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Pool/Getty Images Adolescence is hard regardless of circumstance, but going through it with Secret Service agents and paparazzi shadowing you poses different challenges. Malia and Sasha Obama transformed from cute little girls into adult women in a spotlight they didn't seek. The Obama sisters' lives growing up with famous parents were no walk in the park, as they had little control over their own narratives. But the journey was hard for Michelle and Barack Obama, too. Advertisement Malia and Sasha's smoking in public drew a lot of negative attention to the then-president and first lady. In 2017, Malia made headlines for *gasp* kissing a boy and smoking a cigarette during a Harvard-Yale football game. That wasn't the only time. In 2023, she was also in the news for having a smoke during an outing in Los Angeles. Sasha also picked up the habit along the way, being caught smoking on several occasions. Just weeks before Malia's so-called scandal, her younger sister was also photographed puffing on a cig after leaving an L.A. spa. The situation was particularly tricky for Barack to handle, considering Malia and Sasha likely picked up the bad habit from their dad. He finally quit cigarettes a year into his first term. "He's always wanted to stop," Michelle told reporters at a White House event, explaining that he wanted to set a good example for their daughters (via The Guardian). It might not have worked, but Michelle and Barack still tried hard to protect their girls' rights to make mistakes without being vilified in the media. Advertisement
The Obamas tried to keep Malia and Sasha out of the tabloids Michelle and Barack Obama's daughters became adults during or shortly after their time in the White House. Navigating those changes as public figures put their parenting skills to the test. "That was a lot of work, and it got harder as they got older," she said on "Let's Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa" in April (via E! News). As parents, the Obamas understood that experimenting and making questionable decisions come with the territory. Advertisement But they worried that Malia and Sasha's normal behavior would be made into a huge deal. That concerned them more than whatever their daughters were doing. "They had to drive and they had to go to prom and they were on teams and they traveled to other schools and they had to do college searches and they went to parties and they had drinks and they tried out smoking and they did all the things," Michelle said. Michelle and Barack braced themselves every time. "Every weekend was a nightmare because we had to work to make sure that them being regular teenagers didn't wind up on Page Six," she told Ripa. Michelle seemingly confirmed that at which insiders had previously hinted. In 2016, a source described Barack's worries using the same word Michelle later used. "This is the president's worst nightmare!" they told Radar following one of Malia's controversial moments. "The end of his term is in sight — and the carefully crafted image of a world-beating family is unraveling right before his eyes!" Advertisement
Expert agrees with Michelle Obama that teens have right to make mistakes
Pool/Getty Images Michelle Obama was clear that the issue was Malia and Sasha Obama's mistakes winding up in the news, and not the mistakes themselves. Expert Amy Prenner, communications executive and founder of The Prenner Group, agrees. "As a parent, you just want your kids to be able to make mistakes, grow, and learn without it becoming a headline," she told us. But she acknowledged that public figures can't keep their children's private, so they have to be proactive. "Set boundaries early, be selective about what you share publicly, and try to keep your family life as grounded and private as possible," she shared. Advertisement Prenner suggested that public figures put together a team to help them come up with a plan to prevent the media from exploiting kids. "At the end of the day, children deserve to grow up without being treated like public property," she said. But the public also has to do its part, she noted. "Before judging, it's worth asking: if it were your child, would you want that moment blown up for the world to see?" she said. Some public figures have tried to remind us of that. Plenty of celebs have boldly defended Sasha and Malia's right to be normal teenagers, including some on the opposite side of the political spectrum as the Obamas. "Malia Obama should be allowed the same privacy as her school aged peers. She is a young adult and private citizen, and should be OFF limits," Ivanka Trump tweeted after the Harvard-Yale game debacle. Advertisement
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Adolescence is difficult no matter circumstance, however going by means of it with Secret Service brokers and paparazzi shadowing you poses totally different challenges. Malia and Sasha Obama remodeled from cute little women into grownup ladies in a highlight they did not search. The Obama sisters’ lives rising up with well-known mother and father have been no stroll within the park, as they’d little management over their very own narratives. However the journey was arduous for Michelle and Barack Obama, too.
