Obama’s Most Revealing Quotes About Family 》

At this point, it’s fair to say that Barack Obama was one of the most influential American presidents. From his time in the White House to the present day, there has been a simple truth: Obama speaks, and everybody else leans forward to listen.

Part of Obama’s charm is that he speaks with authority about things he knows well. One of those topics is, of course, family. After all, Obama has had the unique challenge of raising two little girls and keeping his spouse happy, all while leading the free world!

So, what does this former president have to say about family? Keep reading to discover the answer!

Staying involved with family

Over the years, Barack Obama had much to say about being a parent. And one of his most consistent messages is that parents need to make the time and stay more involved with their children.

As reported by the New York Times, Obama elaborated on this point during a 2008 Father’s Day speech. “It’s a wonderful thing if you are married and living in a home with your children, but don’t just sit in the house and watch ‘SportsCenter’ all weekend long,” he said. “That’s why so many children are growing up in front of the television. As fathers and parents, we’ve got to spend more time with them, and help them with their homework, and replace the video game or the remote control with a book once in a while.”

In the context of the speech, “once in a while” is very significant. It’s not about embracing one extreme or another with our children, but finding a healthy balance.

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Parents must also be teachers

Education is a central element of our children’s lives. As such, many parents have had strong feelings about the role their children’s teachers play in their children’s lives. However, in a 2011 speech, Barack Obama was very clear about the fact that every parent must also be a teacher as well.

“Michelle and I know that our first job, our first responsibility, is instilling a sense of learning, a sense of a love of learning in our kids,” he said. “And so there are no shortcuts there; we have to do that job. And we can’t just blame teachers and schools if we’re not instilling that commitment, that dedication to learning, in our kids.”

It’s not always easy to hear, but this is a sobering reminder that helping our children learn as much as possible will always be a collaborative effort between parents, teachers, and the larger community.