The First Lady Talks Joining Forces with White House Kids on "Take Your Child to Work Day"

First Lady Michelle Obama answers questions from children of federal workers participating in "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day" in the East Room of the White House, April 28, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Each April, thousands of Americans participate in Take Your Child To Work Day. For folks who work at the White House, some of their kids got the chance to meet First Lady Michelle Obama, and ask her about her job.

The First Lady answered questions about the White House garden, about her Let's Move! initiative, her favorite things to do with Bo, even how she chooses her wardrobe. She also talked about the inspiration for starting the Joining Forces initiative with Dr. Jill Biden:

Q: My name is Emma, and I’m nine years old, and my dad works for the USTR [U.S. Trade Representative].  And what inspired you to help the military?

MRS. OBAMA:  What inspired me?  You all.  The military families inspired me because I was probably like most Americans.  We aren’t part of a military family.  I mean, my dad was in the Army, but it was before I was even born.  But as I’ve traveled around the country, I’ve got to meet -- have had the opportunity to meet a lot of military families, a lot of moms, a lot of kids.  And when you learn about how much they sacrifice -- like I have -- I’m just very proud, and I want to make sure the rest of the country knows about Americans like our military families who sacrifice so much and have to manage things at home when they have loved ones who are fighting in a war, or they're serving in some other way.

So it was the stories of the families that really moved me, and I wanted to make sure the rest of the country knew about it.  So that's that we’re going to do -- me and Jill Biden, who is the Vice President’s wife.  We’re going to be doing that.

To join with the First Lady, Dr. Biden, and Americans around the country in helping our military families, be sure to check out the Joining Forces website.