The one thing I believe is that families are off-limits. And I think my husband said it, and he was clear on that. And I totally agree with him.

To be a good parent, you need to take care of yourself so that you can have the physical and emotional energy to take care of your family.

I want to feel like the things I did made a difference. That's one of the reasons I spend time greeting people on rope lines, because I'm always thinking, 'Maybe this interaction, particularly if I'm meeting kids, will change someone's life.' That's how I think about the work I do as First Lady. It's a rare spotlight. I want to make sure I don't waste it.

And I love that even in the toughest moments, when we're all sweating it - when we're worried that the bill won't pass, and it seems like all is lost - Barack never lets himself get distracted by the chatter and the noise. Just like his grandmother, he just keeps getting up and moving forward... with patience and wisdom, and courage and grace.

I think any family would, any mother would their children.

I never cut class. I loved getting A's, I liked being smart. I liked being on time. I thought being smart is cooler than anything in the world.

When I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don't invest any energy in them, because I know who I am.