Even in the White House, bedtime drama was still bedtime drama.
On a recent episode of IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama shared a hilarious parenting story that perfectly captures the different personalities of her daughters, Malia Obama and Sasha Obama.
The former first lady recalled a night when her husband, Barack Obama, was traveling and she was home alone trying to get the girls to bed. Malia was about seven, Sasha just three. Usually well-behaved, the sisters were especially rambunctious that evening — pushing their mom straight into what she jokingly called “frustrated mommy time.”
“I said, ‘Well, that’s it. No one listens to me. I’m done parenting. You guys seem like you have this all figured out — have at it,’” Michelle recounted.
What happened next couldn’t have illustrated their personalities more clearly.
Malia, the older sister, immediately panicked. “Oh no, Mommy, I can’t do without you,” she pleaded, dramatically beginning to take off her clothes in distress. Michelle admitted that part of her thought, “Yes — this is what I wanted,” hoping her daughter would realize how much she still needed her.
Sasha, on the other hand, had a very different response. The toddler calmly observed the scene from the stairs, clutching her blanket. Then she simply turned around and headed back upstairs to watch TV — as if thinking, “Finally. I’ve got this.”
Over the years, Michelle has often contrasted their temperaments. Malia, she’s said, tends to manage relationships thoughtfully — even as a teen making sure to spend a few minutes chatting with her dad before going out. Sasha, meanwhile, has always been fiercely independent. Michelle once joked that Sasha is “like a cat,” preferring affection on her own terms.
For Michelle, the lesson is simple: parenting isn’t one-size-fits-all. Each child needs something different — and sometimes, even a dramatic “I quit!” moment becomes part of the journey.
