Malia Obama is turning 13; how her famous parents speak out on parenting

June 2009 photo via Parade.com

Malia Obama is turning 13 next month and her sister Sasha is 10... together they are arguable two of the most famous tweens in America. The world is poised to peek into their daily lives, especially as the girls start developing their own sense of style, teenager's angst and poise, sense of humility (or entitlement), and how their famous parents are faring when it comes to bring up to tweens in the White House.


Barack and Michelle Obama are certainly in the limelight as tween parents and fiercely guard their daughters' privacy... a difficult balance especially as the family gears up for the campaign trail and as Malia becomes a young lady, even experiencing her first kiss (at lunchtime, at school!).


Despite the privacy curtain, it was a delight to actually hear the girls reading Dr. Suess (with flair!) to schoolchildren during their recent trip in Capetown South Africa.  Hearing the girls' voices and seeing their personalities shows us that they are articulate, personable and bright young ladies enjoying their world travels as "ambassadors," greeting different types of people all over the world and representing the United States very, very well.





Like many First Ladies before her, The First Lady has always been very public and candid, joining her husband to speak out about their parenting philosophies, from open letters in Parade Magazine about what Barack wants for his two daughters (slideshow), Michelle Obama's eloquent and heartfelt "Dating Advice for her Daughters," Barack's view on the importance of fathering and his blunt opines on parental roles vs. educational institution's roles with a tone that is so earthy and genuine and engaging... a tone unlike any other president since JFK.  For example, Obama at a recent town meeting on education said to the crowd:

"Can I make this one last point? I hope I'm not offending anybody," Obama said, "It doesn't matter how much money we put in (education) if parents don't parent." 

"So turn off the TV set. Put the video game away. Buy a little desk or put that child at the kitchen table. Watch them do their homework. If they don't know how to do it give 'em help. If you don't know how to do it, call the teacher Make them go to bed at a reasonable time. Keep 'em off the streets. Give 'em some breakfast. Can I get an Amen here?" (CBS News)

Please comment below!  What do YOU think about how the Obamas are raising Sasha and Malia in the White House?
Do you think they are maintaining a balance of public and private exposure for these impressionable young ladies? 
Tweens: how would you like to grow up in the White House? What would YOU give Malia for her 13th birthday?