When it comes to motherhood, former First LadyMichelle Obamahas one piece of advice forMeghan Markle: “Savour it all.”
Meghan, who welcomed sonArchie Harrisonin May, said she was left “somewhat speechless” when the questions she sent Obama to answer for the back page ofBritishVogue‘s September issue (which Meghan guest-edited!) were returned “as a thoughtful, reflective and beautifully curated narrative – a gentle reminder not of how but of why she has become such a globally respected public figure.”
Meghan revealed that the two women discussed the project “over a casual lunch of chicken tacos and my ever-burgeoning bump.” And the final result includes a lot of compelling parenting advice for the new royal mom.
“Being a mother has been a masterclass in letting go,” Obama wrote in response to Meghan’s question about what motherhood has taught her. “Try as we might, there’s only so much we can control. And, boy, have I tried — especially at first. As mothers, we just don’t want anything or anyone to hurt our babies. But life has other plans. Bruised knees, bumpy roads and broken hearts are part of the deal.”
CHRIS ALLERTON/AFP/Getty Images
The former first lady goes on to explain the differences in her two daughters, 21-year-old Malia and 18-year-old Sasha.
“Motherhood has taught me that, most of the time, my job is to give them the space to explore and develop into the people they want to be. Not who I want them to be or who I wish I was at that age, but who they are, deep inside,” she said. “Motherhood has also taught me that my job is not to bulldoze a path for them in an effort to eliminate all possible adversity. But instead, I need to be a safe and consistent place for them to land when they inevitably fail; and to show them, again and again, how to get up on their own.”
The Obamas in 2013.Afp/Getty
Obama also reflected on what it was like to be a parent to infants, the phase that Meghan andPrince Harryfind themselves in now with their nearly 3-month-old son.
Obama continued, “I’m so excited for you and Harry to experience that, Meghan. Savour it all.”
Meghan, 37, was a hands-on collaborator for the edition, from selecting thecover starsand interviews to choosing the photographer.
“My instructions from the Duchess were clear: ‘I want to see freckles!’ ” Lindberghtold the publicationwhen he recalled the phone conversation he had with Meghan on the morning of the New York shoot.
“Well, that was like running through open doors for me. I love freckles,” he said.
source: people.com
