'First Granny' Marian Robinson Savors New Life, Busy Schedule In Washington

nytimes.com:

Marian Robinson, President Obama's mother-in-law, moved into the White House "kicking and screaming," said her son, Craig Robinson. She had never lived outside of Chicago and was reluctant to leave her beloved bungalow, her friends and family, her weekly yoga class and her familiar routines.

But after three months in the Executive Mansion, Mrs. Robinson is unexpectedly and decidedly savoring her new life.

Read the whole story: nytimes.com

Comments

[cocolola]

01:23 PM on 05/05/2009

Pul-ease! Not for a moment do I buy that Marian came to the White Hous kinking and screaming.

[Seattlelite]

01:18 PM on 05/05/2009

I applaud the Obama's for trying to maintain as normal life as possible for their girls and having their grandmother in their lives helps with that I'm sure. The bond between grand children and grand parents is a special one, nice the Obama girls didn't have to give that up.

[PoliticalAmazon]

03:44 PM on 05/05/2009

That's what I thought when I heard MO's mother was going with the Obamas to the WH to help with the kids and keep them from getting like the Bush twins.

I also thought it was a real boost to the importance of grandmothers in raising kids.

But now I read that she's not often home, and is more interested in being the bon vivant than helping with the kids.

And it's a little too much like MO who said she would focus on veterans an their families, but has done little in that regard, being more interested in giving cocktail parties, etc.

I feel like I got snagged in a bait-and-switch scam. And I don't like it.

If MO wanted to be the party girl in D.C. and ifher mother wanted to take advantage of new access to celeberites, I have no problem with that. But don't promise you are going to do one thing in D.C. and then do the complete opposite. No reason to be dishonest.

[Pema]

06:30 PM on 05/05/2009

huhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh?
its not she isnt often home she has found some social life. what do you want her to be the house nanny? shes a person and she has a right to go out and have some fun.
your all over michelle yet post back and tell me hoe exactly you got bait and switched and i want favcts, none of these vauge statements. you knpow it takes a while to get used to things, get setteled but your not allowing her that. we hired the president not his wife and she has done far more than any other first ladty in recent history. so look at yourself for dishonesty.
breath pema breath...

[EuroYankee]

12:07 PM on 05/05/2009

Most of the 'concerned' didn't even read the whole story. Its easy to see because they all seem to miss
the part about Mrs. Robinson going out without being recognized ALONE and it being easier for her to
walk around and enjoy getting to know D.C. Now about the children watching, I guess it would be okay with some if she was just locked in her quarters until she was needed but I do believe there are laws against that sort of stuff.:)

[booker52]

09:53 AM on 05/05/2009

Who wouldn't love living in the WH?? It's better then a first class hotel!!!

[2morrowKnight]

09:27 AM on 05/05/2009

What a Grandmother...What a family!

[PoliticalRockChick]

09:26 AM on 05/05/2009

Obamas have:

Family Values
Happy Marriage
Good Kids
Education
Came from humble beginnings
Worked their way up
Never forgot where they came from
Care for the poor, working and middle class

All things the GOP have been talking about that they have, but never walking the walk.

[PoliticalRockChick]

09:23 AM on 05/05/2009

I would savor my life in the White House. It's only 4 years. I would enjoy every moment of it. Never having to cook, clean, rent free. Hey ask me to be granny.

[LeftLeanWing]

10:01 AM on 05/05/2009

If she's like most Grandmas, and I believe she is, she would insist on doing some of the cooking herself. It's one of those grandma bonding things especially with granddaughters

[Leslib]

12:37 AM on 05/05/2009

Another class act. Hope she enjoys all that D.C. has to offer. Living in a fishbowl can't be fun if you're used to privacy.

[faith]

10:51 PM on 05/04/2009

What a wonderful role model ! Mrs. Robinson demonstrates her love for family, practical values, and her independence and love of life ! Excellent !! What a blessing for the nation as well as for the Obamas.

[billbb]

12:55 AM on 05/05/2009

Clearly, she is someone that the whole family feels comfortable with, and the stability of that kind of family unit is great for the kids. I was lucky that my grandparents lived right across the street, and had a great relationship with my father, so this seems more than right to me, it is simply the way things should be. My kids also benefited greatly from having grandparents close by. It might not be true that grandparents actually pass wisdom to you, but they do make you a little less stupid and full of yourself. Mrs. Robinson is not the sort to be impressed by kids who were more famous than they are smart.

[PoliticalAmazon]

03:47 PM on 05/05/2009

I don't think it's a good role model who promises to be there for the kids and then does the exact opposite.

