Michelle Obama is currently visiting countries in Asia as part of her work supporting girls’ education worldwide. Jenna Bush Hager has been traveling with Michelle and interviewed her for Today. During the interview portion that aired Monday, Michelle gave her thoughts on the impeachment proceedings and said that the country will be OK. She also talked about getting to travel more now that she and President Obama are officially empty-nesters. People has more of Michelle’s comments to Jenna about bringing Sasha to college. Michelle, President Obama, and Malia brought Sasha to campus, where she’s living with roommates:
Asked by Today co-host Jenna Bush Hager if there were tears at the drop-off, Mrs. Obama, 55, said “there were.”
But “we were really good about it,” she added in an interview that aired Tuesday. (The Obamas have asked to keep private where Sasha, 18, is enrolled.) “We didn’t want to embarrass her because, y’know, she had roommates.”
It was later in the day, however, that the poignancy of the moment really struck, Mrs. Obama said.
Mrs. Obama recalled on Today: “After lunch, when we said that final goodbye, when we got into a car — me and Barack and Malia, who was there with us — and then Sasha drove off on her own and said that last goodbye, that’s when we were like [crying noises].”
With a laugh, Mrs. Obama re-enacted a few of their sniffles.
“I’m excited for my girls to grow up and to become independent,” she told Hager, with whom she has been in Vietnam this week spotlighting support for girls’ education. “But it is — you feel a little melancholy that they will never be the little ones that sit on your lap and listen to your every word and look at you adoringly. Those days are over.”
The Obamas are choosing not to disclose where Sasha is going to school, although it’s been reported already. I can’t imagine how difficult it is to be a college student in a fishbowl. College is a chance to possibly be on your own, to really embrace your own autonomy and figure out more of who you are and what you think you might want to do during the next phase of your life. I’m sorry for anyone who has to do that while being constantly watched and scrutinized by people.
This is a really sweet story about drop-off, from Michelle, too. I don’t think my parents ever cried when they brought me to campus. Maybe they waited until after they left, like the Obamas. I got a bit sad when they’d leave every year, but then I’d get back into my routine with my friends, and everything was fine. I loved college, and would go back in a heartbeat. I hope that Sasha loves her time at college too!
Watch part two of @MichelleObama’s interview with @jennabushhager about dropping her youngest daughter off at college, the 2020 election and her special friendship with former President George W. Bush. pic.twitter.com/wz9ZBAtpG6
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 10, 2019
Photos credit: Getty and via Instagram
No…the country will NOT…be “okay”…
The country has NEVA been…”okay”…
I can’t….
So, why stay here? Not being Trolly, I am genuinely asking. If it is and has “always” been so bad, why not leave? And where could you go that would be better?
Well not everyone can leave, Bess, or should I say, Karen. It takes money. More than that, if you have children, it would take uprooting them. That’s a whole other kettle of fish.
A lot of places are better. Enjoy your Fascism.
Want to take your question in good faith, but if you’re really “not being trolly”, then what does your question accomplish? We have a lot of good here, and a lot of bad. If you can’t discuss the bad without being answered with whataboutism instead of a real conversation, then you’ll never make strides towards fixing it.
You can love something, and still want it to be a better version of itself.
What would that solve? Your country is your country and all its inhabitants should be working towards a common good and solutions to its problems. Moving doesn’t solve anything.
This comment is not about Michelle, but about all of the people I see saying that the country will be fine. Where do they get that from? I’m sorry but there is no way to know that right now. There really is not.
Am I mistaken or is only Hillary CLinton saying she’s very worried? Out of our luminaries or whatever. Right? I am literally making plans that the first 3/4’s of 2020 will be me visiting Canada, scoping out different parts of it. Literally. That’s what I’m doing. Because come Nov, I am out if this election goes the wrong way. I’m out. I did four years. I won’t be around for when things get really dangerous.
I’d also say Maxine Waters keeps it real and fought for impeachment from day one. I love her (and Hillary). Your Canadian plan is certainly one I’d consider if possible, but I can’t for many reasons.
I know, I am really fortunate in that I built a business that is not large by any means, but enough to afford me some privileges, one of which would be relocating. It would be years if ever to gain citizenship, but that’s okay, I can live there, while having to return to the US a couple of times a year to keep things legit. If things go real south here, I won’t return, and I’ll see what happens to me over it. And also, I can’t stand most of my family, except my mom, who wants to come with me, and my nieces and newphews, but the eldest support trump and I feel, hey if you want to see me, drive to canada. The youngest are 4 and 6, so…that will hit me. But I’m not doing this.
Over 100 of the youngest, most ignorant, most racist Judges known to mankind have been appointed to lifetime Federal judgeships…Fascism which has ALWAYS been an issue in this country has shown that it instilled within the most powerful people in government and in our society…The Republican Party is OWNED by Putin…PUTIN!!!!!!!!!!!! And the Republican Party has proven they will use and support treason…murder…genocide…blackmail….violence….WHATEVA…to get what they want…and what they want is for us ALL to bow down…live in poverty and despair…and to like it…
How are we…”okay”? How will we be…okay?
And yes…Hillary is one of the VERY FEW…who keeps it REAL regarding this….
Agree 100%, we are so screwed, and very few people have what it would take to clean this up (as much as is possible to clean anyway). And that’s if trump doesn’t steal the election again. I mean, it’s not looking good.
I agree – and it will be a lonnnnggggg time before America is okay again.
I say this, and it’s not as if I mean that things are optimal or even good. What I mean is that the idea of America will endure. That we’ve been through worse times. That at least it won’t be a civil war. Because honestly I can’t allow myself to give in to nihilism and despair, because then my depression will flare up and need to let myself appreciate the good that does exist for my own sake and for the sake of my kids.
I understand Tanya.
I live near the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. There were reports that she’s going to school here. Secret service agents were seen lurking around in August before the start of school
The girls have really grown up. In another post, someone spoke about deifying the Obamas. And hell yes to that, because like the song says, “Where have all the good people gone?” The Obama family is a shining example of good people we all yearn for in the highest places of government. We are now saddled with monsters.
I was the exact same dropping my son off at college. Cried like a baby in a diaper- afterwards. Didn’t want to embarrass him too much, I have a middle schooler to embarrass.
How sweet of malia to go too. Not all siblings care at that age and can be real jerks to each other