Michelle Obama Vogue Cover: 5 Takeaways From Her Second Cover Story

Culture

First Lady Michelle Obama covered Vogue for the second time in the April edition of the magazine and although admittedly the article was as much about her husband President Barack Obama as it was her, there are a handful of takeaways from the interview that clue you in to Michelle as a wife, mother, and figure in the national discussion.

In parts of the interview it’s clear the president gets away with nothing when it comes to his wife, and that Michelle will always tell her husband exactly how it is -- out of love, of course.

In the interview, the fact that she cares about her kids being bright, well-adjusted young ladies is clear. Her wanting them to have a “normal life” might be a touch out of reach, but her striving to give Sasha and Malia a well-rounded upbringing in not so normal of circumstances is commendable.

Spouses are often given the title “better half” rather flippantly, but it seems that Barack does value Michelle’s place as part of a team. It’s not about “catering” to her husband, but rather keeping him on track, and letting him know what’s important.

"I think it would be a mistake to think that my wife, when I walk in the door, is, Hey, honey, how was your day? Let me give you a neck rub. It’s not as if Michelle is thinking in terms of, How do I cater to my husband? I think it’s much more, We’re a team, and how do I make sure that this guy is together enough that he’s paying attention to his girls and not forgetting the basketball game that he’s supposed to be going to on Sunday?"

A lot of the interview focuses on Barack’s appreciation for his wife, but there’s a moment when “borrowed functioning” enters the conversation and Michelle highlights Barack’s “Hawaiian mellowness,” often seen by many as being aloof or cold.

“Well, patience and calm I’m borrowing,” says the First Lady. “Or trying to mirror. I've learned that from my husband, that sort of, you know, ability to not get too high or too low with changes and bumps in the road . . . Oftentimes, it’s the way we react to change that is the thing that determines the overall experience. So I've learned to let go and enjoy it and take it in and not take things too personally.”