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Sasha and Malia - New Home, Same Rules
Filed under: Celeb Kids, In The News
According to the new issue of PEOPLE, the rules are the same in the White House as they were in their home in Chicago.
Sasha, 10, and Malia, 7, are expected to make their own beds, keep their bedrooms spic-and-span and clean up after dinner. And although their grandmother, Marian Robinson, 71, is living in a third-floor guest room to assist the family, the girls are not allowed to take advantage of Grandma's help.
Malia and Sasha Obama
Your Kids Can Hang Out With Sasha and Malia (Kind of)
Just days after the inauguration, the makers of Beanie Babies introduced "Sweet Sasha" and "Marvelous Malia." Now they're valued at over $3,000 for the pair.
Getty Images
Sasha Obama runs down the colonnade as she returns from a February 2009 weekend visit to Chicago with her father, President Barack Obama, to the White House.
Jonathan Ernst, Reuters
Sasha Obama back in DC after a weekend visit to Chicago.
Nicholas Kamm, AFP/Getty
US President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle, daughters Malia and Sasha, and mother-in-law Marian Robinson walk across the tarmac to board Air Force One at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago. Obama and his family were returning to Washington after spending the weekend in Chicago.
Mandel Ngan, AFP/Getty
The First Family walks down the stairs from Air Force One upon they arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland on February 2009.
Jose Luis Magana, AP
Malia, Sasha and the Luckiest Friend Ever Return From Camp David
The Obamas recently jaunted off to Camp David in Marine One, the president's swanky chopper. The girls and an unidentified friend are pictured here after landing on the South Lawn of the White House.
Getty Images
Sasha and Dad Take in a Show
President Obama took a night off from running the nation to hang out with the fam and watch the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform at the Kennedy Center.
Getty Images
Sasha Obama Takes Her Ugly Doll to School
The newest Obama trend, courtesy of Sasha, 7, is an Ugly Doll by the name of Babo's Bird. Photographed with the stuffed toy on her backpack, Sassy Sasha sure is trés-cool for school.
Callie Shell, HO/Change.gov
Malia and Sasha's Excellent Adventure
Malia, 10 (right) and Sasha, 7, wave to the crowd at the 2008 election night rally in Chicago. Politics are child's play to these sweethearts, and we can't wait to see them come into their own.
Jae C. Hong, AP
Sasha and Malia, kissing her mother Michelle, get ready for the first day of school in Washington, DC, as President-elect looks on. The Obama family are staying at the Hay Adams Hotel prior to their move into the White House.
Callie Shell, HO / Change.gov
Michelle Obama has even asked the White House staff not to dote on the girls. "People want to make your life easy, and when you have small kids -- I've explained this to the staff -- they don't need their lives to be easy. They're kids," she says.
However, the girls can roam all around the White House and even hang in the Oval Office whenever they want. "I've tried to encourage them to feel like this whole place is their home," says the First Lady. "We actually had this conversation -- just let us know where you're going."
And if the girls need more tips on life at the historic mansion, they can always rely on former First Twins, Jenna and Barbara Bush, who passed on a few pointers on life in the "magical" kingdom. "Slide down the banister of the solarium, go to T-ball games, have swimming parties..." Or, in Sasha and Malia's case, dust the banisters, wash your play clothes and put away the pool noodles. Kidding.
What do you think of the Obama's parenting style? Are they setting appropriate boundaries, or are they too tough on those girls?
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ReaderComments (Page 2 of 13)
3-02-2009 @ 1:43PM
Joy said...I'm totally with Uly on this. The best thing that could happen to these two girls would be if everyone left them alone and let them live as normally as possible. They are just kids and they didn't ask to live in this fishbowl. I am getting sick of hearing every time they burp or what kind of dog they'll get. Leave them alone people.
3-09-2009 @ 9:07AM
Danal Mullins said...You know as I read these comments I am astounded. These girsl need that traning and it is correct for where they lived and their life style. I have my grand daughter that comes and stays some times. She has duties, enpty the dish washer make her bed and so forth she is 10. I have 2 grand sons 10 and 13, they heplp me in the garden, they hepl planting fruit trees and mowing. They go fishing and hunting up on the fram. The 13 year old I taught to run the tractor and mow, repair fence and feed and hepl with the animal. So lets see what the end results of with these to and then write commets about the Obama.s I am so tired of the rotten freeky mouth people, and lying stealing politians in this country. I have a good suggestion. You voted that is your right, you did not vote that is your right. Now shut yuour mouth and start doing something constructive, instead of just running you mouth.
3-07-2009 @ 6:41PM
Bonnie said...Victoria, Obama has only been in office for one MONTH, Bush had eight YEARS to do something .. try giving Obama a chance first before critizing. I think the Obamas are setting a great example and should applauded, not insulted.
3-07-2009 @ 10:45PM
reinaldo Ortiz said...This one its for you Victoria,From planet Do you comefrom?
your are probably some white trash who grew up in Texas next to the bushes,get it toghether you two legged rat
3-02-2009 @ 3:28PM
SKL said...Too tough? Picking up after oneself?
OK, so this is the first family with "young kids" to be in the White House since the Internet started to be this monstrous gossip machine. So there isn't a lot of precedent. But if you have basic logic and ethics, you have to realize that you shouldn't be harping on every single thing detail of these kids' lives. You'll make them self-conscious and make things a lot more difficult for them, regardless of the choices their parents make for them. Aside from the fact that we have no business to judge these private parenting decisions, one way or the other.
Here's a family apparently trying to do normal, ordinary things and it generates this kind of article. I hate to think what's going to happen when word gets out that one of the girls did something "scandalous" - like pass a note in school. Give them a break. Seriously, there ought to be an ethical rule against this.
