Michelle Obama reflects on how her life might have unfolded had she never met Barack Obama
The former First Lady has reflected on how meeting Barack Obama transformed her ambitions, career and family life, describing the impact her husband has had on her journey.
Michelle Obama has reflected on how her life might have unfolded had she never met Barack Obama.
Revealing she believes her world would have been “smaller” without the relationship that transformed both of their lives and ultimately led them to the White House, the 62-year-old former First Lady made the comments alongside former US President Barack Obama, 64, in an interview with People, in which the couple looked back on the early days of their relationship in Chicago.
The conversation comes after months of continued public interest in the Obamas following repeated speculation about their marriage, which both have publicly dismissed through joint appearances and interviews.
Recalling Barack’s modest home when they first began dating, Michelle said: “When we started dating, he was renting a crappy little apartment on 53rd Street from a friend. No AC. Windows were open. Saturday nights would be crazy. Baskin-Robbins was a place we’d go to get ice cream. He wrote about our first kiss being there.”
Barack added: “Sitting on the curb. There’s a plaque there now. I don’t know who put that up.”
Looking back on the beginning of their relationship, Barack said he immediately recognised Michelle’s character.
He said: “I knew almost immediately, and looks like I made a pretty good bet, that this was a one-of-a-kind woman with the integrity and character, smarts and values to make me better.”
Barack continued: “Just being with her made me better, and she still does. And that she would give our kids a foundation that would pay off for them – and that’s in fact what’s happened.”
When asked whether their marriage had always been an equal partnership, Barack joked he had benefited more from the relationship than Michelle.
Michelle rejected the suggestion, describing the way they complemented one another throughout their lives together.
She said: “We are each other’s counterbalance.”
Reflecting on what might have happened had they never met, Michelle said: “The truth is I probably would have been someone who stayed more put. Because I think I grew up with such a grounding here in Chicago that sometimes when you’re so grounded, you’re sometimes afraid to leave that security and comfort. And I might have fallen into that, right?”
She added: “I think I would have had a beautiful life here but it would have been smaller. I think I wouldn’t have had the kind of impact. But because of who my husband is, he offered all of us – our girls, my mom, my family – a broader sense of what’s possible in life.”
Michelle also credited Barack with encouraging her to look beyond a conventional legal career after graduating from Harvard Law School.
She said: “He made me think more broadly about what I could do with this Harvard law degree, besides be a lawyer. He gave me the courage. He was my ballast. He was like, ‘I got you’. And however hard it’s been, the ups and downs, he’s got me.”
Barack responded by describing the balance he believes has defined their marriage.
He said: “And she grounds and anchors me.”
With a smile, he added: “It’s worked out a’ight.”
The couple have often spoken publicly about the realities of balancing marriage, parenthood and public life while raising daughters Malia, 27, and Sasha, 24.
