There's Something About Michelle

By the time Michelle Obama gave her husband the fist-bump heard around the world before his nomination speech, we already knew that this woman would be a different kind of First Lady -- one that would bring new dimension to that curiously antiquated term.

Since she burst on to the national consciousness, her trajectory remains in full ascent. She lit up the capitols of Europe in ways unmatched by any First Lady before her -- even Jackie Kennedy.

One on level, the reason for the reaction is obvious.

This is one tough, smart, attractive engaging woman who is more than up to meeting the high-stakes but loosely-defined demands of a position where the Goldilocks chorus will always find too much or too little -- seldom just right.

But it's more than that.

In ways that may be hard to describe, a nation and the world are responding to her self-described role as "mother-in-chief" -- a description that in less authentic hands might have all the resonance of Mitt Romney complimenting African-American kids on their "bling bling."

As the world financial structure shudders and sways, we have responded to the comfort of her calm, clear and unapologetic certainty about who she is. Perhaps she reminds us that there is no such thing as monsters (Madoff being a discussion for another time) and there is nothing hiding under the bed.

She is showing that the very qualities that make a great mother -- consistency, clarity, humor, wisdom, patience, connection, confidence and determination and the like -- also populate the job description of a great leader.

To paraphrase Patrick Henry: If this be motherhood, make the most of it

Some of that, as I've argued here before, is packaging. A woman who can hold her own in any board room seems to have mastered the talking points about the joys of running a home and raising kids.

But there is real substance inside the package.

In ways that have become so rare in any sphere of leadership these days, she allows us to see the real person, and makes us believe that what we see is the truth. Part of that truth is her recognition that, with a white house staff at her disposal and her live-in mother providing domestic bench-strength, she has a support network unimaginable to most women.

Another woman in another time might have encountered the kind of blow back from the arbiters of expectation that Hillary Clinton encountered when she said she had no intention of staying home and baking cookies. The concern this time, from some feminist quarters: Obama is wasting her Princeton and Harvard Law degrees, well, baking cookies.

As Geraldine Brooks wrote in an the October 2008 edition of More magazine, Michelle Obama's story is a "a depressingly retrograde narrative of stifling gender roles and frustrating tradeoffs."

Watching her move nimbly from the halls of state to the halls of grade schools as she charmed her way across Europe, I see nothing depressing, nothing stifling. Whatever tradeoffs she has made appear quite comfortable, as she is deftly balancing home and office -- no small trick when your office is in the White House and the world is grading your every syllable.

While two little girls run the White House grounds, this force of intellect, looks and personality will very happily employ those sculpted arms to carry a cookie tray. But at the same time, it is clear that the country's "mom-in-chief" can handle the responsibilities of motherhood while standing square in the klieg lights of her position.

She is an object lesson in the importance and power of mothers, a reminder that their work is empowering, comforting, instructive and joyous. We like that. And more than any time in recent memory, we need it.

Comments

[BobLablah]

Seriously? You're afraid to post a comment that points out the truth about Michelle accepting a $200,000 raise after her husband was elected to the senate, only to see the "valuable" position go unfilled after she quit? What would you say if Palin's husband did this?

[ywcachieve]

whineeeeee­eeeeeeeeee­eeeeeee

[Misbrown]

Michelle Obama is a beautiful, strong, loving, kind and giving women. She shows us all how to Balance wearing different hats- Mom, Wife, Friend,Woman, 1st Lady..... She is supportive of her husband, yet, does not have to dummy herself down. I love her. I love that she is real. We do not give her enough credit. She shops at target, lives below their means, teaches her daughters to give back and be respectful What a excellent role model. Go Michelle. Keep doing you; you do it well.

[ywcachieve]

I love our new first lady. She is beautiful inside and out.

[mahesh11]

Big-Brother thriller Eagle Eye is so full of confusing "cyber-tec­hno-harum-­scarum" that it's a film "only the Global Positioning System could love," writes Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune. The “hyperactive jumble" of a story—featuring a man framed as a terrorist and followed by a mysterious voice—is “intensely silly and visually hysterical," Phillips notes.
----------­----------­----------­--
mahesh11
foreclosed homes-foreclosed homes

[marthainmaine]

Thank you for this lovely article. I am so appreciative of the example Michelle Obama is setting for all of us Mothers...young and old.

To me, she is helping the cause of feminism. Acquiring a four year degree and being a stay at home Mom with small children has never been a problem for me. It is the right to choose careers, equal pay for equal work and management possibilities.

It is beautiful to see her planting a garden with her children. Promoting organic.

[Boadicea]

""She is an object lesson in the importance and power of mothers, a reminder that their work is empowering, comforting, instructive and joyous. We like that. And more than any time in recent memory, we need it.""