There was no reason to say what she was going to do, unless it was to gain public support for her being in the WH, something that is unusual. So for her to say one thing and do another is not fulfilling a promise, a kind of dishonesty.

I don't give a rat's patoot if she's in the WH. More power to her. I just don't like the dishonest part.

[lafrance]

10:48 PM on 05/04/2009

It is good news that Mrs. Robinson is having a full and active life in DC along with family around her.
I read about how she did not want to move to the White House and was skeptical. I am glad it all worked out as this family needs grandma around to keep things real and give them a dose of Chicago and normal.

[ProudlyConservative42]

10:53 PM on 05/04/2009

And I read where she declared that no one was going to the White House without her. Don't believe everything you read.

[luvangelHussein330]

12:52 AM on 05/05/2009

got any links to prove it....

[SurrealPumpkin]

09:56 AM on 05/05/2009

Of course, both could be true. :)

[roshni]

10:32 PM on 05/04/2009

Amazing that people carp about this wonderful woman who is help raise her grandkids. I think it's wonderful to have First Granny in the White House.

[listentome]

11:23 PM on 05/04/2009

It doesn't matter what the carpers say. They didn't know about anything that went on in the White House before this family moved in. It's the modern day "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?" Some people just don't like it.

[billbb]

12:48 AM on 05/05/2009

Yeah... They really want it to be more like the cold and weird Bush family, where the sawed-off president couldn't stand having to negotiate with anyone. It is clear that Mrs. Robinson is very independent and happy with her life, and was reluctant to give up comfortable surroundings at first. What's so odd about that for any 71-year-old widow? These are very grounded people, which is probably why the Republican lie factory has had so little traction against them. They are clearly not phonies... The Obamas are indeed what they seem to be. Watch the small things - that's the key. No one is that comfortable in their own skin unless they are actually at ease, and Barack Obama is clearly not put off by having his mother-in-law there all the time. That speaks of a deeply loving and stable family with strong relationships. Great for the kids! A sleepover at the White House? Cool!

[YankinCanada]

03:37 PM on 05/05/2009

And a floor that separates them. C'mon they're human! And I love that too!

[ProudlyConservative42]

10:26 PM on 05/04/2009

I mean, who cares, really. It's only PERCEPTION, right?

[graceland9]

10:42 PM on 05/04/2009

Nice family values. If it's helping the two Obama daughters assimilate into their new life, who cares?

[ProudlyConservative42]

10:44 PM on 05/04/2009

How long does that take....4 years? God forbid, 8?

[MANK]

09:29 PM on 05/04/2009

Andrew Jackson "brought just about everybody in his family with him from Tennessee to Washington,"

I took a few seconds to research a little and this was my favorite of all the presidents who had "guests" in the WH.

[ProudlyConservative42]

10:51 PM on 05/04/2009

He didn't bring his wife, Rachel. She died before he took office. Instead, he brought his niece to act in her stead as hostess (First Lady).

[PoliticalAmazon]

03:52 PM on 05/05/2009

He did bring quite a few family members with him, however. Not all of them lived there the entire administration, but Jakson, having been raised since about age 10 or 11 as an orphan, after his mother and two brothers were killed during the American Revolution, valued two things above all: his family and our nation.

[usawillprevail]

09:12 PM on 05/04/2009

Bottom line, no one is blamming granny for anything, and I was blessed to have grandparents but it does raise eyebrows when she is living in the white house on our dime.

I am glad the girls can be with her but is she really the one being the nanny? I dont think so. I would like to think that the proper course of action would be not to abuse the taxpayers by using the same vehicle trasnport that the president does - but I am sure she is being treated the same way.

In a way it is kinda selfish and we will remind you of your so called generosity and courtesy when in (best case 2012) the next GOP pres comes in and wants to bring his/her parents to live in the white house. We will just remind all of you who will throw stones about this.

[MANK]

09:15 PM on 05/04/2009

The list of permanent guests during past administrations is long indeed.

[bustitbaby]

09:19 PM on 05/04/2009

Funny no one had a peep to say when any other mothers-in-laws moved in.

Why so much fuss over this one?

[mapleaforever]

09:32 PM on 05/04/2009

Because she's related to the Obamas, so she must be deported.

[ProudlyConservative42]

09:55 PM on 05/04/2009

Can you name at least three mothers-in-law who moved into the White House?

[SamiSam]

08:44 PM on 05/04/2009

Sooo much negativity in this thread. Who knew that a loving grandmother could be so polarizing.

[mapleaforever]

09:50 PM on 05/04/2009

Um, I don't know. Blindered President Obama haters found another opportunity to vent because they lost another Kentucky Derby to a less deserving horse?