Reply
3-07-2009 @ 6:19PM
Clarissa said...I just posted a comment to agree the President & First Lady should parent the way they are, and I agree with your comment whole-heartedly that the internet comments allow too much intrusion into privacy.
3-07-2009 @ 8:14PM
USDJ007 said...Well i think we should STOP talkin about the kids and the STUPID stuff and consentrate more on the US's future! i dont care about Obama's family i really care about mine, i voted for him to see a change in my life and my kids life's. I wanted a better education and want to feel safe that i wouldn't be on the streets the next day. Really, who gives a crab about the dog or there lifes! GOD
What are we kids, avoiding or ignoring the what's happening to the US and talking about someone's family!!?? and there stupid new dog.. please dont go off topic. try to tell us what Obama's plan is, billions and billions are losing their jobs everyday, a Crises!!!! I AM SO PISSED.
3-08-2009 @ 5:47AM
Anne Marie Procario said...I think it's great that Michelle and Barack Obama are trying to instill a sense of responsibility in their children. This is the age for sure.The difficult years are on the horizon- but I get the sense that they will handle the teenagers well. One of the reasons this President is popular is that people feel they can relate to him and his family. I truly disagree with many of his policies especially the pork spending and the "redistributon of wealth" I am against greed and corruption but people that work hard and succeed honestly should not be made to "level things" for the people who did not.
I grew up with nothing but my parents and granparents instilled in me RESPONSIBILITY and EDUCATION. We need to remain a nation of OPPORTUNITY not ENTITLEMENT
3-02-2009 @ 4:53PM
LS said...Seriously, I know that the PD folks loooove everything Obama, but this topic is being beaten to DEATH!!! Every time I open this page, I see some form of question regarding whether the girls should get an allowance and if they should have to pick up after themselves. ENOUGH ALREADY. We've answered this question a hundred different times, in a hundred different ways.
Why not sit back and wait until the family does something newsworthy? So far, all they've done is move from one city to another. (oh, and shoot the deficit through the roof, but that's another topic for anohter day)
Reply
3-07-2009 @ 5:26PM
Confused said...Obama's "solution" is to spend TRILLIONS of OUR taxpayer dollars to implement his socialist agenda. His supposed "stimulus" plan is NOT going to create jobs for th over 5+ million that are unemployed. Notice he went from saying he will "create 3 million jobs" to "SAVE or create 3 million jobs". The question is, how is he going to prove how many jobs he saved? I'll tell you. He will go on TV and simply SAY he did and his supporters and the media will swoon and say how "wonderful" and successful he is." He will destroy this country.
3-07-2009 @ 7:06PM
KG said...L.S. Get a grip. If our country from all the devastation that G.W left behind. He is the one that spent all our money and allowed Wall Street to ruin anyone who is retired. Get a life and listen to other people and do not every forget the song we learned as kids. Jesus loves all the childred, red,yellow, black and white. They are all precious in his site. He did not say anything about what religion they had to be either. Try living on half of a retirement income because your Co. did you it physically. And then charged you for having a stroke on 9/11/01 even though you were employed by them
Leave the Obama's alone. No one asked you to respond.KG
3-07-2009 @ 7:07PM
Kay said...LS Why do you even bother to get involve in this if you do not like it. Or do you have nothing else to do. KG
3-07-2009 @ 7:36PM
Ralph said...Agree that they should be brought up to do their own chores in the bedroom but do not agree that they should not bother their Grandma, why is she living in the White House for?
3-07-2009 @ 8:02PM
Mary said...You don't likethe gossip, the attention and the commentary on the First Family? The solution is simple. Don't read it, don't comment on it. Just look the other way.
3-09-2009 @ 7:06AM
casey said...okay, I agree that they should have to be sort of normal in doing chores and all that but, I mean, come on let them enjoy it while they can!!!
Reply
3-03-2009 @ 6:51PM
alynnjohnny said...I think that instilling responsibility in children is great. Both parents work in most households, these days and children are to spoiled because the parents seem to be trying to make up for not being there for the children. I think the Obama's are doing a great job with their children and will do a great job with this country.
Reply
3-07-2009 @ 3:16PM
Bill said...Chris says why are tax payers paying for obama mother-in-law to live there. No tax dollars are used, he can have anyone staying there....its his cost not the tax payers. Mabe you should be reminded that ALL food for the household comes outof the Presidents pay check, the same as his dry cleaning. The only time tax dollars are used for food is for another dipolmant to be there from another country or when members of congress are there for some special occasion.
3-03-2009 @ 7:46PM
HB said...I applaud the First Lady. She is doing what every minority parent has instilled in their children for generations and I wouldn't expect less. Now many non-minorities will respond, "oh we have the same expectations" and that could be true but considering the stereotypical views of minorities in this country it is a good thing that she is setting an example. As an educator I can witness to the fact that many children come to school with no or much formal training so maybe American parents will see that setting parameters is not a bad thing.
Reply
3-07-2009 @ 3:44PM
Pam said...HB what does your minority have to do with the way you raise your children. Aplaud Mrs. Obama for being a levelheaded parent who wants her kids to grow up to be resposible for themselves and a work ethic. As an educator im sure you see just as many non minority parents who just don't care. I hope you don't take your practice of labeling people by minority into the classroom. It's hard enough to teach our kids to judge people by there own actions not by race.
3-07-2009 @ 4:01PM
LuvNPce99 said...Excuse me?? I am not a minority and I had to do the same things growing up when I was a kid. Clean up after myself, make my bed. I also had to vaccum and dust the furniture. As I got older, I started dinner and did my own laundry. Both my parents worked and my brother and I hepled out.Oh...and we didn't get an allowence either, like some of these kids expect today. I don't think kids should get "paid" for doing chores around the house.
Don't make this a minority thing.