President Obama’s oldest daughter, Malia, shared her 15th birthday with the rest of America on July 4th, and revealed the real reason why President Obama has been getting all those gray hairs.
The president’s daughters are growing up to be outstanding young women and now that Malia is getting further into her teen years she has blossomed into a charismatic, funny, poised, and fashion-forward young lady.
While both of the president’s girls tend to stay out of the media spotlight as much as possible, the country is seeing the girls grow up as they are spotted out and about with their parents.
Ever since she was 10, it was obvious that Malia would have a comedic and bubbly personality as she was often snapped making funny faces and laughing it up with her younger sister, Sasha.
She never lost the spark as she grew older, and just a few weeks ago she continued giving photographers some interesting shots as she crossed her eyes during one photo in Ireland on June 17.
Of course, getting older comes with gaining more responsibilities and as Malia and Sasha join their parents on their trips over seas, they are briefed so they can gain the full impact of being in another country.
The first family’s most recent trip to Africa came at the time of somber news of former South African President Nelson Mandela and his poor health.
The Obamas visited Robbens Island, South Africa, where President Obama had been to before. It is the site of the prison where Mandela has been held for 18 years. This time, the president said, the experience was different.
“There was something different about bringing my children,” Obama said. “Malia is now 15, Sasha is 12 and seeing them stand within the walls that once surrounded Nelson Mandela, I knew this was an experience that they would never forget. I knew that they now appreciated a little bit more the sacrifices that Madiba and others made for freedom.”
Unfortunately for the president, however, getting into those teen years also means dates and parties.
First lady Michelle Obama giggled as she revealed that Malia is giving her father all the gray hairs, not the nation.
“Fathers in particular, I don’t think they know how they’re gonna feel until it happens,” the FLOTUS said back in February in anticipation of Malia’s birthday. “There’s nothing like the look on [the president’s] face when Malia dresses up for a party and she’s heading out. He walks past, and she walks past him, and you can see his face sort of just drop a little bit.”
That same month Obama confirmed his wife’s statement by warning parents during a trip to Georgia.
“I do have to warn the parents who are here, who still have young kids, they grow up to be like 5 feet 10 inches,” he said. “And even if they’re still nice to you, they basically don’t have a lot of time for you during the weekends. They have sleepovers and dates. So all that early investment just leaves them to go away.”
Obama still had to put all that aside however, as he joined the crowds outside the White House for some great fourth of July festivities.
Before the fun got started, he took a moment to address the soldiers and the real reason we celebrate Independence Day.
“Please take a moment during the festivities to remember what our Independence Day is all about,” he said during the address. “On July 4th, 1776, a band of patriots declared that we were a people created equal. It was a declaration heard all around the world. We were no longer colonists. We were Americans.”
