Michelle Obama Shines A Light Wherever She Goes

At a visit to the Latin American Montessori Bilingual Public Charter School in Washington, D.C., First Lady Michelle Obama spoke about the importance of education, and stressed the need to learn not to fear failure. “I tell my kids, I want you to be comfortable with failing, because if you learn how to fail, then you’re not afraid to do what? To try, right?”

Ostensibly a visit to witness a day-early celebration of Cinco De Mayo, Obama also took questions, during which she made an important point: “I can come by your school, and people will follow, and they get to see what’s going on here … and the whole world will see you dancing and singing just because I came by to say hi.” She acknowledges that being the First Lady comes with the burden of having her every move scrutinized by the media, but that burden also creates an opportunity to focus media attention on things she thinks deserve that focus.

This is an important reminder to us as parents as well. I’ve written before about being role models, and this extends even to the way we’re perceived by other parents, especially in a public setting. While we may sometimes be oblivious to our own reactions, watching another parent with her child typically generates a kind of inward assessment. We compare our parenting style to others, sometimes favorably, sometimes not. It’s the latter that requires thought, and is a good tool for self-improvement. Being a parent sometimes causes us to be the centers of attention, favorable or not, and remembering that is a good way to ensure that we’re always putting forth our best faces. Thank you, Michelle Obama, for shining a light on this idea!