Michelle Obama Shares Photo with Her Grown Daughters on Venice Vacation
Michelle Obama reveals the greatest lesson she learned from her mother as she shares a photo of her on vacation with her two daughters ahead of Mother’s Day.
In 2015, Michelle Obama took a trip to Europe with her two daughters, Malia and Sasha Obama. During the week-long vacation, they visited London, Milan, and Venice. It was one of many travels she and her daughters did together but it was memorable also because her mother, Marian Shields Robinson joined them.
Then First Lady Michelle Obama arriving at Stanstead airport in London with daughters Malia and Sasha Obama and her mother, Marian Robinson on June 15, 2015.
PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE LESSON SHE LEARNED FROM HER MOTHER
Michelle revealed ahead of Mother’s Day this weekend, that it was her mother who first taught her the importance of exploring the world. In an Instagram post where she shared a photo from that trip, Michelle reminisced the way Marian raised her and how this resonates today with the way she rears her two daughters.
"One of the greatest gifts she gave me was the freedom to explore and develop into my own person.”
In the photo she shared, the mother of two was in Venice enjoying a boat ride with her girls. Her caption explains the reason for the pic.
"With #MothersDay just a couple days away, I find myself thinking a lot about the way my mother raised me,” Michelle began. “And even though our family was crammed into a tiny apartment, one of the greatest gifts she gave me was the freedom to explore and develop into my own person.”
Michelle goes on to explain that even though her parents didn’t have a lot of money, they “cobbled enough money together to send me on a high-school trip to Paris.” This, according to the 55-year-old “opened up the world to me in so many ways.”
"In seeking out new perspectives and reaching outside of our comfort zones, we can discover more about ourselves.”
PASSING IT ON TO HER DAUGHTERS
Now that she’s a mother herself, Michelle is delighted to do the same for her daughters.
“I wanted to pass that lesson on to my own girls,” she writes.
Michelle, who’s married to former president Barack Obama realizes her children are fortunate enough to have traveled the world, “experiences my mother never would have dreamed of back when I was their age,” she reflects.
“But though the settings may be different, the message is the same, and it’s one I hope mothers everywhere pass on to their daughters—in seeking out new perspectives and reaching outside of our comfort zones, we can discover more about ourselves.”
A SENSE OF NORMALCY IN THE WHITE HOUSE
Michelle is proud of how her daughters turned out despite the sacrifices they’ve had to make as children growing up in the White House. Malia was only 10 and Sasha 7 when they were thrust into the limelight as their father became the president of the United States.
Michelle admitted in a recent podcast with Conan O’Brien that she made it her mission to give them the most normal upbringing despite the circumstances. She attended PTA meetings, cheered on the sidelines during games, and allowed them to go on sleepovers. The only catch was that the secret service was always present.
Regardless, she told Conan she was “in awe” that her children “managed this whole thing with poise and grace."
Now 20 and 17, and no longer living in the White House, Malia and Sasha lead even more normal, yet inspired lives. Thanks to the encouragement and wisdom of their mother and father.