Photographed by Annie Leibovitz
On putting family first: “Our job is, first and foremost, to make sure our family is whole. You know, we have small kids; they’re growing every day. But I think we were both pretty straightforward when we said, ‘Our number-one priority is making sure that our family is whole” says Michelle. On her mother Marian: “My mother doesn’t do interviews but let me tell you: She is not long on pretense. She’s the first one to remind 
us who we are. And it’s been very helpful having her living with us. . . We can check reality against her sensibilities.” On what she’s learned from her husband, President Barack Obama: “Well, patience and calm I’m borrowing. Or trying to mirror. I’ve learned that from my husband, that sort of, you know, ability to not get too high or too low with changes and bumps in the road. . . to do more breathing in and just going with it. I’m learning that every day. And to the extent that I’ve made changes in my life, it’s just sort of stepping back and seeing a change not as something to guard against but as a wonderful addition. . . that can make
life fun and unexpected.” “He is a dad,” says the president’s senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, “and a husband, and he enjoys being with his children and his wife. He doesn’t have a father. He’s trying really hard to be a good dad.” Says former senior adviser David Axelrod, “This is conjecture on my part, but I have to believe that because of the rather tumultuous childhood that he had, family is even more important to him. It’s central to who he is. That’s why he’s home every night at 6:30 for dinner.” “We’re a team,” says President Barack Obama. “I think we are accountable to each other for being who we are,” says First Lady Michelle Obama. Images: Courtesy of Vogue, Source: Smartologie
us who we are. And it’s been very helpful having her living with us. . . We can check reality against her sensibilities.” On what she’s learned from her husband, President Barack Obama: “Well, patience and calm I’m borrowing. Or trying to mirror. I’ve learned that from my husband, that sort of, you know, ability to not get too high or too low with changes and bumps in the road. . . to do more breathing in and just going with it. I’m learning that every day. And to the extent that I’ve made changes in my life, it’s just sort of stepping back and seeing a change not as something to guard against but as a wonderful addition. . . that can make
life fun and unexpected.” “He is a dad,” says the president’s senior adviser Valerie Jarrett, “and a husband, and he enjoys being with his children and his wife. He doesn’t have a father. He’s trying really hard to be a good dad.” Says former senior adviser David Axelrod, “This is conjecture on my part, but I have to believe that because of the rather tumultuous childhood that he had, family is even more important to him. It’s central to who he is. That’s why he’s home every night at 6:30 for dinner.” “We’re a team,” says President Barack Obama. “I think we are accountable to each other for being who we are,” says First Lady Michelle Obama. Images: Courtesy of Vogue, Source: Smartologie
