The Moms And The City

by Betsy Shaw posted in Mom Stories With a tween in the house, who demonstrates her burgeoning independence in a new way every day, I’m no stranger to anticipatory anxiety. When will she want to dye her hair, or get a radical cut, or adopt a bizarre fashion sense, or start piercing things, other than… Read more »

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Congrats to First Lady Michelle Obama, who’s celebrating her 49th birthday today! In honor of the occasion, we’ve scoured the past few years of White House photos to find some of our very favorite “first mom” moments. From the campaign trail to Washington to travels across the globe, Mrs. Obama takes a hands-on approach to motherhood, and these 15 photos are just a few of the thousands that prove it. Happy birthday, Michelle! View Slideshow › http://bit.ly/13HtDIm

_This morning, First Lady Michelle Obama issued an open letter to parents on the topic of talking to our children about the tragedy in Newtown, CT. We’ve published her words below in their entirety, in hopes that they’ll provide comfort and guidance during this sad and difficult time for our nation._

Dear parents,

Like every American, Barack and I are absolutely heartbroken about the unspeakable tragedy that occurred last week in Newtown, Conn. And like so many of you, our first reactions were not as a President and First Lady, but as a Mom and Dad. We were asking ourselves, what if this had been our town, or our school, or our girls?

And we know that all across the country, it’s not just adults who are asking questions right now - our children are looking for answers as well. Like us, they want to know, why did this happen? Could it happen again? And as parents, all of us can take the time to hold our kids close and talk with them about the things that truly matter: our love for them, the importance of extending that love to those affected by this tragedy, and how that love truly defines our great American community.

Click here to continue reading the rest of the first lady’s letter http://bit.ly/T6a7mx

_First Lady Michelle Obama shared this op-ed with PopSugar, just one week before the election. Michelle first heard Stacey Lihn’s story at the Democratic National Convention, where she spoke about how her family was able to afford their daughter Zoe’s heart surgeries only because of health reform. Watch the video at the end of this post and remember to get out and vote!_

With all the back and forth of campaign season, it might be easy to forget that all these issues we’re discussing have a real effect on people’s lives. But as we head into the last week of the campaign, I want to remind everyone that this election is about more than political talking points - it will determine whether millions of people can continue to have access to health care, afford a college education, or even stay in their homes. If anyone thinks I’m exaggerating, just ask Stacey.

Stacey is a mother of two from Arizona. Before her youngest daughter, Zoe, was born, she’d been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. To save her life, Zoe needed three heart surgeries. She had her first when she was just 15 hours old, a second one at 4 months, and she’ll need a third surgery sometime in the next couple of years.

The Lihns’ insurance plan, like more than half of insurance plans nationwide, included something called a “lifetime cap.” This meant their insurance company would only cover Zoe’s medical expenses up to a certain dollar amount for her entire life. But because of the surgeries she required, Zoe had already used up half of that limit by the time she was just 6 months old. That’s right - 6 months old.

To read the rest of Michelle’s words, just read more

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So the questions swirled for Stacey and her husband, Caleb. What would they do if Zoe went over her lifetime limit? And how hard would their little girl have to fight with insurance companies for the rest of her life, just to get the health care she needed?

But thanks to the health care reform my husband signed into law, Stacey’s family received a letter saying that Zoe’s lifetime cap had been lifted. And because of the law, insurance companies will no longer be able to discriminate against patients with preexisting conditions.

“Like so many moms with sick children,” Stacey said, “I shed tears and I could breathe easier knowing we have that net below us to catch us if we fall.”

But all that could change if health reform is repealed. Some people want to pull that net away from the Lihns and millions of other families across the country. And that’s why this election is so critical.

This Fall, we’ll determine whether moms like Stacey will have to wrestle with insurance companies over things like “lifetime caps” and “preexisting conditions.” We’ll decide whether a beautiful little girl like Zoe can be discriminated against for the rest of her life - or whether she can get the health coverage she needs.

If you believe - as Barack and I do - that no family should have to choose between caring for a sick child or going bankrupt, I hope you’ll vote for my husband this fall. Voting is already underway in many states - and you can go to GottaVote.com to find out where and when you can vote in your neighborhood.

And make no mistake about it - your vote will make a difference, not just in who wins and loses on Election Night, but for families like the Lihns and children like Zoe all across our nation. http://bit.ly/SSIAA5

_We are thrilled to share the next answer in our series with First Lady Michelle Obama. It’s the last day to register to vote in a number of states, so make sure to check out Gotta Vote.com to make sure you’re ready come election day. Just 28 days until the election, so check out what Michelle has to say about the importance of women making our voices heard at the polls:_

PopSugar reader SFGrl asks, “I recently got married and this will be the first election I’ll be voting as a married woman. My husband, who has opposing political views, has given me a lot to think about come Election Day. I would love to hear what the first lady has to say about how as a woman, wife, and someday a mother, I can best prepare myself to vote.”

