Former U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama has shared candid reflections on the emotional and logistical challenges of raising daughters Malia and Sasha during their turbulent teenage years, particularly as they experimented with smoking and drinking while growing up in the global spotlight.
In a revealing interview on Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa on SiriusXM, Michelle spoke openly about how her daughters' adolescent behaviors—though typical for teens—became an intense stressor because of the heightened scrutiny of their father's presidency.
“That was a lot of work,” Michelle admitted. “And it got harder as they got older.”
During President Barack Obama's first term, Malia was 10 and Sasha was just 7, and life in the White House was relatively smooth. But by the time Obama entered his second term, the girls were navigating high school life—including parties, proms, and peer pressure—and the former First Lady says things quickly became more complicated.
“They went to parties, had drinks, tried smoking... all the typical teen stuff,” she recalled. “But every weekend became a nightmare. We had to make sure none of it ended up on Page Six.”
Michelle revealed that the challenge wasn’t just parenting teenagers, but doing so while avoiding tabloid scandals and protecting their privacy in a media landscape eager for controversy.
“With the Secret Service involved, even something like a playdate meant agents had to check your house for weapons and drugs,” she said. “Imagine what that does to normal teenage socializing.”
Now that Malia (26) and Sasha (23) are young adults living independently, Michelle’s parenting focus has shifted. She’s preparing them for the lifelong scrutiny that comes with being the daughters of a former president.
“We call it the ‘Obama tax,’” she said with a smile. “It’s the price they’ll always pay—but they also get a lot of benefits.”
Despite the unique pressures of raising children in the White House, Michelle emphasized that their journey still included many of the same ups and downs that every parent faces—just with higher stakes and brighter spotlights.
