First lady Michelle Obama weighed in on the escape of three kidnapped Ohio women, calling it a "relief" and likely the best "gift these families will receive," during an interview with Today that aired Wednesday.
“My heart just swells up with relief just to imagine first losing a child and not knowing whether they are alive or dead or in harm’s way and to be holding out hope for a decade,” Michelle Obama said during the interview with iVillage's Kelly Wallace. “To finally have those prayers answered is just probably the best mother’s day gift or any gift these families will receive.”
The three women--Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight--were rescued Monday after allegedly being held inside a Cleveland home against their will for a decade.
The first lady, who has made exercise and healthy eating one of her top issues since moving into the White House, also discussed her new book, American Grown: The Story of The White House, during the interview.
The book has a “little bit of something...for everyone,” Obama said. “It’s a beautiful picture book, there are also wonderful recipes and really great tips about how to starts your own gardens.”
The first lady's new book addresses ways that parents can get their kids up and moving. a cornerstone of her "Let's Move" exercise campaign for the nation's kids.
“Once people really hear what our goals are they understand that this is about giving parents choices, and the information to make the right choices,” Obama added.
She also weighed in on the news this week that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie underwent lap band surgery, but the first lady called it a "very personal matter."
“I will say that there are millions of people like the governor who struggle with adult obesity and that’s one of the reasons why I think ‘Let’s Move’ is so important,” Obama said. “We want to start working with kids when they are young so they don’t have these challenges when they get older.”