Michelle Obama recently gave a surprising reaction about her daughters, Malia and Sasha's decision to move out of their family home.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleMichelle Obama recently opened up about her life as an empty nester after her daughters moved out, surprising internet users. The former First Lady sat down for a podcast interview and admitted that she deeply loves her daughters, Malia and Sasha. However, she does not miss having them live at home. At the same time, she shared how former President Barack Obama had a completely different reaction when the girls left for college.
Michelle Obama shared her candid thoughts on an episode of her podcast, IMO. For those who do not know, she hosts it with her brother, Craig Robinson. Comedian Jon Stewart joined them as they touched on parenting and the emotional changes parents experience when their children leave home. Michelle caught listeners off guard when she shared her reaction to her daughters, Malia (28) and Sasha (25) 's decision to move out. In her words:
"I don't miss 'em. I love them, I'm going to see them tonight for dinner. I love them, but Barack cried when they went to college, and I was like, "Bye…"
But she quickly clarified that her reaction has nothing to do with feelings or love. Rather, the former first lady explained that she is close to both her daughters but takes pride in seeing them make their way in the world. In fact, she was planning to see them for dinner later that day. Michelle admitted that she feels fortunate to have spent so much time with their daughters while they were growing up.
Whether it was during their years in the White House or in their life after Washington, she believes she truly got to know and understand them. At the same time, she first-hand witnessed them develop into individual adults.
So, instead of feeling sad over their absence, the former First Lady enjoys watching them thrive without taking any help. She described it gave her a significant opportunity to appreciate their growth and the celebrate what they have become on their own.
However, while Michelle accepted the transition smoothly, her husband, former President Barack Obama, had a much more emotional response. According to the former First Lady, Barack became tearful when their daughters left home for college.
She joked that while he was crying, she was ready to say goodbye and start the next chapter. Michelle also highlighted certain unexpected benefits of adult children living independently. For instance, she doesn't have to spend her evening worrying about their whereabouts or if they came home safely.
These views are similar to the thoughts Michelle has earlier shared about the new phase of her life. Earlier in 2026, the Former First Lady spoke at an event about how parenting was one of the biggest projects she and her husband undertook during their marriage. Now, after they have grown into adults, the concerns and responsibilities of Barack and Michelle have decreased.
Previously, Malia and Sasha were raised in unique circumstances. They were only 10 and 7 when their father, Barack Obama, was elected president in 2007. So, they spent most of their childhood in the public eye during their stay at the White House. Still, Michelle and Barack tried their best to provide a sense of normalcy, privacy, and independence whenever they could.
At present, Malia and Sasha Obama are living in Los Angeles as they build their careers. Malia works in the entertainment industry under the name "Malia Ann". She has worked as both a writer and a filmmaker, and one of her projects was the Amazon Prime series, Swarm. Initially, she marked her directorial debut with the short film, The Heart.
Meanwhile, Sasha Obama has graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in sociology. Michelle has also shared that her younger daughter has continued her education while she explores her profession. Although both Malia and Sasha stay out of the spotlight, they occasionally make public appearances with their parents. For instance, they joined their parents at the opening of the Obama Presidential Centre in Chicago.
What do you think about Michelle Obama's reaction over her daughters' moving out?
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