Michelle Obama is getting candid about her relationship with her husband of over 26 years, former President Barack Obama, after spending years in the limelight and under the pressures of the White House.
“We are finding each other again,” the former first lady said in a new interview with People magazine.
“We have dinners alone and chunks of time where it’s just us — what we were when we started this thing: no kids, no publicity, no nothing. Just us and our dreams.”
Michelle Obama opened up about the struggles the two have been through in their relationship, considering the all-encompassing nature of being in politics and trying to have a family. In order to deal with everything, the Obamas went to marriage counseling.
“You go because you think the counselor is going to help you make your case against the other person,” she revealed in an OWN special with Oprah Winfrey tied to Michelle Obama’s new memoir, Becoming.
“And lo and behold, counseling wasn’t that at all. It was about me exploring my sense of happiness and my voice ― the notion that you come to a relationship whole and that I couldn’t look to Barack and he couldn’t look to me to be everything,” she said.
“We had to make our everything on our own. What clicked in me was that I need support and I need some from him,” she added. “But I needed to figure out how to build my life in a way that works for me.”
It’s important to remember that even those with what seems to be a picture-perfect relationship can still go through rough patches and hard times.
“I know that people look to me and Barack as the ideal relationship. I know there’s #RelationshipGoals out there. But whoa, people, slow down — marriage is hard!” Michelle Obama told Winfrey.
But sometimes they make it look so easy:
The first lady snuggles against the president during a videotaping for the 2015 World Expo in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama ride in the inaugural parade in Washington on Jan. 21, 2013.
The Obamas onstage a rally in Dubuque, Iowa, on Aug. 15, 2012.
Barack Obama embraces Michelle Obama as they wait to speak at a rally on the campus of Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, on Oct. 17, 2010.
Barack and Michelle Obama at the Instagram #GimmeFive photo booth in the East Room of the White House during the annual Easter Egg Roll, April 6, 2015.
Barack and Michelle Obama on the kiss cam screen during a timeout in an Olympic basketball exhibition game between the U.S. and Brazil men's teams in Washington on July 16, 2012.
Barack and Michelle Obama kiss at an inauguration reception at the National Building Museum on Jan. 20, 2013, in Washington.
The Obamas attend the "Christmas in Washington" taping at the National Building Museum in Washington on Dec. 13, 2009.
Michelle Obama wipes something from Barack Obama's forehead during a dinner at the Schloss Charlottenburg Palace in Berlin on June 19, 2013.
The Obamas in Kenya in 1992.
Michelle and Barack Obama get into character as they read Where the Wild Things Are at the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on March 28, 2016.
The Obamas watch the fireworks over the National Mall from the roof of the White House on July 4, 2010.
Senior adviser Valerie Jarrett with Barack and Michelle Obama in the Red Room of the White House on March 20, 2009.
Barack Obama asks Michelle Obama to dance at the Inaugural Ball in Washington on Jan. 21, 2013.
Then-Sen. Barack Obama and Michelle Obama backstage before a primary rally in the gymnasium at Nashua South High School in Nashua, New Hampshire, Jan. 8, 2008.
Barack Obama watches as Michelle Obama putts during a round of mini golf at Pirate's Island Golf on Aug. 14, 2010, in Panama City Beach, Florida.
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's hands rest on the railing of a boat during a tour of St. Andrews Bay in Panama City Beach, Florida, on Aug. 15, 2010.
The Obamas dance during the Western Inaugural Ball on Jan. 20, 2009, in Washington.
Michelle and Barack Obama tour the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 16, 2007, in Des Moines.
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama on the evening of his first inauguration, Jan. 20, 2009.
The Obamas hug at a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa.
“I was moving around trying to capture different scenes away from the stage during an event to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and the Selma to Montgomery civil rights marches. When I glanced back towards the stage, I noticed the president and first lady holding hands as they listened to the remarks of Rep. John Lewis. I managed to squeeze off a couple of frames before they began to applaud, and the moment was gone.” — Pete Souza
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama walk toward Marine One across the South Lawn of the White House.
The Obamas on their wedding day, Oct. 3, 1992.
Michelle and Barack Obama at an Affordable Care Act reception in the East Room of the White House on May 1, 2014.
Barack Obama and Michelle Obama celebrate with outgoing social secretary Jeremy Bernard and incoming social secretary Deesha Dyer after a state dinner at the White House on April 28, 2015.
The Obamas wait in the Map Room of the White House before welcoming President Felipe Calderón of Mexico on May 19, 2010.
This black-and-white photo released by Obama for America shows President Barack Obama and his bride Michelle Robinson on their wedding day Oct. 18, 1992, in Chicago. After his first year at Harvard, Obama was a summer associate at a corporate law firm in Chicago where his adviser was Robinson, another Harvard law graduate. They later married, and had two daughters, Malia and Sasha.
Barack And Michelle
Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and his wife Michelle fist bump before an election night rally at the Xcel Energy Center June 3, 2008 in St. Paul, Minnesota. Following today?s primaries in South Dakota, and Montana, Obama is expected to have enough delegates to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination.
