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Michelle Obama loves being in 50s.
The former First Lady spoke with Hoda Kotb, Today Show host, about why she loves this stage of her life.
Obama, 58 years old, stated to Kotb that “I didn’t feel like my own person until I was in 50s.”
She says one reason is that she is on the “other side” of parenting.
“I’m changing from mom-in–chief to advisor–and-chief,” she said.
She learned a lot from her years of parenting, both inside and outside the White House.
She says that parents often greet their children with “a critical eye”.
Obama recalls that her daughter walked into her hotel room in wrinkled clothes.
I’m changing from mom-in–chief to advisor–in-chief
Michelle Obama
“She comes in, it was the second time that I saw her this morning. And I was like “you’re wrinkly. You’re going to do something.” She was like “yeah mom.”
Then, I thought, “I did that.” Instead of greeting her with what I felt, which was’sit down on my lap, kiss me,’ I said, “I did it.” “Oh my god, your hair isn’t right here,” I’m pointing it out.
Parents are prone to falling into the traps of criticizing their children before or telling them how happy they just want to be together.
Obama states that Toni Morrison’s statement is that children want our happiness, and don’t need us fixing them. They don’t require us to first point out what is wrong.
Obama adds that children other than your own should feel the same joy.
“We need to be cautious with how we communicate and interact with young people,” she said.
They are not to be treated as a nuisance or dehumanized.
“Whether it’s road-rage, some kids standing on the corner of your street that you don’t know or someone making too much noise in your business establishment, we need to remember that they are still young people.” She says. “We’re still the models of showing our best parts to them.
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