Michelle Obama - Mom-in-Chief and so Much More
Categories: Just for moms, Money & work, Celeb parenting
Her husband is poised to become the next leader of the United States of America, but did you know that early on in his career, Michelle Obama was actually Barack Obama's mentor? What's been lost in the post-election discussion about the future First Family, is that Michelle Obama was a successful career woman in her own right before the Presidential campaign began. Talk today focuses on her role in the White House as being First Mom or mom-in-Chief, appropriately so, since she's using those terms herself. But the fact that she's been slowing chipping away at her own career over the years to support her husband's shouldn't go without notice.
Slate has an excellent piece on the momification of Michelle Obama. It points to a recent article in the NYT that talks about Michelle Obama in very domestic terms:
"Although she dresses with unusual care -- in both designer clothing and off the rack styles she has become known for -- friends say she has only a certain amount of patience for the domestic arts. She is a get-it-done efficiently Rachael Ray type, they say, not given to elaborate Martha Stewart-like efforts."
Rachel Ray? Martha Stewart? Where's the comparison to Hillary Clinton, who Mrs. Obama has called her role model, and who was also the first First Lady with a post-graduate degree (like Michelle)? The piece never once mentions Michelle Obama's career, or the fact that she will leave it behind to move to Washington.
Though none of us are married to the next President of the United States, I don't think Michelle Obama's situation is all that unique. Even in today's modern work environment, women are still far more likely to put their career-related dreams on hold to support their family. But to see Michelle Obama as simply an extension of her husband, and not the strong, successful, smart, woman she is, well, I think we'd all be underestimating our new First Lady.
What do you think?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SKL 11-14-2008 @ 4:27PM
I am sure she is brilliant and will be doing much more important things than deciding which flowers look best in the red room.
But I also think it's a bit naive to ignore the fact that being the first lady is a huge resume builder. (Could it be any more in our face right now?) She's not chipping away at her career at all, as you suggest.
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Bridget Smith 11-14-2008 @ 4:50PM
I think that what Michelle Obama has the capacity to teach us is how to be a great mom as well someone who is working to make the world a better place. I am hoping that she will use her position as first lady to work for positive change on a larger scale than she has been able to accomplish in Chicago.
Michelle Obama is such a fascinating person with an interesting career history. I do wish the media would do a better job at exploring this side of her.
-Bridget Smith
Author, The Unauthorized Legoland Guidebook
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Derek 11-14-2008 @ 5:19PM
I agree, I think she is destroying her future as a career person and should immediately pick up shop and start over and Barrack and can become a stay at home dad.
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Mary Joseph 11-15-2008 @ 9:15PM
Michelle Obama is someone all women can look up to. I admire her for putting her kids first. It's a known fact that she has achieved a great deal, and that she will continue to help Pesident-Elect Barack Obama in his work. I do look forward to seeing them in the White House. Though I am an Indian living in New Delhi, India, Barack's win affected me deeply - it moved me to tears.
Mary Joseph
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