In spite of her initial reluctance to move from her life-long home in Chicago, Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother, has been living the good life in the capital. Though she still does quite a bit of heavy lifting when it comes to caring for the Obama girls--shuttling them to and from school most days, supervising homework, accompanying them to play dates--she has also been seen frequently in the president's box at the Kennedy Center, enjoying shows and meeting performers.
Mrs. Robinson likes to eat out around town, attend Michelle's luncheons, dinners and concerts, and sometimes hosts her old friends from Chicago. For the first time in her life, Mrs. Robinson doesn't have to cook or clean--unless she wants to. That seems only fair for a 71-year old devoted, hard-working grandmother who functions more as a third parent to her grandchildren than as the one who gets to do the spoiling.
She still hasn't decided how long she will stay in Washington, having originally agreed to come temporarily and help the Obama girls settle into their new life. But it may be hard to return to the old normal in Chicago. Right now, she doesn't get too much public attention when she's out and about in D.C., but given how much she looks like Michelle, and given how small Washington really is, she is bound to become known by the general public before too long. She may want out of the limelight. But there's also the chance that she'll decide she like being Grandma in Chief, and stays.
I'm rooting for her to stay. From what I can tell, she's an integral part of the Obama family and they'd be lost without her. And if the Obama family is lost, whither the Free World? Stay in the White House, Marian! Your country needs you.
