Insider View According to Barack and Michelle Obama about the Obama’s Marriage

 

Included are highlights of the Obama's marriage interview with Jodi Kantor, Washington correspondent, of The New York Times. A sweet comment made by Barack Obama about Michelle is:

“What I value most about my marriage is that it is separate and apart from a lot of the silliness of Washington, and Michelle is not part of that silliness.”

As if marriage is not complex enough, try combining it with politics and public opinion on private relationships. Michelle is quoted as saying, “The bumps happen to everybody all the time, and they are continuous,” when describing one of the Obama’s marriage lowest points. We can all understand or can relate to the Obama's marriage. Concerning the Obama’s marriage, Michelle says, “This is the first time in a long time (since last November) in our marriage that we’ve lived seven days a week in the same household with the same schedule, with the same set of rituals.” She goes on to say, “That’s been more of a relief for me than I would have ever imagined.” Actually now they share more time with their children, Malia and Sasha, and with the two of them than at any other time in the Obama’s marriage. According to the White House social secretary, Desiree Rogers, the Obama's have redecorated the White House residence. Michelle and Barack exercise together and also play tennis.

The Obama’s marriage anniversay was just celebrated on Oct. 3. They have been married for 17 years, since Oct. 3, 1992, when Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright pronounced them as husband and wife and after a three-year courtship.

It seems like despite unusual struggles in the Obama’s marriage, that they have managed to work through issues. Michelle says, “This was sort of the eye-opener to me, that marriage is hard,” the first lady said with a little laugh. “But going into it, no one ever tells you that. They just tell you, ‘Do you love him?’ ‘What’s the dress look like?’

“If my ups and downs, our ups and downs in our marriage can help young couples sort of realize that good marriages take work. . . . The image of a flawless relationship is “the last thing that we want to project,” she said. “It’s unfair to the institution of marriage, and it’s unfair for young people who are trying to build something, to project this perfection that doesn’t exist.” Meanwhile Barack Obama affectionately calls Michelle, “Flotus”, short for First lady of the United States. It is not uncommon to see POTUS and FLOTUS giving each other a smack or two around the White House corridors. Barack reads and plays games with his daughters, too.