Thank you for this, for saying it with a feminist voice. An education is not wasted on a mother, and feminists have allowed those who want to stifle women - ie, the right - to frame the argument. Feminists have allowed themselves to become "those who devalue motherhood." It's a huge pity and a terrible disservice to women.

Your voice on these pages is refreshing. Thanks for posting.

[DarrowFan]

"An education is not wasted on a mother..."

I LOVE THAT STATEMENT. It's brilliant. A mother likely won't be a WORSE mom because she has gone out and acquired knowledge, and your statement makes that point. An education is not wasted because some "mom", who, if boxed in as some men would like her to be, won't "need" those skills. On the contrary, moms need education too, and might even be better moms because of it, and I like the way you put this.

[moonchild71]

Michelle is amazing in every way! It's ridiculous for anyone to think she is wasting her Ivy league degrees because she chooses to focus on family first. Maybe being a wife and mother is her primary desire and goal in life. And what is wrong with that? Why do some women take issue with this? The ultimate power of a woman is the ability to choose her path and destiny in life. If a woman chooses to focus primarily on family, friends, and opts to be a home caretaker, so be it, that's her choice. Or if a woman chooses to focus on her career above all else, that's her choice too, so be it. Women are not on this planet to compete with men or anyone else. We are here to figure out who we are, what makes us happy, and to be true to ourselves. Michelle doesn't compete with her husband, instead she respects him, supports him, loves him, she is his partner... and she is inspiring!

[Flavor]

Mrs. Michelle knows who she is and it shows. She's very aware of the nay sayers, it comes with the territory. Overall I give Mrs. Michelle a b+ for her innocence, she is smart but also new to the buisness as time goes on we get a chance to watch her grow, and become the true blossom orchid, she is. She is able to work, be a good mommy and also have her husbands back, I love it. Whenever in my own life find people who love to criticize me all the time, I found out it was because I was doing something right. Mrs. Michelle you just don't represent black women, but all women find you someone they can admire. You wear it well.

[moonflowerjewelry]

just wait til her kids are older and she wants to get a job - she'll find out what a lot of mothers know, if you've worked at home for any amount of time, you become an unemployable pariah unless you want to work fast food or minimum wage retail.

[lakat]

True enough out here in the regular world but methinks Mrs. Obama will not have a problem getting a job for the rest of her life.

[BBC9nch]

You are kidding right? She will not have to work for the rest of her life and if she did what corporate board or law firm would not welcome a former first lady? Women are not victims in this society and just because someone has worked at home does not hinder their ability to find gainful employment. My wife was a stay at home mom for 5 years and went back to school and got her law degree and now she is a partner for one of the largest firms in Ft lauderdale. She brings home more than I do now and I'm proud of her.

[ywcachieve]

moonflower­jewelry..y­ou're kidding, right? You couldn't possibly be serious.

[Savanna]

Thank you for these kind comments about our first Lady. This is what she is a kind lady and a beautiful person. Though I have not even seen her in person, I know a young man who is a Marine and was flown back to the states from the Phillippines to help with security during the conventions.
He reported that of all the people that he met among the top candidates of both parties that Mrs.
Obama was simply outstanding. It saddems me when the Press attempts to cheapen the image of this kind lady with their "talking trash".

[Girl28]

I love Michelle. However, the poor thing can't win for losing. Since she made the mommy-in-chief comment feminists are giving her a hard time. If she was actually still working as a lawyer, people would be calling her selfish and angry at her for trying to redefine the role of the first lady. You can't win. Luckily, Michelle is incredibly smart and realizes that she can't win so she simply lives her life with confidence and grace.

[ywcachieve]

Well said!

[ketchupandfries]

I like what I know of First Lady Michelle Obama and I like this post. Thanks, Ms. Drexler!

[Lahonda]

America needs a hug!!!

[PfromNC]

The world needs a hug and Michelle is the right FLOTUS to do so!

[Bill64]

What the world needs is to get over your love affair with the Obama's. Although they are first black couple to occupy the white house they are human beings like all of those before them. They are no smarter than those before, nor do they have anymore grace. What bothers me is you are talking about a woman who stated she was ashamed of her country prior to her husband being elected. It is time to start using critical thinking like all presidents and first ladies have received. I for one am tired of the free pass from the news media, start asking some serious questions for a change. Again start living history and quit trying to create it.

[JaxLady]

Your right she is is rock. Her looks seem to be chiseled in stone

[rsprags]

Thanks God for the loyal friends and team of advisors that really have the Obama's back. I love these guys and I love that the WH is being so open to other cultures, gardening, arts, and able to run the country at the same time.