“Well first of all, congratulations to you and your husband! Barack and I wish you both a long and happy life together.

No matter what your political views are, I think it’s important for everyone in this country to get engaged in our political process. Our democracy is most successful when everyone speaks their voice, and of course we do that in elections by voting.

As women, I think it’s particularly important that we make sure that our voices are part of the conversation. Generations of women have fought to leave behind a world where we have all the choices and opportunities that men have. And I believe we owe it to our daughters - and our sons - to stay engaged and keep fighting for the world we want to leave for them. With all that is at stake in this election - whether it’s equal pay for women, access to health care, how we’re going to keep rebuilding our economy - women can’t afford to be silent. We have to remember that, if we don’t speak up, other people will make our decisions for us.

So I hope every woman out there will take a moment to think about what really matters most to them in this election. Read up on the candidates and get informed about the issues that are important to you. And make sure you go out and vote. If you’re unsure of how or where to do that, just visit GottaVote.com to get all the information you need.” http://bit.ly/RtHaLU

_We are thrilled to share the next answer in our series with First Lady Michelle Obama. Early voting has begun, so don’t forget to register at GottaVote.com! This week is a big one for the Obama family - not only is it the first presidential debate, but it’s also Barack and Michelle’s wedding anniversary. For that reason, we’re focusing on her husband and daughters this week. Remember to join us tonight for our debate pre- and postshows on PopSugar LIVE!_

“This is a big week for Barack and me, and not just because of all that’s happening on the campaign. On October 3rd, 1992, Barack and I were married in Chicago – and every day since, I’ve grown prouder, and more in love, with him. So I want to thank everyone who sent along lovely anniversary wishes this week, and I’m looking forward to answering some more of your questions here at PopSugar.”

PopSugar’s Molly G. asks, “What is the thing that has impressed you the most about your husband as you have watched him grow over the past 20 years and in his presidency?”

“One of the things I’ve seen as First Lady is that there are no easy decisions that reach the Oval Office. The problems that reach the President’s desk are always the tough ones, where the stakes are high and there’s no margin for error. And the truth is, no matter how much data you have or how many advisors you consult, your judgments always come down to who you are and what you stand for.”

To read the rest of Michelle’s answer just read more

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“That’s what I meant at our convention, when I said that being President doesn’t change who you are – it reveals who you are. Over the last few years, I’ve seen Barack make a lot of tough calls. From pushing for health care reform, to stepping in to save the auto industry, to bringing Osama bin Laden to justice, he’s proven that he’s going to have the backs of the American people.

And so it may sound strange, but one of the things that has impressed me most about Barack is how little he has changed as President. He’s still the same man I fell in love with all those years ago, who believes that if you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and your family. He’s still the same man I saw turn down high-paying jobs on Wall Street to fight for workers as a community organizer in Chicago. It’s his consistency and his unwavering commitment to his values and core principles that not only inspires me, it gives me great trust in how he will continue to lead our country as President.”

We are still taking questions! There are three ways to participate:

1. You can leave your question in the comments section here on PopSugar.com
2. You can tweet using the hashtag #POPSUGAR2012
3. You can leave your question in the tab on our PopSugar Facebook page

We’re so excited to hear what’s on your mind and to speak to First Lady Michelle Obama together. http://bit.ly/O5oJiF

_We are thrilled to share the next answer in our series with First Lady Michelle Obama. This week is a big one for the Obama family - not only is it the first presidential debate, but it’s also Barack and Michelle’s wedding anniversary. For that reason, we’re focusing on her husband and daughters this week. First up, an intro from Michelle. Then, hear her thoughts on her own daughters’ future voting:_

“This is a big week for Barack and me, and not just because of all that’s happening on the campaign. Early voting has already begun in Iowa and Ohio, and Barack takes the stage for the first presidential debate tomorrow night in Denver. But we’ll be marking an even bigger milestone together: our 20th wedding anniversary. On Oct. 3, 1992, Barack and I were married in Chicago - and every day since, I’ve grown prouder and more in love with him.

So I want to thank everyone who sent along lovely anniversary wishes this week, and I’m looking forward to answering some more of your questions here at PopSugar.”

PopSugar reader lshepoped asked, “If your children were old enough to vote this November, what criteria would you suggest they use to evaluate the presidential candidates?”

