Sasha and Malia at Home in the White House
Categories: Celeb Kids, Celeb Parenting
Moving is never easy. Leaving behind friends and all that is familiar to start over in a new environment is difficult enough for an adult, but for a child the experience can be downright overwhelming. When everything is new, from school to home to friends, sometimes the best thing to do is hang on to what is old. For Sasha and Malia Obama, what is old is mom's rules.Despite worldwide attention and celebrity status, 7-year-old Sasha and 10-year-old Malia aren't living all that differently in the White House than they did back in Chicago. First Lady Michelle Obama insists that her girls keep to their old routines, including going to bed early and eating healthy. And just because they have staff now doesn't mean they don't have chores. They still make their own beds and pour their own milk in the mornings.
Also softening the blow of leaving Chicago are the toys they brought from home and the live-in presence of Grandma Robinson, Michelle's mother. Having grandma around is not just good for the kids, it's good for mom, too. "Marian and Michelle have an extremely close relationship," said friend Yvonne Davila.
But life in the White House isn't all chores and rules for Sasha and Malia. The perks are amazing the the girls are definitely enjoying them. They spend their free time exploring their new home's secret passageways, meeting the Jonas Brothers and getting bedroom makeovers from a professional interior decorator.
As for Michelle Obama, she's settling right in to her role as First Lady and recently held her very first official White House reception. Appropriately enough, the theme was work and family balance and the guest of honor was Lilly Ledbetter. Ledbetter is responsible for instigating a court case that resulted in an equal-pay law signed by President Obama yesterday.
"Michelle is like, 'Let's have a day at the White House for single moms, military moms, all the working moms who want to chill,' " said Kim Lightford, a family friend. "She's about letting them know it's OK to balance work and family."
While Michelle Obama is clearly getting off to a great start in balancing her role as First Lady and the needs of her children, a little advice never hurt anyone. In your experience, what else can a parent do to help kids adjust to a major move?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Monica 1-30-2009 @ 5:23PM
I'm all up for the conversation on tips to help kids adjust before, during and after a move; my husband is in the Navy and we do our share of moving, right now we're in the process of transferring from San Diego to Spain.
but why must you bring the subject up talking about the Obama girls? I thought the media, and that includes ParentDish, was going to leave them alone. why do we need to hear anything about these girls? they are not public figures, their parents are. they have a right not the topic of conversation, and again why is it important for us to know that they pour their own milk?
seriously, leave these girls out of the media. they deserve privacy.
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Cynthia 2-01-2009 @ 2:50PM
Because the media would like you to think the girls are just All American girls and the Obama’s are just like your next door neighbors….. ..The girls make their own beds and pour their own milk – big deal; 5 year olds can do that. I think the point media is trying to make is the maids do not do “everything” for the girls….. What grabbed my attention was the “designer bedrooms”……..the kids next door do not get that – so the point the media is trying to prove is incorrect…….bottom line they are a politicians’ specifically the President’s daughters and with that is the responsibility of walking a tight line between the “girls next door” and “spoiled brats” living off the tax payers money.
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oh2cute 2-01-2009 @ 9:36PM
I feels sorry for individuals making untrue comments and trynig to be insulting to the President, First Lady, Mrs. Obama, First Mother In Law, Ms. Robinson, and last but not least the First, Obama children. Do you know for sure that they are spoiled brats?? If so, they were spoiled before they were First Children. Are aware the Obama's are Ivy League Graduates, they were "First Class Citizens" (as some would say) before the White House and "tax payers money", The President and First Family, made millions before with their books before the Inauguration. So get your conversation correct before commenting on the First Family, at least in public (on a public forum). You can look at the "First Children" and see that they are accustomed to the elite, prestigious, educated sector and socialization. People need to leave Mr.President and his family out of negative hateful jealous racist conversations. I have never seen such hatred of for anyone before President Obama and his wife "First Lady," Mrs. Michelle Obama. Yes, of course someone 5 years old can make their beds
AND tie their shoestrings, that's not the point. The First Children did not tell the media to print or publish any part of their private and personal life. Instead of many people being jealous and making ridiculous remarks, utilize your time constructively. Organize a group to "Stop Exploiting Innocent Children. I'm serious, the majority are making racial remarks, accusing the First Family of spending TAX PAYERS money. Trust me the President doesn't need OUR money. Let me tell you something, neither does he give a hoot, doesn't care, and is oblivious to the outrageous, racist, jealous comments made by individuals. I agree regarding the privacy of the children, the media is "crazed" and fascinated with the First Family (they were media favorites before the Inauguration.) Maybe you should contact the media, just say you've had enough. I'm not attacking you personally, the media has a way of making one hate their own family member if they think it's going to get them a good rating. That's how reporters and journalists pay their bills, go on vacations, buy the best teeth, and get an entire body make-over. I think there should be a law, therefore making it a crime, misdemeanor, felony or a probation status for attacking "anyone" openly, especially a public figure. I would say this for previous presidents including the Bush's, Carter, and Clinton, etc., etc.
Cynthia 2-02-2009 @ 3:46PM
Oh2cute
Read the statement again “specifically the President’s daughters and with that is the responsibility of walking a tight line between the “girls next door” and “spoiled brats” living off the tax payers money.” What did you not understand – two roads all the white house children have had to deal with – the parents have a tight line to walk in all presidencies…………. President Obama will have the same road. All the presidents have had the same problem in office when the economy is bad – everyone watches what the presidential family spends – especially during a financial downtrend. All the presidents have spent money to redecorate their wing of the white house to meet their needs – some more extravagantly than others, a courtesy that the tax payers do pay for. Check the history of the previous presidents who have redecorated the white house and spent and spent.
You’re only upset because you think I’m a racist. That’s a big assumption on your part to assume I am. I have stated my comments about all the Presidents and their waste throughout the years – why should I stop now. So tell me by your long winded reply – should we turn a back to everything the President does because he is black? No accountability because he is black…………………..I think that is reverse discrimination. Brilliant logic on your part however I daresay that is NOT what President Obama is about.
Nancy Finazzo 3-14-2009 @ 3:19PM
I think the American people are trying to relate to the First Family as "real people." obviously their lives are going to be very different than the average American but then again, a kid is a kid. Our country is in such a mess, I think the people are looking to know about how life is for these two children, as well as their parents, so we can build a sense of connection to our President. How one parents is a direct relation of how that person would be as a leader. I didn't vote for the President but I still find myself reading everything that comes my way about him and his family. Right now, I have to put all my faith in his leadership ability because it is my country, my life, my family, my career and all those I care about who are being affected by decisions he's making. So yes, let us know all we can about his family!
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