By Ina Michaelis-Ugwonno
For many people the Obamas are an absolute dream couple. Now Michelle (58) has spoken about marital problems.
When the world looks at the Obamas, it sees two people as equals. Who love each other unconditionally. have a wonderful family. And change the world together.
But their marriage, which often appears flawless on the outside, was in fact not always a cakewalk.
“People think I’m being mean when I say that. But there were ten years when I couldn’t stand my husband,” Michelle now explains on the talk show.revolt“ with presenter Angie Martinez (51).
Michelle and Barack Obama have been married since 1992 and have two daughters, Malia (24) and Sasha (21).
What was that time when the now 58-year-old couldn’t stand her husband? “When the kids were little,” reveals Michelle. She started directing her “anger” at Barack. Because back then he found time to golf, travel, or work—while she tried 24/7 to be a good mom and a good lawyer.
“Bringing two lives together is one of the hardest things,” says Michelle Obama. Even if you are “madly in love with each other”. “The moment we had kids, it was like, ‘Where are you going? And how far?”
Michelle and Barack Obama with their daughters Malia (right) and Sasha after Obama’s re-election in 2012 Photo: picture alliance / abaca | Douliery Olivier/ABACA
Looking after the family, the husband and the education of the children, as well as not losing sight of one’s own career and herself – for Michelle it’s a balancing act. After all, who does what in a marriage? The mother of two thinks it’s never going to be fair. She says: “Sometimes I do 70 percent, he 30 percent. There are times when he makes 60, I 40.”
“But you know,” sums up Michelle Obama. “We’ve been married for 30 years now. I’ll put up with ten bad years for 30 – that’s just the way you look at it. Other people give up after five years.”
At the end of November, Michelle Obama explained in a lengthy statement on Instagram that their marriage was never perfect.
“One of us always needs more or gives more,” she wrote. “We must be willing to listen to one another, honestly and without defensiveness. Only then can we move forward together.” But she also wrote, “I’ve lived in many places as an adult, but there’s only ever been ONE real home for me. My home is my family. My home is Barack.”
IHer tip to all married people: “You have to be prepared for long periods of disagreement and unease. You have to learn to make real compromises in the way you lived as an individual. Glorifying a relationship while still dating leads directly to trouble once you’re married. You can’t cover up problems when you live with someone day in, day out.”
The question is also very important: “Who are we and who do we want to be?”