Former first lady Michelle Obama sparked fresh debate this week after telling women they should not give up their careers to raise children because, in her words, kids eventually fail to appreciate those sacrifices anyway. The comments came during an appearance Wednesday on the podcast Call Her Daddy, where Obama offered what she framed as “honest” advice to young mothers.
Obama, who shares two young adult daughters, Malia and Sasha, with former President Barack Obama, said she does not recommend women step off their “career track” for motherhood. According to her, children grow up quickly, seek independence, and ultimately disregard the years their mothers devoted to them.
She described telling young mothers that once children leave home, “they close the door and act like you never sacrificed,” adding that children eventually reach a point where they no longer need their parents. Her advice, she said, is for women to “save something for yourself” so they are not left wondering what to do once their children move on.
Obama went on to explain that women who dedicate everything to their children risk struggling emotionally when that chapter ends. She encouraged mothers to maintain their own identities and careers so they are not holding on too tightly when their children are ready to leave.
At the same time, she acknowledged that raising children can slow career progress and advised women to think long-term and be patient. Obama said she herself stepped off her career path, took pay cuts, and made sacrifices while her husband served as president, but still described herself as having remained professionally successful as a lawyer, nonprofit leader, and author.
She also revisited a familiar theme, arguing that being a woman in America comes with unique challenges. During a July episode of her podcast IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson, she complained that women face constant “landmines,” rules, and limitations that, in her view, make them “small,” urging men—especially fathers of daughters—to recognize those differences.
While many families continue to believe that raising children is not a burden but a calling, Obama’s remarks reflect a very different philosophy—one that prioritizes individual fulfillment over traditional ideas of family sacrifice. As always, Americans are free to decide which values they want to pass on to the next generation, and that freedom of choice remains one of the country’s greatest strengths.
