Michelle Obama faced the unique challenge of guiding her children through the complex transition into adulthood.

The former First Lady of the United States shared her experiences regarding the struggle to shield her and her husband Barack Obama‘s daughters, Malia Obama, aged 26, and Sasha Obama, aged 23, from the relentless scrutiny of the media during his presidency. As they entered their teenage years, the task became increasingly daunting. Michelle revealed during an April 29 interview with Kelly Ripa on SiriusXM’s Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa, that the situation became progressively more difficult as her daughters matured.

For the 61-year-old mother, it was entirely natural for Malia and Sasha—who were just 10 and 7 years old, respectively, when Barack assumed office in 2008—to engage in various new experiences typical of adolescence. However, she understood that the public’s perception might not align with their normal teenage activities. “They had to learn to drive, attend prom, participate in sports teams, travel to other schools, search for colleges, attend parties, and even experiment with drinking and smoking,” Michelle recounted. “Each weekend turned into a nightmare for us, as we worked tirelessly to ensure that their journey to becoming regular teenagers didn’t end up splashed across Page Six.