Obama's 'Second Job': Coach on Sasha's Team

President stresses importance of being a dad in radio address
By Luke Kelly-Clyne,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 18, 2011 11:25 AM CDT

Is there a responsibility as demanding or important as being commander-in-chief of the United States? President Obama thinks so, and it's called being a dad. On his pre-Father's Day radio address today, the president reflected on his own father's absence and discussed some of the ways he's trying to be a better parent for daughters Malia, 12, and Sasha, 10, the Associated Press reports. Among them: Taking a "second job" as assistant coach on Sasha's basketball team. It was mostly just on Sundays for practice, and "a couple of times I'd help coach the games," he says.

"In the end, that's what being a parent is all about, those precious moments with our children that fill us with pride and excitement for their future," he says. He also stressed the importance of structure and discipline, noting that Sasha and Malia do their chores even in the White House. "Above all, children need our unconditional love, whether they succeed or make mistakes; when life is easy and when life is tough." (More President Obama stories.)

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