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Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"

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Red-headed bookworm
01/26/09

In reply to Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"
On of the reasons I live them is that they are such a cute couple and remind me of my parents. My parents still hold hands and dance together and all that stuff.
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NewsBunny
01/24/09

In reply to Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"
I hope my husband and I have their level of love after we've been married sixteen years.

We've been married two and a half. And I love him more every day.

I just tucked a blanket around him on the couch so he could take a cozy nap. And I loved doing it.
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funnyface
01/24/09

@NewsBunny: Aw! 2.5 years too... I'm playing on the laptop and stealing glances at my adorable hubby pretending to be a rock star on Rock Band. Marriage has been the best thing ever, so far, and I hope it continues to be that way when we have kids and a decade under our belts.
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badmutha
01/24/09

In reply to Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn, is just to love, and be loved in return." ~Moulin Rouge
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JulesNoctambule
01/24/09

In reply to Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"
I've had more than one person tell me that my husband and I 'don't act like you're married', which apparently means to the comment-maker that we appear to be in love, are affectionate toward each other and aren't engaged in a stereotypical farce of nagging, ignoring and bitterness. The very idea that people expect a life-long commitment would not involve obvious love, respect and admiration saddens me.
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BrutallyHonestBabes (aka Mrs. Sarah.of.a.Lesser.Hobbit)
01/24/09

@JulesNoctambule: Yeah, the hubs and I still get asked if we're newlyweds... and it's been more than a few years for us. I hope we can keep it up after the kids come like Barack and Michelle obviously have.

True love does exist, soul mates exist - no one should settle for anything less in the end.
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so not clever
01/24/09

In reply to Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"
In this month's "Chicago" magazine an article about Michelle Obama tells about how unhappy she was during the early days of his public life. She was working and taking care of the kids while he traveled throughout Illinois. I thinks it's great that they have worked through those issues and are obviously happy. It's great to see they admit she was unhappy. They comprimised. They made it work. Work being the operative word. They are so real.
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badmutha
01/24/09

@so not clever: The reason you are unhappy when your husband travels so much is because you love and miss him. If you didn't have a partnership, you wouldn't care. Trust, my husband traveled for two years when the kids were younger, and I couldn't stand it.
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eatsshootsleaves
01/24/09

In reply to Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"
Also, I just wanted to post something else that made me smile this morning: Obama has the highest initial approval rating for a newly elected president since JFK. Obamalot, indeed.
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angelheadedhipster
01/24/09

In reply to Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"
I wonder if there's gonna be a baby boom in 9 months...because, judging from my next door neighbors, there was a whole lot of fucking going on on January 20th. This may be partially related to the Obamas' hotness.
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ccchild
01/24/09

In reply to Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"
All so true, but I think it's important for everybody out there to remember, couples especially, that the Obamas have had difficulties in their marriage. Barack discusses it in AoH, how they had a rocky patch after Sasha's birth. Not that they didn't always love each other, but it wasn't always romantic dances and holding hands. Sixteen years takes work, and will have its ups and downs. They're a beautiful couple, but they're also human.
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GoldenRatioφ (aka -girl11)
01/24/09

@ccchild: I remember hearing about that, but honestly, knowing they had problems just makes you like them even more, because you're right, it makes them human.
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jemandtheholograms
01/24/09

@ccchild: This is such a valuable point. I think so many people expect love to be there every day and when they hit a rough patch immediately give up on the relationship.

On the other hand, seeing this makes me remember why you're supposed to marry someone, not just as a functional relationship, but because you really truly can't imagine being apart.
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ceejeemcbeegee is not here
01/24/09

In reply to Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"
The only "calculation" I can accuse the Obamas of was their super-cute choreographed hand-switching during the parade. But it was so great they worked out a way to wave to both sides of the crowd. I also noted they instinctively reached for each other's hands whenever they got the chance.

From what I understand (as told to me by people who would know) it's been hard for Barack to get used to things like not opening the door for his wife or secret service escorting him in one direction and her in another. Which just makes you wanna go AWWWWWWWWWW!
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eatsshootsleaves
01/24/09

In reply to Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"
I don't know, something about how the Obamas seem to encourage the celebrity aspect of his presidency is kind of Kennedyesque, to me (not that I'm insinuating anything from that, dear God, I hope not). That being said, I really do appreciate these wonderful pictures:

[www.huffingtonpost.com]
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Trixie from Toronto
01/24/09

In reply to Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"
There is the greatest picture in the New York Post today, a candid shot of them nuzzling in a freight elevator on their way to one of the balls, and he's given her his jacket. It is a really telling photo. It's like no one else is in the elevator with them.
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QuicheLorraine
01/24/09

@Trixie from Toronto:

I have no words.
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StarSquid
01/24/09

@QuicheLorraine queues A Blaffair to Rememblack: this made my day. thank you.
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badmutha
01/24/09

@QuicheLorraine queues A Blaffair to Rememblack: How incredibly cute! All the secret service people looking at their shoes and such is hilarious.
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daisen-in
01/24/09

In reply to Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"
And I hear you on our ceremony-obsessed culture, Hortense. I would highly recommend "The Conscious Bride," which investigates and reclaims maybe of the elements of the process of getting married. I read it at a time when I was experiencing a lot of engagement anxiety, and it made me feel much more at ease. If anything, because of the resounding chorus of women quoted in the book who didn't identify with any of the hoo-ha. It's such a rare message.
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whynotshesaid
01/24/09

In reply to Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"
I told my husband that I couldn't remember ever seeing a married couple in the public eye who were so clearly in love with each other. It's compounded by the sheer number of unhappily coupled people - as well as people who have gone through one or more divorces - I know in my real life. So when I see this lovely, accomplished couple with a pair of sweet children being all awesome and comfortable with each other, I can't help but swoon a little inside.

And then I feel a little weird for being all swoony over the President and First Lady, like I should hand in my "harsh critic of government" card or something.
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whynotshesaid
01/24/09

@whynotshesaid: And yes, it's not just the Obamas - it's the Bidens as well.
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daisen-in
01/24/09

In reply to Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"
The only public couple I can think that seem to be palpably happy in their marriage is the Barefoot Contessa and her husband. "You always make my favorite foods, sweetie." "I love to cook for you, darling." Their lovey-dovey routine is part of why I love her show.
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DrDoGood
01/24/09

In reply to Do The Obamas Signal A Return To "Married Romance?"
Perhaps what the President and First Lady illustrate with their shining love is that two should only be married if they feel this excited about each other. And not because it is "expected," "what you do after college, or because you've been having pointless, quiet sex together for several boring years, but because you want *this* person, not *any* person.

It is quite telling that people are so struck by their example, as it illustrates that what we see in them is a rarity as far as what we see of couples and of marriage at large.

I am rather anti-marriage for a long list of reasons, and I would not say that these two change my views or anything, but I think their display sheds light on what is problematic with the ways people do "couple" out there in our society.

My cynical heart has been warmed the slightest bit.
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morninggloria
01/24/09

@DrDoGood: two should only be married if they feel this excited about each other.

THIS.
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Fridge Hussy : Is finally heading back to uni!
01/24/09

@DrDoGood: Perfectly said.
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clevernamehere
01/24/09

@DrDoGood: I actually think that part of the problem is the expectation that this is what love should always look like and that if your marriage doesn't look like this you should end it. Relationships are work. Obviously you shouldn't marry someone just because its time according to society's clock, but I think a lot of relationship happiness is dependent on both people putting work into the relationship.
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