Michelle Obama admits in the new Netflix documentary Becoming that having children was a 'concession' that cost her her 'aspir...
Michelle Obama admits in the new Netflix documentary Becoming that having children was a 'concession' that cost her her 'aspirations and dreams' after she rose to become Barack's equal.
The documentary was released on Netflix on Wednesday and sees the former first lady narrate parts of her life from when she was a child to meeting Barack, their time in the White House and what she now hopes to do with her time.
Among the revelations she makes is that when she met her husband, she felt she had to rise to become his 'equal'.
'My relationship with Barack was all about our equal partnership.
'If I was going to have a unique voice with this very opinionated man, I had to get myself up and set myself off to a place where I was going to be his equal,' she said.
She goes on to say that the birth of their daughters, Malia, now 21, and Sasha, now 18, 'changed' that dynamic.
Michelle speaking in the Netflix documentary. For her interview, she wears a necklace that says 'Becoming'
Barack and Michelle met in 1989 when they were both working for a law firm. She was his mentor but says in the documentary she had to 'get herself up' to become his equal
The pair welcomed Malia in 1998 and Sasha three years later. Michelle said it forced her to give up her 'aspirations and dreams'. The family is pictured in 2004
'The thing that really changed it was the birth of our children. I wasn't really ready for that. That really made it harder.
'Something had to give and it was my aspirations and dreams.
'I made that concession not because he said "you have to quit your job" but it felt like "I can't do all of this so I have to tone down my aspirations, I have to dial it back,'" Michelle says.
In other parts of the documentary, Barack appears supporting her backstage at shows to promote her biography, Becoming.
She also said the pair 'do not want to be at the forefront forever' and appeared to suggest that they will soon take a step back from the limelight.
'Barack and I don't want to be at the forefront of it all forever... not even for much longer,' she said.
Support from 'little potato' Malia backstage at a book tour
In another scene in the documentary, Michelle is supported backstage at one of her book tour shows by her oldest daughter Malia.
Malia, who is studying at Harvard, is seen approaching her mother as she signs book.
Michelle greets her: 'Hi little potato,' and the pair embrace.
Malia then gushed over her mom's heartwarming show and said it made her feel like their time in the White House was worthwhile.
Malia backstage at one of her mom's book shows. In the documentary she says 'damn, those eight years were worth it'
Malia said the shows proved people 'believed in love' and that she was proud of her mother
Michelle greeted her backstage at the show by saying 'hello little potato'
'It's like, damn. Those eight years weren't for nothing...People are here because they really believe in hope and love and other people,' the then 20-year-old said.
Malia went on to say that she 'cries' whenever a Stevie Wonder song is played at her mother's show.
She is seen only once more in the documentary, sitting on a couch with her little sister Sasha, where they talk of their pride for their mother.
The pair said they hoped Michelle could be proud of herself because, as Sasha says, 'that's the most important thing'.
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