Barack And Michelle
Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama kisses his wife Michelle on stage at the end of the Democratic National Convention 2008 at the Invesco Field in Denver, Colorado, on August 28, 2008. Obama formally accepted the party's presidential nomination before a capacity crowd of 75,000 delirious supporters, becoming the first-ever black major-party White House pick, exactly 45 years after Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' anthem to racial harmony. (Photo: PAUL J. RICHARDS/AFP/Getty Images)
Barack And Michelle
Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama kisses his wife Michelle during a primary election results night rally in Nashua, 08 January 2008. Obama lost the state to Hillary Clinton. Photo: EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images
Barack And Michelle
CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 04: U.S. President elect Barack Obama kisses his wife Michelle as they walk off the stage after Obama gave his victory speech during an election night gathering in Grant Park on November 4, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. Obama defeated Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) by a wide margin in the election to become the first African-American U.S. President elect. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Barack And Michelle
In this Nov. 4, 2008 file photo, President-elect Barack Obama, left, kisses his wife Michelle Obama after addressing supporters at the election night rally in Chicago.
Barack And Michelle
Barack Obama kisses his wife Michelle before daughters Sasha (R) and Malia (2nd-R) after Obama was sworn in as the 44th US president by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts (L) at the US Capitol in Washington on January 20, 2009. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
Barack And Michelle
WASHINGTON - JANUARY 20: (AFP OUT) US President Barack Obama dances with his wife and First Lady Michelle Obama during the Western Inaugural Ball on January 20, 2009 in Washington, DC. President Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th President of the United States today, becoming the first African-American to be elected President of the US. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Barack And Michelle
US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle dance at the Neighborhood Ball January 20, 2009 in Washington, D.C., the first of ten inauguration balls. AFP PHOTO/Stan HONDA (Photo credit should read STAN HONDA/AFP/Getty Images)
Barack And Michelle
US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama dance during the Commander-in-Chief Ball at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, January 20, 2009. Obama was sworn in as the 44th US president earlier in the day. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
Barack And Michelle
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama watch the fireworks over the National Mall from the roof of the White House, July 4, 2010.
Barack And Michelle
US President Barack Obama applauds alongside First Lady Michelle Obama during the National Prayer Breakfast at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC, February 2, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
Barack And Michelle
President Barack Obama kisses First Lady Michelle Obama after speaking about health care at a joint session of Congress, Sept. 9, 2009.
Barack And Michelle
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama's hands rest on the railing of a boat during their tour of St. Andrews Bay in Panama City Beach, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 15, 2010.
Barack And Michelle
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama wait in the Map Room of the White House, before welcoming President Felipe Calderón of Mexico and his wife, Mrs. Margarita Zavala, on the South Lawn of the White House, May 19, 2010.
Barack And Michelle
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 17: U.S. first lady Michelle Obama (L) delivers remarks during an event celebrating the 2011 Major League Baseball World Series champions St. Louis Cardinals with President Barack Obama in the East Room of the White House January 17, 2012 in Washington, DC. Noticably absent from the congratulatory event are the team's former 1st baseman Albert Pujols and former manager Tony La Russa. The Cardinal's visit to Washington will include a stop at Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, to visit with patients and their families. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Barack And Michelle
First Lady Michelle Obama (C) is hugged by US President Barack Obama as they deliver remarks to troops and military families at Fort Bragg, NC, December 14, 2011. Obama on Wednesday marked the US exit from Iraq by eulogizing fallen troops and seek to move Americans on from a divisive near nine-year war which he opposed. AFP PHOTO/Jim WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Barack And Michelle
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 25: U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama arrive at Winfield House, the residence of the Ambassador of the United States of America, in Regent's Park, on May 25, 2011 in London, England. The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, and First Lady Michelle are in the UK for a two day State Visit at the invitation of HM Queen Elizabeth II. Last night they attended a state banquet at Buckingham Palace and today's events include talks at Downing Street and the President will address both houses of Parliament at Westminster Hall. (Photo by Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Barack And Michelle
BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 26: U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama watch the Oregon State Beavers play the Towson Tigers at the Towson Center on November 26, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. The first lady's brother, Craig Robinson, is head coach of the Oregon State team. (Photo by Martin H. Simon-Pool/Getty Images)
Barack And Michelle
First Lady Michelle Obama kisses US President Barack Obama after introducing him during a signing ceremony for a bill which provides tax credits to companies to put veterans back to work November 21, 2011 in the South Court Auditorium, next to the White House in Washington, DC. AFP PHOTO/Mandel NGAN (Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images)
Barack And Michelle
US President Barack Obama kisses First Lady Michelle Obama after addressing the memorial event Together We Thrive: Tucson and America' at the McKale Memorial Center in Tucson, Arizona, on January 12, 2011. Obama led a tribute service for the six people who were killed and the 14 wounded in the assassination attempt on congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who is fighting for her life in a hospital. AFP PHOTO/Jewel Samad (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images)
Barack And Michelle
CORONADO, CA - NOVEMBER 11: U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama speak to one another during the NCAA men's college basketball Carrier Classic between the Michigan State Spartans and the North Carolina Tar Heels aboard the flight deck of the USS Carl Vinson on November 11, 2011 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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