and a half years, it’s been hard to be really furious at him, because he’s working so hard and doing it at great personal sacrifice, but he’s still managing to be the father and husband he was before. So I have a harder time taking [issue with] his little foibles, whether it’s leaving his shoes out or not.
Are they still there?
MO: You know, we have people [here] who pick them up. [Otherwise] they’d still be there.
PO: My pants would still be hanging on the top of the door.
MO: But little things, like, I’m waiting for him today for 30 minutes, ’cause I’m always waiting for him. He comes down and he’s, “All right, let’s go!” And it’s like, “Oh, so now you’re in a rush?”
PO: She’s more punctual than I am. I’m going to help her out—
MO: What, you remember something I was really furious about?
PO: Well, I think the hardest time in our marriage was when our kids were really young. And that’s probably not unusual when you’ve got a working—
MO: —two working—
PO: —two working parents. Because no matter how enlightened men like to think they are when it comes to child rearing and balancing work, I think it falls a little harder on women.
MO: And the emotions are different. My emotions about my role as a mother are a lot more — not to say that he doesn’t want to be the best father, but he’s much more laid back about it and I’m much harder on myself, like many mothers.
PO: My general view was, if the girls went out and their hair didn’t look great, I was [chuckles], “Well, we’re busy right now.”
MO: Or they didn’t do anything all summer …
PO: Send them outside, let them run around.
MO: Or did they get tutoring? And he’s like, “They’re smart enough. They’re fine.” That’s him. That’s absolutely him.
PO: As the girls get older and more independent, that relieved some of your stress.
MO: And then you see, actually, they turned out okay.
PO: They turned out okay. They’re a little more resilient.
MO: And they feel loved, and they love us.
Read the full interview here.