Michelle Obama Recalls Sleepover Security Rules For Her Girls: “I’m Surprised My Kids Have Any Friends.”

Every kid can likely recall a time in which their parent set some firm expectations for sleepovers, whether it was you having to call and check in every few hours, or your mom or dad needing to meet your friend's parents first. Imagine that embarrassment and multiply it by 1,000, because that's probably what Malia and Sasha Obama felt when they went to sleepovers while their dad was in office. Former first lady Michelle Obama opened up to Gayle King about her daughters' experiences at sleepovers during the 2019 Essence Festival, and what she had to say was pretty captivating.

Of all of the ways in which Barack Obama's political career impacted their family, it's Michelle's recounting of their security detail that's so darn entertaining. "Imagine having Malia and Sasha come to your house for a sleepover," Michelle said in the interview. "It's like, 'Hello. OK, we're going to need your Social Security number, we're going to need your date of birth. There are going to be men coming to sweep your house. If you have guns and drugs, just tell them yes because they are going to find them anyway. Don't lie. They're not going to take them, they just need to know where they are. And, uh, thank you for having Malia and Sasha over. Oh and by the way, there is going to be a man with a gun sitting outside all night. If you let him use the bathroom, that would be nice.'"

While we can't say we totally relate to that scenario, her understanding of how awkward that must have been for her daughters' friends and their families definitely is. And she definitely finds the humour in it! "I mean, I'm surprised my kids have any friends, you know?" she later said.

If you have the time to watch the full interview in its entirety, it's worth it. Michelle gets incredibly real about campaigning with Barack, why she felt compelled to tell her story in her memoir Becoming, and more intimate details about her family.