Michelle Obama is sharing a deeply personal and transformative moment with her mother, Marian Robinson, a conversation that altered the former first lady’s perspective on the fleeting nature of life. The revelation happened during Obama’s appearance on NPR’s “Wild Card” podcast with host Rachel Martin, offering a glimpse into the pair’s final days together.
“The last year of my mom’s life, she was sick. Her body was just shutting down for a number of various reasons,” Obama revealed. “And her last bout of illness, she was with me in Hawaii, in our home in Hawaii, which was a blessing, right, ’cause she was forced to let me take care of her…She didn’t want to be a burden.”
During this period, Obama took on the role of caregiver, ensuring her mother received the best possible attention. She candidly discussed the practicalities, explaining, “I hired doctors and nurses, had her on a diet,” and even lightheartedly joked that she was “bossing her around” with the hope that her mother would “get better and went back to Chicago.”
The pivotal moment arrived one quiet afternoon as the mother-daughter duo relaxed on a couch, engrossed in one of Robinson’s favorite “court shows.” It was then that Robinson shared an insight with her daughter.
“She was realizing that she would not ever be the same old self that she was. She was starting to realize she’s coming to the end,” Obama recounted. “She leaned over to me and said, ‘Wow, this went fast.’ “
The simplicity and unexpectedness of her mother’s words struck Michelle Obama deeply. “I held her hand and said, ‘What are you talking about?’ And she said, ‘Life.’ She said, ‘This went fast.’ And this is the woman who was ready,” the former first lady emphasized, highlighting the surprising nature of the sentiment from someone so seemingly prepared for death.
This intimate exchange offered a new lens through which Obama now views her own life. “And what that told me is even when you tell yourself you’re ready, if you’re living a good life, you’re never really ready for it to end,” she reflected. “So I hope I feel that way. Even though I’ve been ready for it, because it’s been good and purposeful. That I’ll feel like, ‘I wish I had more time.’ So I’m trying to live my life like that.”
Michelle Obama’s anecdote serves as a reminder to embrace each moment, to live with purpose, and to cherish the experiences that make life feel “fast.” Her mother’s words continue to shape the former first lady’s approach to living fully, inspiring others to reflect on their own journeys and the preciousness of time.