Obama Mama

When I heard the new First Lady was planning to move her mother into the White House, it brought a rush of memories. Mrs. Obama wants her mother's help with the Obama's two daughters at least until a transition is made and a routine is established. The mom (whose name I've misplaced) is willing to give it a try but will keep her home in Illinois for now.

My mother (that's your GG, ninos) came to live with us when Mame and I transitioned to a new home and life in AZ. The move worked out well and we all benefited in different ways. Your GG took care of the house and watched over your mother; Nonna went off to work early in the morning and came home late at night and then hung around the house on weekends. If not for GG, your mama would have been left pretty much on her own, not a good situation for a young girl of thirteen or so..

As First Lady, Mrs. Obama will have very little discretionary time with her daughters. Even when she is with them, her mind is likely to be elsewhere. She might be thinking of her many new responsibilities, or she might be thinking of how to encourage and support her husband in his presidency. She will not often be thinking of why her older daughter seems less talkative or why her younger daughter has suddenly grown shy and pensive or whether they have clean laundry or if they are actually eating the lunch she is sending with them to school or who their new best friend might be or any of the gazillion things that mamas have to think about in the course of a day, week, year. But her mom can be doing that in her place. And while Mrs. Obama could hire someone, several someones even to help her, it would not provide the same confidence of knowing her mom is watching over her daughters. The White House is a big place; there is room for separation in their togetherness. I hope it goes well for them.