Fighting for Normalcy

Fighting for Normalcy
Everything changed during the 2008 presidential campaign.
The husband she once knew became a blur – a man in constant motion who needed to be everywhere at once.
And then there were the threats, which meant that Barack received a secret-service security detail earlier than any other candidate in history.
Michelle understood the reasons for the heightened security, but she also worried about how this unusual life on the campaign trail would affect her kids.
So, with the nation following their every move, Michelle tried to keep things as normal as possible.
On the Fourth of July in 2008, they were campaigning in Montana when they tried their best to give Malia a little birthday celebration during a picnic.
There she was, sitting in front of a cheeseburger on a plate, surrounded by a group of strangers singing her “Happy Birthday,” as secret-service agents hovered nearby.
Was she really going to remember this birthday as a happy one?
But the truth was, the girls handled it all with such aplomb that it made campaigning all the more enjoyable.
They liked playing cards with campaign staff and hunting for ice cream shops when they got to a new town.
Secret-service agents usually turned into grown-up friends.
And above all, they really didn't care about all the attention their dad was getting.
Of course, things took another turn once Barack won the election.
It quickly became apparent that life in the White House meant entering a bizarre alternate universe.
In this reality, even the simplest of things, like walking out the front door or buying a birthday card, could require a coordinated team effort involving numerous security protocols.
It was one thing for Michelle and Barack to lose some privacy and autonomy, but she was determined to keep things as normal as possible for her kids.
One of the first things Michelle did was to make sure that Sasha and Malia understood that, despite its austere grandeur, the White House was their home.
It was OK for them to play in the hallways and rummage in the pantry for snacks.
In particular, Michelle made it a priority to figure out a reliable system for letting the girls have friends over to visit.
All the rules and restrictions of the White House don't make it easy to raise kids.
But early on, Michelle saw something that made her breathe a bit easier.
One winter day, she looked out the window and noticed that Sasha and Malia had borrowed a big tray from the kitchen and were using it to slide down a snow-covered slope on the South Lawn.
It made her think, Maybe this experience won't be so bad for them after all.
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Fighting for Normalcy Everything changed during the 2008 presidential campaign. The husband she once knew became a blur – a man in constant motion who needed to be everywhere at once. And then there were the threats, which meant that Barack received a secret-service security detail earlier than any other candidate in history. Michelle understood the reasons for the heightened security, but she also worried about how this unusual life on the campaign trail would affect her kids. So, with the nation following their every move, Michelle tried to keep things as normal as possible. On the Fourth of July in 2008, they were campaigning in Montana when they tried their best to give Malia a little birthday celebration during a picnic. There she was, sitting in front of a cheeseburger on a plate, surrounded by a group of strangers singing her “Happy Birthday,” as secret-service agents hovered nearby. Was she really going to remember this birthday as a happy one? But the truth was, the girls handled it all with such aplomb that it made campaigning all the more enjoyable. They liked playing cards with campaign staff and hunting for ice cream shops when they got to a new town. Secret-service agents usually turned into grown-up friends. And above all, they really didn't care about all the attention their dad was getting. Of course, things took another turn once Barack won the election. It quickly became apparent that life in the White House meant entering a bizarre alternate universe. In this reality, even the simplest of things, like walking out the front door or buying a birthday card, could require a coordinated team effort involving numerous security protocols. It was one thing for Michelle and Barack to lose some privacy and autonomy, but she was determined to keep things as normal as possible for her kids. One of the first things Michelle did was to make sure that Sasha and Malia understood that, despite its austere grandeur, the White House was their home. It was OK for them to play in the hallways and rummage in the pantry for snacks. In particular, Michelle made it a priority to figure out a reliable system for letting the girls have friends over to visit. All the rules and restrictions of the White House don't make it easy to raise kids. But early on, Michelle saw something that made her breathe a bit easier. One winter day, she looked out the window and noticed that Sasha and Malia had borrowed a big tray from the kitchen and were using it to slide down a snow-covered slope on the South Lawn. It made her think, Maybe this experience won't be so bad for them after all.