Michelle Obama told People she is actively preparing her daughters, Malia and Sasha, for a life without her and reflected on how her own mother taught her to do the same.
The 61-year-old said her relationship with Marian Robinson shaped the way she raises her children. Marian, she recalled, began gently preparing Michelle and her brother Craig for the idea of life after their mother from an early age.
“What she was doing was letting us know that she loved us, but that we could live life with and without her,” Michelle said, adding that she now tries to convey the same message to her girls: that they are loved but can thrive independently.
In Marian’s final months, Michelle said her mother leaned over during a quiet moment and observed, “Wow, that was quick.” The former first lady interpreted the remark as a reminder that life moves faster than expected and that nobody is ever completely ready to let go.
Marian Robinson died in May 2024 at age 86. The Obamas released a statement honoring her role in their family, noting how she quietly supported her grandchildren through every stage, listened, encouraged and made them feel loved and capable.
Now empty nesters with Malia and