Becoming by Michelle Obama

When I first learned that former FLOTUS, Michelle Obama, had released a book I knew that I wanted to read it. I casually mentioned it to my husband and one day he came home with it as a surprise. How sweet! A few weeks ago, I took some time for myself to start reading it as my December book of the month. I opened the book, got comfy in bed and dove right in. The book begins with her journey through childhood and talks a lot of her experiences growing up in a too small upper apartment in her aunts home on the South side Chicago. I learned quite a bit about her life reading this book. There's so much mentioned that was not disclosed in the public media during her husbands campaign including all the little details that added up to her being a successful lawyer turned public servant in politics and later Mrs. Obama. I'll have to admit the beginning of book started off a bit slow to me and I became a bit bored with all the mentions of her piano lessons but I definitely see why it was important for her to include those details in the grand scheme of how her life played out in the end. I really enjoyed the part where she explained how she met President Barack Obama. She was already a lawyer and he coincidentally enough was her intern. They worked together for a period of time and eventually fell in love having to date long distance while he finished up law school. The way he proposed to her was also so romantic and quite comical too! I appreciated how she drove home the point that although she did not come from a family with means she still was able to become a success with the help and aiding of both her hard working parents. I even teared up when reading her last goodbyes to her father while he laid in the hospital suffering from the effects of MS. It made me think about my strained relationship with my father and how time waits for no one.

She spoke of the many people who helped pave the way for her success, although her mother seemed to be the most influential person in her life. I always wondered why the news did not capture more of her mother in the media but after reading this book I see why she so desperately did not want to be apart of the media spectacle. I was tickled by the fact that she insisted on doing her own laundry and basically could come and go as she pleased from the White House to run errands to Filene's Basement. I enjoyed reading about her daughters experience from her eyes. I'd love to read a book from them once of age to see how they viewed this experience themselves. I also loved the part where she explained how she and Barack had managed to go on a date and what a show it was from all the Secret Service planning to logistics with traffic etc. She also talked a lot about how she was basically a single mom while he was campaigning because of the hectic schedule and long hours. I immediately thought about how trying that must have been on their marriage and sex life yet how they managed to endure it all and get through two terms without a scandal unlike some other Presidents.

The last section of the book was most impactful to me as she explained how the entire presidential experience has affected her life and how she as a successful lawyer turned political servant and now former FLOTUS hoped to regain her independence. As a SAHM I can definitely relate the feelings of wanting more than just playing the role of a mother to my children and a wife to my husband. I battle with longing to return to the life I formerly lived working in Corporate America to being content with my current position as a mom with many hats. Overall, I loved the book and will probably read it again in the coming years. She mentioned her husbands books as well and I happened upon a copy, The Audacity of Deceit, on sale at our local library. Michelle Obama is also on tour with her book and will be speaking in May in Atlanta, the lowest priced one I saw about $300. Grab yours here.

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