15 Pep Talks Michelle Obama Knows You & Your Kids Need RN
No matter what your political leanings are, all parents can agree that they live their lives striving to set a good example for their children. We try to be kind but tough. We strive to be supportive and uplifting, and to empower our kids to make their own decisions, guided by principles we have instilled in them.
And we can't even imagine the challenge it must be to raise children in the (inter)national spotlight. But somehow Michelle Obama has done that -- flawlessly -- and manages to find a way to draw from her strength of character to inspire us time and again with wisdom, humility, and encouragement in the way only a mother can.
Parenting in today's world isn't easy -- but we can make a real difference (in both our kids' lives and our own) by taking these 15 universal lessons from our reigning FLOTUS to heart, one pep talk at a time.
Be True to You
Michelle Obama gave this instruction to a group of graduating high schoolers, but it's relevant to all of us and all of our children. A life lived to suit someone else's vision can't ever be fulfilling.
How to Overcome Setbacks
Every now and then, failure is inevitable. It's part of the growth process. Our FLOTUS reminds us to take a lesson in every failure, and to use that pain to push ourselves to something better.
Be Patient
When Michelle Obama spoke on behalf of her husband at the 2012 Democratic National Convention, she reminded us that true significant change is built up over a long process of small progressive steps. Patience and perseverance are required.
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Have Hope
We spread hope by standing up for what's right. And then it grows into something larger than we are. The entire Obama family can attest to that.
Decency's Never Overrated
Do right by your neighbors, and lend a hand when they need it. This shouldn't be a revolutionary statement, but it's definitely one to live by. This is what Michelle Obama's parents taught her and what she'd want us to teach our kids.
Be a Leader
Michelle Obama offers these words for those who want to build a community-- and it's a powerful lesson for our children, too.
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How to Pick the One
This is a familiar talk between many moms and daughters -- how to know if he's the right one for you. How to know if he's honorable, and worth your time. Most moms would tell their children that how a partner treats them is priceless.
Focus on Your Goals
Everyone needs friends. Everyone needs extracurriculars. But don't let them distract you from your work, or from your true self. We assume that's how Michelle Obama is able to achieve so much.
Always Take the High Road
Michelle Obama reminds us that the high road is frequently the one less traveled. And if you're focused on your pathway, you're not distracted by others who might want to bring you down. (This one is always an often-quoted mantra.)
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A Note for Sons
We agree that any decent men, let alone leaders, shouldn't need to diminish others in order to glorify themselves. This is a lesson all our children should learn at a young age.
Have a Plan
When the going gets tough, the tough get together. They work through it, hand in hand. They don't let their differences divide them -- instead they rely on those differences to find solutions that help everyone. Being able to work with others is a crucial skill for any child to learn, and one to keep through adulthood.
Success Is Earned
We can only really appreciate a win after putting our best effort into it. As Michelle Obama reminds us, the biggest payoff of hard work is your own feeling of success.
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Refuse to Allow Darkness In
There's no room in your heart for bitterness if it's filled with love. And we don't got time for hatred, especially if we're focused on the good we're doing in the world.
Share Your Achievement
Michelle Obama reminds us that we can achieve our goals, but when we do, we must help others to do the same. Sounds like a spin on a golden rule that we can really get behind.
Be the Change You Want to See ... in Your Kids
The First Lady knows that her kids are always watching. But that's true for everyone else, too. As parents, we are our children's greatest role models. And as she told Vogue, we have to live up to that "Every. Single. Day." And maybe then our children will become role models, too.
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