It’s been well documented that the Obamas tried to keep life as normal as possible for their girls (both of whom are now in college). One of those ways? President Obama serving as a temporary coach for Sasha’s basketball team, which also happened to include President-Elect Joe Biden‘s granddaughter Maisy.
In an excerpt from the book published by the Sunday Times, Obama writes that he and Michelle tried to not be “those parents” who yelled at the refs, but also found themselves shouting “box out” or “get back on defense” to the girls on the team.
“After observing an adorable but chaotic first couple of games, Reggie and I took it upon ourselves to draw up some plays and volunteered to conduct a few informal Sunday afternoon practice sessions with the team,” he writes. (Reggie is Reggie Love, who served as Obama’s personal aide and also just happened to play basketball at Duke.)
The duo worked with the team on “dribbling, passing, making sure your shoelaces were tied” and “celebrated like it was the NCAA finals” when they won the championship game. (Wonder if he asked Michelle’s brother Craig Robinson for some tips too, since he’s coached college hoops!)
Apparently, some other parents in the league took issue with Barack Obama, a.k.a. the president of the United States, coaching one of the teams, and Obama and Love gave up their roles. “They must think being coached by you is something they can put on their Harvard application,” Love said, per the excerpt.
But Obama still loved the experience. “Despite a few exasperating incidents like that, there was no denying that our status as the first family conferred plenty of benefits,” he writes.
“Every parent savors such moments, I suppose, when the world slows down, your strivings get pushed to the back of your mind, and all that matters is that you are present, fully, to witness the miracle of your child growing up,” he continues in the book.
“Given all the time I’d missed with the girls over years of campaigning and legislative sessions, I cherished the normal ‘dad stuff’ that much more.” Obama’s A Promised Land is dedicated to his family: “To Michelle—my love and life’s partner—and Malia and Sasha—whose dazzling light makes everything brighter.”
Original Article: glamour