COUPLESMichelle Obama 'Doesn't Miss' Her Daughters After They Left Home — But Barack Obama 'Cried' When They Went to College
Empty-nester syndrome has not affected Michelle Obama.
Aug. 27 2026, Published 4:28 p.m. ET
Michelle Obama, 62, joked on her podcast with late-night host Jon Stewart about how being empty nesters has affected her and her husband, Barack Obama, 65.
The former FLOTUS jokingly told Stewart on her "IMO" podcast, co-hosted with her brother Craig Robinson, that she doesn’t miss her daughters, Sasha, 25, and Malia, 28.
"I don't miss them. I don't. I love them. I'm going to see them tonight for dinner. I love them, but, you know, Barack cried when they went to college. I was like, bye. Goodbye!,” she laughed.
Michelle Obama is enjoying her free time now that her two daughters have moved out.
Malia left home for Harvard in August 2017, graduating in May 2021, and Sasha left home for the University of Michigan in August 2019, graduating from the University of Southern California in May 2023.
Malia is building a successful career as a Hollywood screenwriter and director, while Sasha has largely stepped away from the spotlight to continue her higher education.
Michelle told Stewart her Friday nights are free and clear now that they are off on their own.
'Now Friday Nights Aren't Wrecked With Terror and Fear'
'I love their emancipation and growth,' said the former first lady.
“Now Friday nights aren't wrecked with terror and fear about, 'Where are you? Where are you?!' I love their emancipation and growth,” she said.
Stewart, who has two children, ages 20 and 22, said he missed parenting and asked Michelle if she felt the same.
"The thing I miss, though, is the job. Like, don't you miss it? Like, it gave meaning and a pattern to my life,” he said.
- Michelle Obama Is Relieved She 'Didn't Mess Up' Her Daughters Malia & Sasha After Raising Them In The White House
- Michelle Obama Spills On Daughters Malia & Sasha's Love Lives — See What She Revealed!
- Michelle Obama Reveals Daughters Malia and Sasha 'Pushed Away' From Her and Barack When They Were Teenagers
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'It's All Mine'
'I've had so much quality time with my children,' Michelle Obama noted.
Michelle quipped, "I'm good. Look at all this meaning. I have a wonderful pattern. I love my schedule. I have a great schedule, and it's all mine.”
She added that for mothers, it’s different.
“I think fathers can be that way because you weren't there from six at night; you missed a lot of it. I mean, I've had so much quality time with my children. So much, you know, I know them inside and out,” she explained.
Former President Obama admitted that dropping off his oldest daughter, Malia, at college felt like "open-heart surgery" and made him cry on the ride home.
Barack Obama Admitted He Cried After Moving Daughter In at Harvard
Barack Obama admittedly cried after helping his daughter move in at Harvard University.
At a Beau Biden Foundation event in 2017, he shared that he managed not to cry directly in front of Malia while helping her move in at Harvard University.
He joked that on the car ride back, he sniffled and blew his nose while his Secret Service agents looked straight ahead and pretended not to hear him.
“The challenge for us is letting us give them any help at all... They're very sensitive about this stuff. They're very stubborn about it,” the former POTUS admitted.
