Michelle Obama has described raising her daughters Malia and Sasha as 'the hardest thing in the world', as she reflects on her career and family life a decade after leaving the White House. Speaking at a live taping of her podcast 'IMO' with her brother Craig Robinson at SXSW London, the former first lady, 62, shared candid thoughts on parenting and her future.
Obama, who shares daughters Malia, 27, and Sasha, 24, with husband Barack Obama, said this is likely her last professional chapter. 'I am 62 years old. We could be grandparents! But we are not,' she remarked, adding that she wants to be mindful of the next chapter so it does not 'slip away'. She emphasised that her future choices will be for herself, not for her husband, children, or the country.
Reflecting on her parents' influence, Obama expressed gratitude for their support in pushing her and her brother to try new things. 'You know the hardest thing in the world to do is to let your kids try more things,' she said. She also advised younger generations to 'learn to enjoy the process', noting that persistence was key to reaching the White House despite backlash.
Obama's eldest daughter Malia is a filmmaker who made her directorial debut in 2023, while Sasha recently earned a master's degree. During a recent podcast episode with Steven Spielberg, Obama revealed that Malia prefers to keep her work separate from her parents, saying, 'She doesn't want us around her stuff.'
