White House Comes With a Price, Says Michelle Obama

LOS ANGELES

In a Time magazine exclusive, due to hit the newsstand May 22, First lady Michelle ObamaMichelle Obama talks intimately about the tremendous blessings that come with being the First Family.

She also discusses the tremendous sacrifices and the things that constantly nudge at her, like President Barack ObamaBarack Obama being burdened by the world's problems. She said it's "tough to watch" her husband deal with the world's problems. But he is "capable and competent" and she doesn't worry.

"I rest easy that he's in the White House," Mrs. Obama said. "So it makes it easier for me, because I figure I can turn it off; he can't."

But, she says, White House life has been the "greatest single benefit" for her family. She also revealed some salient advice from other First Ladies before her: go to Camp David early and often.

"It's just one place you can go where you're completely ... where you feel some level of freedom and an ability to breathe," she said of the presidential retreat in Maryland, in an interview for the magazine's cover story. "I think every single first lady felt that that was an important resource, an important thing for the health of the family."

Mrs. Obama and daughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, have visited Camp David three times, including a week-long stay during spring break in April.

The White House has taken Michelle Obama's anonymity. That's one of the things she misses most.

"It's a lot easier to live your life when everything you do doesn't have a consequence," or is talked about, she said. "It's the anonymity of just living your life and making choices and decisions, and moving through the world without sort of constant commentary. That was nice."

Mrs. Obama said she realizes chatter is part of the process, but said it hasn't changed her or her choices.

She said her personal philosophy "is that in life you've got to make choices that make sense for you, because there's always going to be somebody who'll think you should do something differently," she said.

"So you might as well start with what you like, and what you care about, what your passions are, what makes sense," Mrs. Obama said. Her "message to women" is to "find your space. Find your spot. Wear what you love. Choose the careers that may have meaning to you, because there's always somebody who will say, 'I wouldn't have worn that color,' or 'Why didn't you work at that job?'"