10 Of The Best Barack Obama Quotes About Fatherhood

As fathers, we need to be involved in our children’s lives not just when it’s convenient or easy, and not just when they’re doing well — but when it’s difficult and thankless, and they’re struggling. That is when they need us most.

Obviously, [my daughters] — and Michelle — have made a lot of sacrifices on behalf of my cockamamie ideas, the running for office, and things.

My biggest fun has been watching my daughters grow up.

I've got two daughters, and I want to make sure that they have the same opportunities that anybody's sons have. That's part of what I'm fighting for as president of the United States.

Now, unfortunately, they're hitting the age where they still love me, but they think I'm completely boring. And so they'll come in, pat me on the head, talk to me for 10 minutes, and then they're gone all weekend... they break my heart!

I'm very consistent about spending time with family. And when you have dinner with your daughters, they'll keep you in your place, and they'll teach you something about perspective.

I've got a six-year-old daughter and a three-year-old daughter, and I'm not afraid to talk about how I want to provide them with the sort of cultural framework that's going to allow them to be successful, happy people.

To Malia and Sasha and their friends, discrimination in any form against anyone doesn’t make sense. As president, and as a dad, that makes me proud.

Above all, children need our unconditional love — whether they succeed or make mistakes, when life is easy and when life is tough.

They’ve handled it so well. They are wonderful girls. They are smart and funny. But most importantly, they’re kind.