When it comes to parenting, Barack Obama is not just a former president but also a relatable dad navigating the empty nest experience. In a recent conversation with Al Roker on Today, Obama shared his wisdom about the emotional journey of sending kids off to college. Reflecting on his own experience with his daughter Malia, who started at Harvard in 2017, he described the moment as akin to “open-heart surgery.”
“First off, you should expect to cry a lot when you drop your kid off,” Obama advised Roker. “But remember, you can’t let them see your tears. So, after you’ve dropped them off, make a quick exit and then let it all out in the car.”
When it came time to leave Malia, Obama managed to hold back the tears in front of her, but admitted that the ride home was a different story. “The Secret Service was trying to ignore me as I sniffled and blew my nose. It was tough,” he recalled. A few years later, when it was Sasha’s turn to start at the University of Michigan, Michelle shared that they similarly held back their emotions in front of her roommates. “We didn’t want to embarrass her, but after lunch, when we said our final goodbyes, that’s when the tears came,” she said.
Obama also had a clever tip for keeping in touch with kids once they leave home. “You might want to tempt them with nice trips, like saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to Hawaii, want to join us?’” he suggested. While not everyone can afford a Hawaiian getaway, the idea of offering a little incentive to spend time together is a solid one.
Perhaps the most poignant advice came from Michelle Obama. Barack shared, “She always says that our job as parents is to help our kids become independent. It’s painful, but seeing them grow into confident and responsible adults is a sign that we’ve done our job right.”
If you’re curious about more parenting tips or related topics, check out this other blog post. And for those interested in journeying into parenthood, resources like this one offer valuable information.
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In summary, Barack Obama’s insights on the bittersweet experience of dropping kids off at college resonate deeply with many parents. From holding back tears to encouraging independence, his advice offers a mix of humor and heartfelt wisdom that can help ease the transition.
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