This guest post comes courtesy of friend of the blog Gwen Jimmere over at If It Walks Like a Duck a great relationship blog. Make sure you check her out when you get done here.
Every couple, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, background or creed should take notes from Barack & Michelle Obama.
Not only in terms of his presidency but in terms of their interactions. Rarely are a couple so genuinly in tuned with one another. It’s obvious they have what my friend would call a “soultie”, and its not just political front for the cameras. They aren’t one of those couples that need to separate their careers from their relationship, blocking out “business time” from “our time”. They are a team, and as a team, their relationship plays a vital role. If they were fakers, this wouldn’t be possible.
Barack doesn’t reduce Michelle to playing in the background. She was just as much a part of his candidacy as he was, and I’m positive the trend will continue into his presidency. He makes it known that she just might be a tad bit smarter than him. By the same token, she doesn’t try to overshadow him or get on some bra-burning feminist high horse. He is just as proud of her as she is of him and their authenticity resounds the world over. They both know their roles and play their positions expertly.
Michelle doesn’t mess around; she’s quick to tell him how it is. Barack is a real man and I don’t believe he would have it any other way. Can you see him married to some weak “yes-woman” with no backbone? Not a chance. She is very aware of her worth and revels in her femininity, yet she knows how and when to call the shots. They are on the same mental level “” something very important in a relationship, let me tell you. They challenge each other, but they aren’t in competition with one another “” a difference many couples have trouble deciphering. And he calls her “his rock” and means it. How beautiful is that? Michelle is a real woman and she holds it down.
Furthermore, they aren’t all extra mushy (yuck!) and sentimental. I love that they don’t get outrageously kissy faced or seem to have a need for attention being brought to their relationship. It’s not what you see in the movies or on television. What you see is what you get with the Obamas. They don’t have one of those relationships where you wonder if they ever have disagreements. I know they have disagreements. I can tell Barack annoys Michelle at times and vice versa. But they also seem like a couple that doesn’t yell and scream at one another. When Barack is getting to her, I can see Michelle retreating to read a book or workout while she calms down, then reapproaching the situation. It’s a REAL romance with an authenticity we rarely get a chance to view.
I absolutely love them and cannot wait till we get to see them and their beautiful daughters in action starting January 20, 2009. They are a shining example of what a relationship should be: a business-minded team as well as intimate lovers. YES WE DID!
great reasons indeed
I wholeheartedly agree with the guest poster’s reasoning. Barack and Michelle are the first couple that Ive seen firsthand in politics that I consider to be real people with a real relationship. Take away everything they have, and you know they would still be together and still have that great relationship with their kids.
Barack makes it obvious that he loves and appreciates his family and its genuine. They talk and act like normal people, not from a script for the cameras. Im really excited about seeing how Barack will be as President and hearing about the first family.
Seriously, are you kidding me? Are you that star struck? How can you say any of the things that you just said? The only time that you see this couple is on TV in front of the cameras. How in the world do you know what they are like as a real couple unless you personally spend time with them in private?
I am all for the new first family as of Jan. 20th, but please people. Stop acting like you are friends with this family.
I agree with not in nana land. People, specifically black people have gotten drunk of the Obama’s.
I’ll be the first to say that I don’t know what they’re like in real life but if it gives black people, black children and the world an image of a black husband and wife who love each other and their children to combat all of the other images and stereotypes that are put forth, I’m all for it.
We have every right to be drunk with admiration over the Obama family. If some Americans can be just as drunk with admiration over Sarah Palin, the First Dude, their five children and a self-proclaimed redneck husband to be, then why can’t we? We’ve waited a long time! We’ve earned the right. This is an international spirit that has moved many hearts.
iT IS SUCH A WONDROUS EXPERIENCE TO SEE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY PORTRAYED AS A BEAUTIFUL COUPLE AS THEY ARE. CERTAINLY THEY MAY POSSESS NEGATIVES AS MOST OF US DO, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE PRESENTED THEMSELVES IN A MOST POSITIVE AND INTELLIGENT MANNER. I AM ESPECIALLY PROUD OF THEM AND THEIR FAMILY. AM I REALLY REALLY PROUD!!!!
I guess I can understand why many ppl do not feel the way others do(their candidate lost). Ppl soon forget how loved JFK was and how our country embraced him and also Bill Clinton. As a person of color I have to look/search for similarities in a president that I can identify with. Bill Clinton was not only for the ppl he stepped it up a notch when he went on “The Arsenio Hall Show” and played his Sax. JFK was also for the ppl and looked like a movie star plus his wife was the first First Lady to let cameras into The White House for us to see her decorating talent. We can “unite” and support our newley Elected President or we can “divide” and fall and leave him hanging. I say let’s rally around our next President and know that he has our support. There is enough cleaning up to do, that without our support he will not succeed. It is so much easier to smile than to frown. As a woman who is aging I would rather have laugh lines than frown lines on my face. I love Michelle and Barack Obama who are now The First Lady and President Elect because I have watched and folllowed them on tv for the past 2 yrs. We have watched their kids grow and have seen the love and respect that this married couple have for each other and their children. The Obama’s are not doing anything differently that any family with children does daily. You take the kids to school, go to school meetings. Take the kids to after school practices. This family does everyday things as a family, they are just being video taped in their daily routine of their lives. To hate takes more energy than to love. We choose to hate, love just happens.
First: LOVED how the writer captured the essence of what some of us have “seen” and “felt” of our new First Family thus far. I am in no way ashamed to admit I get butterflies watching their love because it is encouraging….regardless of what secrets lie behind closed doors (we all have public and personal personas).
Second: I guess it’s a reasonable argument to speculate as to whether their image is a facade, but for what? Have we been conditioned to seek the negative when nothing but positivity is being presented? The Obamas represent class, intelligence, endurance, and most importantly HOPE. Yes I KNEW and still KNOW that I could and can do all things through my Lord and Savior, yet their existence does inspire those who cling to upligting elements of our earthly existence to see such wonderful depictions of not just people but BLACK PEOPLE….living, laughing and genuinely loving 🙂
I wouldn’t say I’m “tipsy” on the Obamas, I just appreciate what they represent as the leading family of this country and how they’ve choosen to be presented as a solid union 🙂
I look forward to Barrack and Michelle leading this country and it will be hard for them ,but know this people of God it takes time to flourish and shape the country back into what it was .. Let patience have it’s perfect work.
I love the Obamas, too! They are remarkable individuals in a remarkable marriage.
I’m not a huge fan of parading a family I see on television upon my personal pedestal. However, the author of this article makes some valid points.
One of the most memorable quotes I remember Michelle Obama making is, “I know Barack can lead this country well. If he can lead a woman like me effectively, then I know he’ll do the same for this country.”
You cannot make a statement like that without being confident in both your marriage and your own femininity. I have a healthy respect for both the new commander in chief and his wife.
cPzK3W hi! how you doin?