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Good manners, irreverence too

— Photo: AP

Senator Barack Obama’s wife Michelle with daughters Sasha (left) and Malia.

WASHINGTON: The rules for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama’s daughters are clear-cut: no whining, arguing or annoying teasing, their mother, Michelle Obama, told People Magazine.

— Make the bed. “Doesn’t have to look good, just throw the sheet over it,” said the mother of 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha.

Set your own alarm clock. “They get themselves up, get their own clothes,” said their grandmother Marian Robinson.

And the allowance from dad for doing chores is $1 a week. Barack Obama conceded” “I’m out of town for weeks at a time, so Malia will say, ‘Hey you owe me for 10 weeks’.” Mr. Obama and his wife are determined that his bid for the presidency not disrupt the normal, happy childhood of their two daughters, who would be two of the youngest residents of the White House in 30 years if Mr. Obama wins the election. Sometimes when the family goes for a walk, the Obamas get the question: “What’s it like living in the White House?” and Michelle Obama has to admit, “We don’t really know.”

Malia and Sasha visited the White House in 2005 and were bored until President George W. Bush’s dog Barney showed up and they romped with him on the South Lawn, said Michelle Obama.

Mr. Obama said he has been happy the girls don’t seem overwhelmed by the campaign experience. While the candidate is on the road, the Obama girls keep a hectic schedule: soccer, dance and drama for Malia, gymnastics and tap for Sasha, piano and tennis for both. Michelle Obama tries to fit in three 90-minute workouts each week, and also hits the campaign trail two or three days a week — a role that has brought occasional criticism from political opponents.

“When some folks were attacking Michelle, Malia just asked, ‘What was that all about?’ and we talked it through,” said Mr. Obama, adding it was fortunate that “she’s completely confident about her mommy’s wonderfulness.” The family lives in a sprawling six-bedroom home on Chicago’s south-side. Whether their dad is home or not, the girls sometimes climb into their parents’ bed in the morning. “I turn on the lights so we’re sort of waking up,” said Michelle Obama. “And we talk. We talk about daddy being President, about adolescence, about the questions they have.” — AP

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Good manners, irreverence too

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