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Malia and Sasha’s smoking in public drew lots of unfavourable consideration to the then-president and first girl. In 2017, Malia made headlines for *gasp* kissing a boy and smoking a cigarette throughout a Harvard-Yale soccer recreation. That wasn’t the one time. In 2023, she was additionally within the information for having a smoke throughout an outing in Los Angeles. Sasha additionally picked up the behavior alongside the best way, being caught smoking on a number of events. Simply weeks earlier than Malia’s so-called scandal, her youthful sister was additionally photographed puffing on a cig after leaving an L.A. spa.
The scenario was significantly difficult for Barack to deal with, contemplating Malia and Sasha possible picked up the unhealthy behavior from their dad. He lastly stop cigarettes a 12 months into his first time period. “He is all the time needed to cease,” Michelle instructed reporters at a White Home occasion, explaining that he needed to set an excellent instance for his or her daughters (through The Guardian). It won’t have labored, however Michelle and Barack nonetheless tried arduous to guard their women’ rights to make errors with out being vilified within the media.
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The Obamas tried to maintain Malia and Sasha out of the tabloids
Michelle and Barack Obama’s daughters turned adults throughout or shortly after their time within the White Home. Navigating these adjustments as public figures put their parenting abilities to the check. “That was lots of work, and it obtained more durable as they obtained older,” she mentioned on “Let’s Discuss Off Digicam with Kelly Ripa” in April (through E! Information). As mother and father, the Obamas understood that experimenting and making questionable choices include the territory.
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However they nervous that Malia and Sasha’s regular conduct could be made into an enormous deal. That involved them greater than no matter their daughters have been doing. “They needed to drive and so they needed to go to promenade and so they have been on groups and so they traveled to different colleges and so they needed to do school searches and so they went to events and so they had drinks and so they tried out smoking and so they did all of the issues,” Michelle mentioned.
Michelle and Barack braced themselves each time. “Each weekend was a nightmare as a result of we needed to work to be sure that them being common youngsters did not wind up on Web page Six,” she instructed Ripa. Michelle seemingly confirmed that at which insiders had beforehand hinted. In 2016, a supply described Barack’s worries utilizing the identical phrase Michelle later used. “That is the president’s worst nightmare!” they instructed Radar following one in all Malia’s controversial moments. “The top of his time period is in sight — and the rigorously crafted picture of a world-beating household is unraveling proper earlier than his eyes!”
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Skilled agrees with Michelle Obama that teenagers have proper to make errors
Michelle Obama was clear that the problem was Malia and Sasha Obama’s errors winding up within the information, and never the errors themselves. Skilled Amy Prenner, communications government and founding father of The Prenner Group, agrees. “As a father or mother, you simply need your children to have the ability to make errors, develop, and study with out it changing into a headline,” she instructed us. However she acknowledged that public figures cannot maintain their kids’s non-public, in order that they must be proactive. “Set boundaries early, be selective about what you share publicly, and attempt to maintain your loved ones life as grounded and personal as potential,” she shared.
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Prenner recommended that public figures put collectively a workforce to assist them provide you with a plan to stop the media from exploiting children. “On the finish of the day, kids should develop up with out being handled like public property,” she mentioned. However the public additionally has to do its half, she famous. “Earlier than judging, it is price asking: if it have been your baby, would you need that second blown up for the world to see?” she mentioned. Some public figures have tried to remind us of that.
Loads of celebs have boldly defended Sasha and Malia’s proper to be regular youngsters, together with some on the other aspect of the political spectrum because the Obamas. “Malia Obama needs to be allowed the identical privateness as her faculty aged friends. She is a younger grownup and personal citizen, and needs to be OFF limits,” Ivanka Trump tweeted after the Harvard-Yale recreation debacle.
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