To read Michelle’s answers just read more

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“Well I would hope this election would be an easy decision for them! But if I were to give them some more objective advice, I would tell them to vote for the person who they believe will help create the kind of world they would want for their own daughters someday.

That’s why I’m working so hard to reelect Barack. It’s not just because he’s my husband - it’s because of the world I want to leave behind for our daughters. Like so many parents around the country, I want them to grow up in a world where there are good economic opportunities for those who work hard, where women are paid fairly in the workplace, and where insurance companies can’t discriminate against women and charge higher rates for their care. I want them to inherit a country with the best schools in the world, safe streets, a clean environment - a country that says no matter where you come from, what you look like, or who you love, you can make it if you try.

That’s how I’ve always made my choice for president, even when Barack wasn’t on the ballot. So when the time comes for our girls to cast their own votes, I hope that’s what they’ll be thinking about, too.”

We are still taking questions! There are three ways to participate:

1. You can leave your question in the comments section here on PopSugar.com
2. You can tweet using the hashtag #POPSUGAR2012
3. You can leave your question in the tab on our PopSugar Facebook page

We’re so excited to hear what’s on your mind and to speak to First Lady Michelle Obama together. Source: Michelle Obama’s Pinterest http://bit.ly/PUurSW

_We are thrilled to share the next answer in our series with First Lady Michelle Obama. Since we’re in back-to-school mode, this week we’re focusing on education and women’s health. Here’s the first lady in her own words about the economy and family:_

TrèsSugar editor Annie Scudder asks, “What can we do to make the cost of starting and raising a family in America more affordable? The price of quality education, health care, and child care sometimes seem prohibitive in this country.”

“Annie, I really appreciated getting this question, because for me, it really crystallizes the choices we’re facing in this election. When I think back to when Barack took office as president, I remember how our economy was on the brink of collapse, losing 800,000 jobs a month. And for years, middle-class families had been squeezed from all sides as costs were rising and wages just weren’t keeping up.

As Barack began the work of rebuilding our economy, that was truly his focus - helping hardworking middle-class families once again have a fair shot.”

To read the rest of Michelle Obama’s answer, just read more

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“Barack cut taxes for small businesses and working families - because he believes teachers and firefighters shouldn’t pay higher tax rates than millionaires and billionaires.

He fought for health reform so that insurance companies won’t be able to discriminate against you because you have a preexisting condition, and so they have to cover basic preventive care like contraception and cancer screenings with no out-of-pocket cost. He also wanted to make sure young people could stay on their parents’ healthcare plans until the age of 26, and see that seniors on Medicare could better afford their prescription drugs.

He signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Restoration Act into law to help women get equal pay for equal work, because he knows what that pay means to families - and because, as a father, he wants our daughters to have the same freedoms and opportunities as our sons.

And in my earlier post, I talked about how Barack has worked to make college more affordable and more accessible to all our young people, so they can pursue their dreams without amassing a mountain of debt.

And all the gains we’ve made - and all the progress we can make in another four years - that’s really what this election is all about. That’s what’s at stake this November.”

We are still taking questions! There are three ways to participate:

1. You can leave your question in the comments section here on PopSugar.com
2. You can tweet using the hashtag #POPSUGAR2012
3. You can leave your question in the tab on our PopSugar Facebook page

We’re so excited to hear what’s on your mind and to speak to First Lady Michelle Obama together. http://bit.ly/VOL7O3

_We are thrilled to share the next answer in our series with First Lady Michelle Obama. Since we’re in back-to-school mode, this week we’re focusing on education and women’s health. Here’s the first lady in her own words about her daughters:_

PopSugar reader Crystal Dawn asks, “How have you encouraged your girls to think for themselves, be true to themselves, and stand up for what they believe in?”

“Our girls are pretty inquisitive, and Barack and I try to encourage that and reinforce what they’re learning in school when we’re together.

For example, people are often surprised to hear this, but we have dinner together just about every night at 6:30 as a family. Barack often goes back to work right afterwards, but as long as he’s not traveling, he’ll come upstairs from the office, and I’ll put down what I’m doing, and we’ll spend that time together as a family. We usually talk about what’s going on in school and in their daily lives, and the girls don’t hesitate to grill Barack on whatever they’re learning about.

We also try to show our girls the importance of being active citizens in our democracy. Of course, that’s a little easier to demonstrate when their dad is president, and they see firsthand how important it is to make your voice heard in our democratic process by voting.”

