Obama's letter to his daughters

teriwtt · 01-14-2009, 06:19 PM

It takes a lot for me to tear up, but this one got to me. It's a copy of a letter which will be published in this Sunday's Parade magazine... written from Obama to his daughters.

PARADE Magazine | Barack Obama: A Letter to My Daughters

Quote:

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey....

........These are the things I want for you-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That's why I've taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.

Love, Dad

And please, if you're going to be snarky in your remarks, please start another thread and leave this one to those of us who admire and respect what he has accomplished, and more importantly, wants for his own daughters.

3bm103 · 01-14-2009, 07:09 PM

Those are parents I can admire. I hope people pay attention and see what's important in life.

swimcatsmom · 01-14-2009, 07:14 PM

Lovely. Thank you.

sueinphilly · 01-14-2009, 07:19 PM

wow, what a nice letter.

rodney · 01-14-2009, 07:26 PM

thank you, teriwtt....

momof2inca · 01-14-2009, 07:41 PM

It is incredible to me that Obama is able to understand how to be a strong, loving father when he had next to no contact with his own father. How inspirational. I have to credit his maternal grandfather for demonstrating what it means to be a real man in a family.

tango14 · 01-14-2009, 08:23 PM

What a beautiful letter! Aren't those the same sentiments we all felt when we first looked at our children and thought about their future? And don't we think that all children should have the opportunities/info/support our cc kids do? The difference is the he has actively sought to ensure those opportunities for other kids and is allowing us the opportunity to help him do it.

jym626 · 01-14-2009, 08:46 PM

How'd you get a sneak peek at that, Teriwtt?

Certain other political candidates take note: This is a model of good parenting.

teriwtt · 01-14-2009, 11:14 PM

I found the original link from HuffPo (really, I only check it out once a week or so now that the election is over), and it had a link to the original article.

However, since my beginning this post, our local Chicago news had a story on the letter on tonight's news, so I don't think it's that hard to find anymore.

I almost added in my original post (then took it out because I thought it sounded like a pity-party) that, not only does everything he wish for his daughters, what I wish for mine, but I wish my own father had had some sort of insight and relationship with me as Obama has had with his daughters. And as momof2inca said, Obama didn't have a father figure to model good parenting for him, although I think he had a decent relationship with his grandfather, with whom he lived for many years.

milkandsugar · 01-15-2009, 12:20 AM

Its refreshing to see a involved father, parenting 2 girls in todays world.

crescent22 · 01-15-2009, 10:33 AM

The very fact that is was released to the public should raise your cynicism over its authenticity. If half of the intent of the letter was for a PR gain with the public, one wonders if he would have written it without such an external benefit.

teriwtt · 01-15-2009, 10:36 AM

crescent - go take your cynicism to another thread. Read my original post. In fact, you still have time to edit this one.

rodney · 01-15-2009, 10:41 AM

go teri, go teri, go teri.........

Hunt · 01-15-2009, 10:45 AM

Hey, crescent, maybe the daughters are really midget actors, hired to pump up PR for Obama as a parent. You should investigate!

crescent22 · 01-15-2009, 11:27 AM

You all are buying PR hook-line-and-sinker. Heartfelt letters from father to daughter should stay private. They lose their very essence if released. They have no essence if they were penned with the intent of releasing them- then they are written effectively to talk to an audience of millions rather than the correct number of 2.