118. Michelle Obama- First Mum

Keeping the level of scum in our cities as low as possible is one of the subjects I like harping upon. By “scum” I am referring to those thugs that go around crawling in the gutters of our streets because they can’t find anything better to do. However, it’s not totally their fault, but ours, we put them there because somewhere along the line those kids did not receive the tools, the upbringing and enlightenment that would keep them out of the gutter.

Schools of course are powerless against, not all, but a consistent army of youngsters who have no will, desire or need to learn. On their account teachers take the attitude of least resistance, after all what’s the point in trying to make the world of learning exciting when it all goes down the drain anyway. But how on earth did we come to that state of things in the first place anyhow? Where did it all start? There is only one place it can all start, the home- there is nowhere else.

I’m not sure that mothers see their role as one of primary importance. Some mothers do not consider motherhood as a blessing, maybe not a curse, but almost. Maybe their child was an accident, came at a time “it” wasn’t supposed to come, or maybe they desired a child as some kind of pet as one desires a kitten or a puppy or merely considered having a child as one of the steps of life to go through and then tick it off the list of things done- because that’s how much of our society, so called modern society, looks upon the gift of procreation.

And Michelle Obama? What has she got to do with all this?

Some days ago it was reported that Michelle said she would let her girls invite friends to play or whatever girls do at that age, at the White House, if it was what her daughters wanted. Of the million and one things that the Italian TV could have reported on the future First Lady at the White House they concentrated on what Michelle considered to be top of her list of priorities as America’s First Lady- she was going to be First, a Mum.


If we consider Michelle, like her husband, one of the finest brains of America, choosing not to relegate her role as Mother to second place then there’s hope for the rest of us to raise children who will not end up in the gutter with a needle in their arm.

village Mayor at our
International Children
Books Illustration Exhibition

Ah, but I give quality time to my children! This is an obvious excuse to get out of looking after one’s offspring our priority. Time is time, there’s no quality or lack about it. When it comes to being with your kids, it boils down to one thing- you are either there, or you are not there- for them... or is what I’m saying just falling on stony ground?


Photos: various aspects of village life involving children