Michelle Obama's Touching Mother's Day Tribute Is So Relatable

Emma Dibdin
Photo credit: Instagram/Michelle Obama
Photo credit: Instagram/Michelle Obama

From Oprah Magazine

  • Michelle Obama shared an inspiring Mother's Day message on Instagram.

  • Alongside a throwback family photograph, Mrs. Obama paid tribute to the women "who may not be our mothers, but have nonetheless played an important role in nurturing us."

  • She mentioned her grandmother LaVaughn Dolores Johnson, her great-aunt Robbie, her mentor Czerny Brasuell, and Eleanor Kaye Wilson.

Michelle Obama is sending positive, uplifting messages about family on Instagram.

On Thursday, Mrs. Obama celebrated Mother's Day several days early by posting a sweet message in which she reminded her followers that this occasion is a time to celebrate not only moms, but other important women in our lives.

"I wanted to take a moment to shine a light on those women in our lives who may not be our mothers, but have nonetheless played an important role in nurturing us," Obama wrote. The lengthy caption came next to a too-cute family photograph that appears to have been taken during President Barack Obama's time at the White house.

She continued, "I’ve been grateful to be surrounded by so many strong, intelligent, warm-hearted women who, along with my mother, have made me who I am."

View this post on Instagram

As we prepare for #MothersDay on Sunday, I wanted to take a moment to shine a light on those women in our lives who may not be our mothers, but have nonetheless played an important role in nurturing us. I’ve been grateful to be surrounded by so many strong, intelligent, warm-hearted women who, along with my mother, have made me who I am. They include my soft-spoken grandmother LaVaughn, whose work managing a Bible book store showed me some of my first glimpses of a woman in charge. I sparred with my Aunt Robbie, who lived below us, during piano lessons-but her teaching showed me the importance of hard work and preparation, and she was always there for me when I needed her most. My mentor at Princeton, Czerny, saw potential in me and did her part to get me to step outside of my comfort zone-to be a little more bold, a little less cautious. And then there’s Eleanor Kaye Wilson, who we call “Mama Kaye.” She’s sweet-hearted and deep-rooted, a second mother or grandmother for all four of us-Malia, Sasha, Barack, and me. She’s been there to help with mealtime, craft time, been to all of our events over so many years-a wonderful friend and confidant to my mother. We love her, just like we love so many supportive women whose stories and contributions often go unrecognized, but who deserve just as much appreciation and love this time of year. So if there’s a Mama Kaye or a Czerny, a Grandma LaVaughn or an Aunt Robbie in your life, make sure to show them some love this weekend, too.

A post shared by Michelle Obama (@michelleobama) on May 9, 2019 at 9:40am PDT

Obama went on to mention her grandmother LaVaughn Dolores Johnson, her great-aunt Robbie, her mentor at Princeton University Czerny Brasuell, and Eleanor Kaye Wilson–who is godmother to Sasha and Malia Obama. Many of these women, of course, were key figures she wrote about in her bestselling memoir, Becoming.


“We love [Kaye] just like we love so many supportive women whose stories and contributions often go unrecognized, but who deserve just as much appreciation and love this time of year,” Obama concluded. "So if there’s a Mama Kaye or a Czerny, a Grandma LaVaughn or an Aunt Robbie in your life, make sure to show them some love this weekend, too."

As joyous an occasion as Mother's Day is, it can also be an exclusionary holiday for those supportive women who aren't mothers–and for people whose mothers aren't in their lives. That's why Mrs. Obama's powerful and inclusive message is an incredibly important one to share.

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