What do you think Marian Robinson does all day in the White House?

[bluestateguy]

If her granddaughters are at school all day (though I think they are on Spring Break this week), Michelle is at work and her son-in law-is, well, a little busy too, what do you think she does all day? I could imagine that the White House could get really lonely without companionship.

[madeline_con]

1. Maybe she plays bridge with staff members. n/t

[grasswire]

2. I'm sure there's PLENTY to do...

...and most of it is probably enjoyable.

[AZBlue]

3. According to a recent interview with Michelle, she's hardly in the WH!

Seems she's having a great time in DC and staying very active. Which is great!!

[elleng]

16. Excellent! I guess I missed that interview.

Thought she'd find friends.

[AZBlue]

20. It was either in Vogue or O Magazine.

[zeemike]

4. I think it is really cool that the kids have their grandmother

There for them when they get home from school and mom and pop are busy.
It is a real family that we have in the WH now and I love it.

[DeepBlueC]

5. why would you assume she's a shut-in?

[Frank Booth]

6. I bet she cleans.

Seriously, I know they have people to do that, but she looks like the type who wouldn't want to just sit around doing something unproductive.

[cliffordu]

7. Showing the chef how to cook.....

That's what MY grammma would have done....

[MADem]

15. The residence has a kitchen--separate from the big kitchen where they do the cooking

for the state dinners and so on.

[opihimoimoi]

8. She is in the Kitchen with Dinah...I know....playing chess

[Lex]

9. plans things for the kids, the family, makes calls for Michelle,

and generally help keep things running smoothly for the whole family

[LiberalFighter]

11. I second that as well as check out DC.

She may get involved in other activities outside the WH.

[ColesCountyDem]

10. In her 70-some years, I'm sure she's learned to keep busy. n/t

[rwheeler31]

12. What a silly question she plays house.

[Rashel]

13. Lonely - are you kidding? It would be a blast!

White House and whatever else you want to do during the day - grandkids in the afternoon - I'll take it!

[MADem]

14. I'll bet she sleeps late, has a nice brunch, and then grabs that remote

and watches THE VIEW, OPRAH, Doctor Phil, and a few other gossip and talk shows. Then she probably talks on the phone with friends, and maybe even does that while she's watching TV. Then, when the kids come home, she makes them a snack, gets them to do their homework, and has dinner with them, her daughter and son in law. She probably does a little vacuuming up in the residence, and if she likes to cook, whips up some cookies for the rugrats.

Some families don't like "the staff" all up in their stuff every day, at least in the private portion of the WH. I'll bet she keeps them at bay.

[elleng]

17. Sleeps late, gossip shows, vacuums the residence?

Doesn't sound like the mother of 2 Princeton grads to me!

[Rashel]

18. I have to agree. I don't think she's spending her day cleaning either.

[MADem]

26. What, Ivy League parents don't vacuum? Sure they do!

Especially since one of the grandkids has allergies. I'll bet they've got one of those jazzy ones with the Hepa filter!

[genna]

19. She probably does what a lot of grandparents and mature parents do

fill in the gaps that no one thinks about.

First time parents don't know everything nor do they catch everything. Grandmom comes along and takes care of any mounting problem area before anyone notices.

I am sure she is finding every area in DC that is ignoring elder care issues. I wouldn't doubt that she could have as big impact on how we treat our aging and elderly than most.


I doubt very seriously that after 70 years on earth that she wants to spend her time cleaning up behind 43 presidents and their families.

[Cha]

21. Here are some clues..

<snips>

"She's not moving to the White House permanently
Much ink has been spilled about Robinson's plans to share quarters with the President's family at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. But an Obama spokeswoman says Robinson will only temporarily move in to help granddaughters Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, settle into their new life. As Robinson told PEOPLE after the election: "I love those people, but I love my own house. The White House reminds me of a museum and it's like, how do you sleep in a museum?"

She loves yoga
For this spry septuagenarian, limbering up is a family affair. Eleanor "Mama Kaye" Wilson, godmother to Sasha and Malia, is Robinson's yoga partner, and their instructor is her younger brother, Stephen Shields, 57. "He's our youngest child out of seven children and he's the wisest," Robinson tells PEOPLE. " He has found a way to make a living doing what he likes to do. and I've always admired that."

She brags on her son as much as her famous daughter
Setting out lunch in the Obamas' Chicago home this past summer, it was a Sports Illustrated magazine that Robinson was eager to show off to a visitor. Inside was a profile on her son, Craig Robinson, 46, head coach for the men's basketball team at Oregon State University. "They did a whole article on Craig!" said Robinson. "He's another hard worker," she said. "I'm just so proud of him."

She keeps her opinions to herself
Unlike some mothers-in-law, Robinson says she's conscious of not saying too much. "You try to get your kids not to think in the same way you did when you were coming along because you pass down – I call them 'your issues' – you pass down your issues and a lot of times, they don't apply to their time and their life. They will have their own issues; they don't need mine in their head."

<more>
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20253448,00.html

[laugle]

23. I knew granny wouldn't stay long. Especially

after Michelle asked her to help with the vege garden..............she wanted to high-tale it out of there..........LOL..........LOL......

Come on folks, levity is good.....

[SemiCharmedQuark]

22. If she's a history nerd like me, there's no way she could be lonely...

I start salivating just thinking of all the historic goodies in there...

[Political Tiger]

24. She posts on DU..........

Well, she could! lol

[Raine]

25. Probably keeps up with her friends

back in Chicago, calling them, writing or IMing with them. :-)

[Ishoutandscream2]

27. Possibly doing what my Grandma did. Watching her "stories"

and doing various chores that she needs to get done. When the girls get home from school, I bet she is the first to ask them about homework for the night.