Barack Obama and the future Presidential family (wife Michelle and their daughters, 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha) are all smiles on the upcoming cover of People magazine.
Here's some interview highlights:
Do you give your girls an allowance?
Michelle: Sorta, kinda. [Laughs]
Barack: I'm out of town all the time, so Malia will say, "Hey, you owe me 10 weeks!" ... Originally, we were giving her a dollar a week as long as she did all her chores. It turns out that she's been doing her chores even without prompting from the allowance, which makes me feel guilty that she's been carrying on her end of the bargain and I haven't been as consistent.
What does discipline look like in your house?
Barack: Mommy raising her voice.
Michelle: It's usually a lecture. It's a lot of conversation. Or it's separating them. Or it's saying if you guys can't decide nicely what program to watch, then you don't get to watch anything. It's sort of pulling away a privilege. But in all honesty, we don't have to discipline –
Barack: If you ask them to do something, they're like any other kid ...
Michelle: They'll whine a little bit.
Barack: They'll test boundaries. But if you say, "Guys, this is what we need to do ..."
How are you preparing them for possible life in the White House?
Michelle: Slowly. We talk to them about it as they are curious. ... They ask about schools and making friends. ... Their anxiety has nothing to do with the White House; it has everything to do with what kids think about: "If I have to go to a new school, will I make friends and what about my old friendships?"
Here's some interview highlights:
Do you give your girls an allowance?
Michelle: Sorta, kinda. [Laughs]
Barack: I'm out of town all the time, so Malia will say, "Hey, you owe me 10 weeks!" ... Originally, we were giving her a dollar a week as long as she did all her chores. It turns out that she's been doing her chores even without prompting from the allowance, which makes me feel guilty that she's been carrying on her end of the bargain and I haven't been as consistent.
What does discipline look like in your house?
Barack: Mommy raising her voice.
Michelle: It's usually a lecture. It's a lot of conversation. Or it's separating them. Or it's saying if you guys can't decide nicely what program to watch, then you don't get to watch anything. It's sort of pulling away a privilege. But in all honesty, we don't have to discipline –
Barack: If you ask them to do something, they're like any other kid ...
Michelle: They'll whine a little bit.
Barack: They'll test boundaries. But if you say, "Guys, this is what we need to do ..."
How are you preparing them for possible life in the White House?
Michelle: Slowly. We talk to them about it as they are curious. ... They ask about schools and making friends. ... Their anxiety has nothing to do with the White House; it has everything to do with what kids think about: "If I have to go to a new school, will I make friends and what about my old friendships?"
