Former first lady Michelle Obama faced criticism Friday after telling Jon Stewart on Wednesday’s “IMO” podcast that she did not miss having her adult daughters at home.
California Republican Party Delegate and mother Elizabeth Barcohana told Fox News Digital the remarks conveyed resentment amid a national debate over motherhood.
Obama offered a terse response after Stewart explained that the daily job of parenting had given meaning and structure to his life and asked whether she missed it.
“I’m good,” Obama said.
Barcohana said Obama appeared relieved that the active years of raising daughters Malia and Sasha had ended.
“There is a difference between a mother expressing exhaustion from the demands of motherhood — which is real and relatable — and expressing resentment,” Barcohana said. “Resentment is what appears to come through in Michelle Obama’s remarks, and it is especially painful to hear amid the national conversation surrounding the Lindsay Clancy trial.
“She seems happy that her daughters’ childhoods are over. That is not a relatable feeling for most mothers at all.”
Obama said she did not miss having her daughters at home but immediately stressed that she loved them and planned to see them for dinner that night.
“I don’t miss them. I don’t. I love them. I’m going to see them tonight for dinner. I love them,” she said. “But Barack cried when they went to college. I was like, ‘Bye, little — goodbye.’ Now I … now Friday nights aren’t wrecked with terror and fear about, ‘Where are you? Where are you?’”
Conservative commentator Matt Walsh accused Obama of appearing eager for her children to leave despite the assistance he claimed the family’s wealth afforded her.
“And yet she still couldn’t wait for the kids to leave because the minor demands they made on her time and energy were still too much for her. Just a total raging narcissist,” Walsh said.
Political commentator Link Lauren criticized Obama for what he characterized as repeated complaints about her family and lifestyle.
“This podcast is just her sitting around her mansion in Martha’s Vineyard complaining about how hard her life of luxury is and how much she despises her husband and children,” Lauren said.
Obama further explained her empty nest reaction by saying she welcomed her daughters’ independence and had already spent substantial time actively raising them.
“I love my schedule. I have a great schedule, and it’s all mine,” Obama said. “I mean, I’ve had so much quality time with my children. So much. Yeah, yeah. I know them inside and out.”
Obama also praised Barack Obama’s parenting last year, explaining that both parents deliberately prioritized their daughters throughout his presidency.
“It was important for both of us, for me and Barack, to carve out that time in those eight years when our girls were in their formative years, you know,” Obama said.
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