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my wife.
There were clear parallels between them, we are both children of working class parents who put themselves through college, my wife holds a master's degree and was working at an Ivy League teaching and research hospital doing some cutting edge stuff in stent treatments when she became pregnant with kids three and four, yeah, twins. And though I offered to be Mr. Mom we both knew the reality was that I made more money and got better raises in my position than she did in health care.
And so she definitely connected with Michelle last night in the sense that she is a professional and intelligent woman but she is not solely defined by "what" she does but she is as complex as any other person and defined by a whole series of roles, mother to our four kids, wife and partner with me, daughter and sister and Ivy League educated health care provider. (She's back to part-time work and I think she finds this the most fulfilling period of her life, as she can have a firm ground in both roles, mother and professional).
I find it odd that some of the "feminist" posting to this story rail at Michelle for defining herself as such, or suggesting that it was all political theater (undoubtedly some was) but do you not think that she takes pride in her other roles? But I didn't get the impression that she plays some sort of Stepford Wife to Obama's 'bringing home the bacon" male role. I saw them, as my wife and I see ourselves, as partners, with shared goals which involves both our careers and our family.
I think Michelle gave the perfect speech needed tonight to show her, yes, feminine side and to connect with the woman of America. As for what kind of first lady she will make, I'm thinking the elegance and grace of Jackie Kennedy combined with the intelligence of a Hillary Clinton and a bit of the tenacity of Nancy Reagan. She'll be fine.
