WE'RE SO OVER IT!

The Obamas have been hunkering down together during lockdown – but, Michelle admits, the novelty has worn off

- NASIFA SULAIMAN

AT FIRST, lockdown seemed like a blessing in disguise. In between writing books, running a podcast, speaking engagements and making documentaries, the former first couple hadn’t been spending much quality time with their kids – especially as the girls had been away at college.

But then the shutters clanged shut and everyone had to stay at home. And the Obamas embraced it.

Yet after months of isolating together, they’ve proved one thing: they’re just like us. The novelty has well and truly worn off and they’re a bit fed up with one another.

“I think first our kids got a little sick of us, which was fine because we were pretty much sick of them,” Michelle (56) admits.

In a candid conversation about their life in lockdown, Michelle told talk show host Conan O’Brien that her daughters, Malia (22) and Sasha (19), are “no longer thrilled” about being cooped up under one roof.

At first they loved the long days at the family home in Washington DC. Michelle, Barack and the girls would retreat to their own spaces where they concentrated on their respective projects.

“The girls were still in classes in the spring and we’d be working and then doing a little exercise, and then come together in the evenings,” Michelle says. “We had these activities – we’d have cocktails and then we’d all work on puzzles and play games.

“We actually had some organised things too, like we had an art exhibit day where we all went off and did watercolour paintings and then we showed them [to each other] later.”