Michelle Obama's 'I'm good' on empty nest draws criticism from commentators
Remarks by former first lady Michelle Obama about not missing her adult daughters at home drew criticism Friday, with commentators arguing that her comments on Jon Stewart's "IMO" podcast conveyed resentment rather than the exhaustion most parents express. Obama appeared on the Wednesday episode and replied briefly when Stewart described the structure daily parenting had given his own life and asked whether she missed it. "I'm good," she told him.
Key takeaways
- Michelle Obama said 'I'm good' and 'I don't miss them' about her adult daughters living away from home during Jon Stewart's 'IMO' podcast, aired Wednesday.
- Commentators criticized the remarks Friday, arguing they conveyed resentment rather than the exhaustion most parents express.
- Obama noted that Barack Obama cried when Malia and Sasha left for college, while her own reaction was simply to say goodbye and enjoy a schedule that is 'all mine.'
- Critics including Elizabeth Barcohana, Matt Walsh, and Link Lauren accused Obama of seeming happy her daughters' childhoods were over, with Walsh calling her 'a total raging narcissist.'
- Obama framed her reaction as a result of having had 'so much quality time' with her children and said she planned to have dinner with Malia and Sasha the evening the podcast aired.
Remarks by former first lady Michelle Obama about not missing her adult daughters at home drew criticism Friday, with commentators arguing that her comments on Jon Stewart's "IMO" podcast conveyed resentment rather than the exhaustion most parents express. Obama appeared on the Wednesday episode and replied briefly when Stewart described the structure daily parenting had given his own life and asked whether she missed it. "I'm good," she told him.
She elaborated in the same exchange. "I don't miss them. I don't. I love them. I'm going to see them tonight for dinner. I love them," Obama said. She noted that Barack Obama cried when daughters Malia and Sasha left for college. Obama said her own reaction was simply to say goodbye, and said the arrangement now suited her. "I love my schedule. I have a great schedule, and it's all mine," she said.
California Republican Party Delegate and mother Elizabeth Barcohana told Fox News Digital the comments crossed a line. "There is a difference between a mother expressing exhaustion from the demands of motherhood, which is real and relatable, and expressing resentment," Barcohana said. She called the remarks especially painful given the ongoing Lindsay Clancy trial and said Obama appeared relieved that the active years of raising her daughters had ended. "She seems happy that her daughters' childhoods are over. That is not a relatable feeling for most mothers at all," Barcohana said.
Conservative commentator Matt Walsh argued the family's financial resources made the position harder to justify. Obama appeared eager for her children to leave even though their demands on her time were minor, Walsh said, calling her "a total raging narcissist." Political commentator Link Lauren described the podcast as Obama complaining from a mansion in Martha's Vineyard about her life and her family.
Obama framed her reaction as a product of time already invested. "I mean, I've had so much quality time with my children. So much. Yeah, yeah. I know them inside and out," she said. She said both she and Barack Obama deliberately prioritized their daughters during his eight years in office, when the girls were in their formative years, and that she welcomed their independence now. Obama said she planned to have dinner with Malia and Sasha the evening the podcast aired.