Sunday, July 15, 2012

Michelle Obama Explains How She Keeps a Happy & Healthy Family

michelle obama parenting magazine

The First Lady is passionate about health and fitness, as evidenced in her Let’s Move campaign to help fight childhood obesity. In a recent interview, she opens up about juggling life as a working mom and how she keeps her family happy and healthy.

Michelle Obama is one busy woman. Aside from being married to the leader of the free world, she also has two daughters at home — Sasha, 11, and Malia, 14. Between juggling her duties as First Lady and as a mother of two, Michelle is committed to keeping not only her family healthy, but also the rest of America. We all know Michelle Obama looks fantastic. But for the First Lady, it’s more about living a healthy lifestyle and being a positive influence on her daughters than outward appearance.
With the Let’s Move initiative she launched to combat childhood obesity, Michelle admits that balancing life as a working mom is not always easy. But she firmly believes that there are a few simple guidelines that families can incorporate.
“I think it’s the simple things that hold true regardless of income or location: eliminating sugary drinks, cooking a little bit more,” she said in an interview with the August 2012 issue of Parentingmagazine. “It’s hard to do. I struggled with it as a working mom myself. But thinking about it once or twice a week even, sitting around a table, getting to know our kids more, is a good thing.”
The First Lady also emphasizes the importance of exercise to her daughters, especially in the form of organized sports.
“We set the expectation that sports are as important as homework and friends. It’s important to learn how to compete, to develop a skill,” she said. “I want them to learn how to sweat, how to win gracefully and lose with dignity. I want them to learn what it feels like to get better at something that you didn’t think you were good at.”
Michelle also said that she and Barack stay active and involved in their girls’ lives.
“We go to all the important school functions,” she said. “At least one of us is there. It’s important to get to know their friends and teachers and to understand what they’re going through on a daily basis.”
How do YOU keep your family healthy and happy ebonyville's Moms? Let us know!