No ordinary family

There was a blurb on Yahoo today about how Spain had cleared a beach for Michelle and Sasha Obama while they are there on vacation. Really, this it the kind of thing that makes me feel for the Obama girls. I mean seriously. That’s just the epitome of why it would suck for your dad to be the President of the United States.

First, it totally blows the true magic words of childhood – “Wanna play?” when there’s no one there your age to ask. And even if they imported some kids on the beach for her to play with (ack – the thought!), you’d have to follow up with “Who’s that? Oh, it’s my secret service agent, Mr. Dan. Say “Hi!”, Mr. Dan!”

Second, in a couple of years she’s going to be a tween. And if her Dad is still President, and they again clear some beach somewhere, that really drives home that “God, my family is a bunch of freaks!” feeling that every pubescent kid has. And she’d be more entitled than most to that feeling. Also, there’s no chance of a boy seeing her in her bathing suit. And the only way you can really enjoy the agony and the ecstasy of having a boy see you in your bathing suit is if you see him seeing you in your bathing suit. And really, what else is summer vacation for?

Of course, there are advantages. She’s 9, and she’s been to Spain and probably seen things there that most adults wouldn’t have a chance of seeing. And she’s probably one of the safest little girls in the world. And on top of that, she seems to have loving parents who are doing the best to raise level headed kids. But, along with the fact that it’s a pretty extraordinary job her dad has, there’s also a pretty extraordinary downside. It’s actually a wonder that Chelsea Clinton and Amy Carter are as normal as they appear to be.