We are still taking questions! There are three ways to participate:

1. You can leave your question in the comments section here on PopSugar.com
2. You can tweet using the hashtag #POPSUGAR2012
3. You can leave your question in the tab on our PopSugar Facebook page

We’re so excited to hear what’s on your mind and to speak to First Lady Michelle Obama together. http://bit.ly/NR85mJ

by Carolyn Robertson posted in Mom Stories My 6-year-old daughter wants to quit swimming. She’s getting set to once again tackle the same level for the umpteenth time this fall, though if it were up to her she’d probably pack in her little swimsuit for good. I know that she dreads it. I know that… Read more »

Want to get the full story? Click on the headline above. And thanks for reading the BabyCenter Blog. http://bit.ly/UtEVsa

_We are thrilled to share the first answer in our series with First Lady Michelle Obama. Since we’re in back-to-school mode, this week we’re focusing on education and women’s health. Here’s the first lady in her own words:_

“Fall is officially here, and like a lot of parents around the country, Barack and I are feeling a little sentimental about our girls getting another year older and starting a new grade at school. I can tell many of you are feeling the same way, because I got a lot of questions this week about issues affecting our kids, from education to health care. So, this week, I’ll answer some of those - and maybe a couple others as well.”

Read on for Michelle’s answer to PopSugar reader Ashley Goodman’s question. Ashley asks, “What does the president plan on doing in order to help ease some of the financial debt for students?”

We are still taking questions! There are three ways to participate:

1. You can leave your question in the comments section here on PopSugar.com
2. You can tweet using the hashtag #POPSUGAR2012
3. You can leave your question in the tab on our PopSugar Facebook page

We’re so excited to hear what’s on your mind and to speak to First Lady Michelle Obama together. View Slideshow › http://bit.ly/PWtPfe

Women are at the center of attention during this 2012 election season, and it’s more important than ever for us to get out there and vote. Starting today on PopSugar, we are announcing a special interview series with First Lady Michelle Obama. Over the next few weeks, she will be here to answer your questions about the election and all the issues we are facing as women during this election time. We want to hear what’s on your mind, so ask away. What are your concerns about women’s health care? Jobs? Education? Balancing being a working mom and wife? Whatever is on your mind, ask away; every week, the first lady will tackle your questions on a range of topics. Here’s Michelle Obama announcing our series in her own words.

There are three ways to participate:

1. You can leave your questions in the comments here on PopSugar.com
2. You can tweet using the hashtag #POPSUGAR2012
3. You can leave the questions in the post on our PopSugar Facebook page

We’re so excited to hear what’s on your mind and to speak to First Lady Michelle together.

The Sugar Inc. standard Terms of Use and Privacy Policy apply to your submission and participation in the Q&A with First Lady Michelle Obama. Please note that submitting a question does not guarantee that it will be answered. However, you will never know if you don’t ask! http://bit.ly/QXLpAV

_We’re happy to present this article from our partner site Yahoo! Shine:_

The public rarely catches a glimpse of President Barack Obama’s daughters Malia, 14, and Sasha, 11. Even an appearance on stage at the end of the Democratic National Convention wasn’t reason enough to break the “you must go to school” rule; as the president promised in his speech, the girls were at their desks at Sidwell Friends School first thing in the morning. But when you’re parenting in the White House, you have to be even more strict than your average mom or dad.

How strict? The New York Times’ Jodi Kantor listed a few rules that First Lady Michelle Obama has mentioned over the years:

* The girls must write reports about what they’ve seen on their trips, even if it’s not required by their school.
* Malia may use her cellphone only on the weekends, and she and her sister cannot watch television or use a computer for anything but homework during the week.
* Malia and Sasha have to play two sports: one they choose and one selected by their mother.
* Malia must learn to do laundry before she leaves for college.
* The girls have to eat their vegetables, and if they say that they are not hungry, they cannot ask for cookies or chips later.

Check out more Obama household rules here. http://bit.ly/NZZ9Nf

by Betsy Shaw posted in Mom Stories An article in today’s N.Y. Times reveals a partial list of the “house rules,” we’re talking the White House, put in place by Mom in Chief, Michelle Obama. Just seeing a list of rules makes me think, not all that fondly, of Tiger Mom, but there’s no mention… Read more »

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by Samantha Schoech posted in Mom Stories Wherever you stand on the political spectrum, you have to admit that Michelle Obama rocked it last night. She was poised and funny and heartfelt and gorgeous and relatable. She got it all right, from her tone to her nail polish. CNN commentator Gordon Stewart is already crediting… Read more »

Want to get the full story? Click on the headline above. And thanks for reading the BabyCenter Blog. http://bit.ly/TnrUTg