If I had to use one word to describe Michelle Obama, it would be ‘unapologetic’. But one word is insufficient to describe her life, her heart and her honesty ~ a very no nonsense woman and, in her own words, a box checker. She came from a very loving supportive home, raised by hard working parents, Fraser and Marian Robinson, with an equally loving extended family. Some more difficult that others, but loving and loved. She was outspoken from a young age, not shy about speaking her mind. She and her brother Craig shared a room until as they got older and wall divided their bedroom was constructed. Writing of these early days elicited smiles and sometimes outright laughter from me. Excelling at school due to her own drive she always had the support and firm direction of her parents and extended family. Her father, Fraser, a quiet man, had a strong work ethic, never missing a day’s work despite having Multiple Sclerosis. When asked how he was feeling he always said that he was fine and there were times when he was not. Her mother, Marian, was a stay at home mom, until both Michelle and Craig were in Princeton.
Her ‘box checking’ involved getting a law degree, getting married, having children and a nice life. She achieved all these things but she had not counted on whom she would marry or how nice their life would be. As a junior lawyer, one of her assignments was to be advisor to a young hotshot lawyer. This ‘guy’ as she still refers to him was Barack Obama. He is not the ‘box checker’ type. Their friendship grew slowly until marriage ensued followed by two children - Malia and Sasha. The most humorous tell all was when Barack proposed to Michelle. I will just say he caught her very much off guard. The life in-between is what Michelle Obama shows her readers. Her great concern for how their children were raised, her life as a working mother and what she had to do to make it all work. A group of women friends, gathered over the years, were and still are her supports for laughter or tears.
She and Barack Obama have been and are devoted parents, despite the scheduled separation of life in the politic arena. The eight years in the White House were challenging and formative for the Obama family. The things that Michelle had to learn as First Lady were innumerable. Protocols, secret service agents, always riding in an armoured car, being under the media microscope, not to mention anyone with a cell phone, her clothes are only a few. At the same time, she tried to give her children some sort of a normal life in this bubble they lived in. One example - they had to make their own beds. It was, finally, the needs of children in the communities that seemed to give her direction within the bubble. One that would not be an intrusion on politics, as had been a problem when Hillary Clinton tried to get too involved in her years as First Lady. That being said, Michelle’s long term goal in her work with children, communities and schools did lead to productive legislation.
Through it all, Michelle Obama, as many of us do, questioned herself, wondering if she was enough. An excellent read and definitely one I will keep on my book shelf.
“Am I good enough? Yes I am.”
~ Michelle Obama
Title: Becoming
Author: Michelle Obama
Copyright: 2018
Publisher: Crown registered trademark of Penguin Random House LLC
Type: Biography
Format: Hard Cover
ISBN - 978-1-5247-6313-8
Ebook ISBN - 978-1-5247-6315-2
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