--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Start, as parents, with yourselves…" description: "\"Start, as parents, with yourselves, number one.\" — Michelle Obama" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f3/michelle-obama-518_number_start-as-parents-with-yourselves-number_232440.jpg" --- # Start, as parents, with yourselves, number one. ![“Start, as parents, with yourselves, number one.” quote by Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f3/michelle-obama-518_number_start-as-parents-with-yourselves-number_232440.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f3/michelle-obama-518_number_start-as-parents-with-yourselves-number_232440.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f3/michelle-obama-518_number_start-as-parents-with-yourselves-number_232440.jpg) > “Start, as parents, with yourselves, number one.” [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parents must first model self-improvement before guiding their children. **In simple terms:** Parents should start with self-improvement. Key Takeaway Lead by example. Themes parenting self-improvement leadership Mood hopeful determined Type motivational practical When to use this quote - family dynamics - child development - community workshops Key Concepts role modeling personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What steps can parents take to improve themselves? - How does parental growth affect children? A Different Perspective Self-change can be challenging without support. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Number](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number/) [Numbers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/numbers/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Parents Number](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents-number-2349347/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Start Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-parents-2349346/) ## Related quotes > [My parents are overweight, and I think the biggest problem we have in America is a lack of education. The place to start is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fat-joe/my-parents-are-overweight-and-i-think-the-biggest-problem-we-have-in/) [Fat Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fat-joe/) > [I'll always be Number 1 to myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses-malone/i-ll-always-be-number-1-to-myself/) [Moses Malone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses-malone/) > [Number one, one, one on wonderful WINO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/number-one-one-one-on-wonderful-wino/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [A screenplay is really an instruction manual, and it can be interpreted in any number of ways. The casting, the choice of location, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nicholls/a-screenplay-is-really-an-instruction-manual-and-it-can-be/) [David Nicholls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nicholls/) > [Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety one?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/why-isn-t-the-number-11-pronounced-onety-one/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [With all the chaos, pain and suffering in the world, the fact that my adoption of a child from who was living in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/with-all-the-chaos-pain-and-suffering-in-the-world-the-fact-that-my/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [I've been to many countries and watched a number of conflicts or their residue, and I've served in the military.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-peters/i-ve-been-to-many-countries-and-watched-a-number-of-conflicts-or/) [Ralph Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-peters/) > [that person is lonely who has no one for whom he or she is Number One.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-deutsch/that-person-is-lonely-who-has-no-one-for-whom-he-or-she-is-number-one/) [Helene Deutsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-deutsch/) > [I did stand-up for a good number of years while I was still living in New York, and those people primarily knew me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samm-levine/i-did-stand-up-for-a-good-number-of-years-while-i-was-still-living-in/) [Samm Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samm-levine/) > [We're starting to see, as the economy improves, that the unemployment rate among veterans and military spouses - we're seeing some improvement in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-re-starting-to-see-as-the-economy-improves-that-the-unemployment/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [The schoolmaster is the person who takes the children off the parents' hands for a consideration. That is to say, he establishes a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/the-schoolmaster-is-the-person-who-takes-the-children-off-the-parents/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [I was ballet dancing at four, playing piano by six, and doing commercials by 12. When I was 21, I was on the number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roselyn-sanchez/i-was-ballet-dancing-at-four-playing-piano-by-six-and-doing/) [Roselyn Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roselyn-sanchez/) > [I think the number one thing that I find important is the importance of honesty with your friends and your parents, if you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-stone/i-think-the-number-one-thing-that-i-find-important-is-the-importance/) [Emma Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-stone/) > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-rivers/i-didn-t-want-to-do-fashion-police-because-i-thought-this-is-stupid/) [Joan Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-rivers/) ## More by Michelle Obama > [It's hard to change adults, and it's hard to change it from a political position or a perceived political position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/it-s-hard-to-change-adults-and-it-s-hard-to-change-it-from-a/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [ The president \[Barack Obama\] asked for a commitment of, I think, 100,000 jobs for veterans and military spouses over the next couple of years.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/the-president-barack-obama-asked-for-a-commitment-of-i-think-100-000/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [You work hard for what you want in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/you-work-hard-for-what-you-want-in-life/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [We must once again come together and stand together for the man we can trust to keep moving this great country forward my husband,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-must-once-again-come-together-and-stand-together-for-the-man-we/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [We're starting to see, as the economy improves, that the unemployment rate among veterans and military spouses - we're seeing some improvement in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-re-starting-to-see-as-the-economy-improves-that-the-unemployment/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [There's so much going on in the healthcare system that makes it difficult for women to really have a strong economic hold if insurance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/there-s-so-much-going-on-in-the-healthcare-system-that-makes-it/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [In the 10 cities with the nation's highest obesity rates, the direct costs connected with obesity and obesity-related diseases are roughly $50 million per…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/in-the-10-cities-with-the-nation-s-highest-obesity-rates-the-direct/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [What I admire most about Hillary is that she never buckles under pressure. She never takes the easy way out. And Hillary Clinton has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/what-i-admire-most-about-hillary-is-that-she-never-buckles-under/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [A lot of young people think they're invincible, but the truth is young people are knuckleheads... Now young people can get insurance for as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/a-lot-of-young-people-think-they-re-invincible-but-the-truth-is-young/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/one-of-the-lessons-that-i-grew-up-with-was-to-always-stay-true-to/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [I have never felt more confident in myself, more clear on who I am as a woman. But I am constantly thinking about my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-have-never-felt-more-confident-in-myself-more-clear-on-who-i-am-as/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [ We got a commitment that 3 million nurses are going to be trained to better identify these signs \[of PTSD\], because, you know, when… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-got-a-commitment-that-3-million-nurses-are-going-to-be-trained-to/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [We're our kids' first and best role models. So the first question is, what are you as a mom or a dad doing every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/we-re-our-kids-first-and-best-role-models-so-the-first-question-is/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [I've always tried to make sure that what I do really connects with the broader agenda of what my husband is trying to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-ve-always-tried-to-make-sure-that-what-i-do-really-connects-with/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) > [I know from experience that if I truly want to leave a better world for my daughters, and all of our sons and daughters;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/i-know-from-experience-that-if-i-truly-want-to-leave-a-better-world/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) [Explore all 504 Michelle Obama quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) ## More Number quotes > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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The website is the least of Americans' worries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-shapiro/no-number-of-repairs-will-be-able-to-fix-obamacare-the-website-is-the/) [Ben Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-shapiro/) > [Number is different from quantity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-bateson/number-is-different-from-quantity/) [Gregory Bateson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-bateson/) > [I think we're probably only about halfway through the number of revelations. I'm pretty certain there will be quite detailed stuff on other uses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-a-watson/i-think-we-re-probably-only-about-halfway-through-the-number-of/) [Tom A. Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-a-watson/) > [I've said before, the number one thing that we have to work on is protecting the gay community from sharia law. Now, in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foster-friess/i-ve-said-before-the-number-one-thing-that-we-have-to-work-on-is/) [Foster Friess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foster-friess/) > [A children's author on a soapbox is not a pleasant sight but I have become drawn into issues, slightly unwillingly, relating to young people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-horowitz/a-children-s-author-on-a-soapbox-is-not-a-pleasant-sight-but-i-have/) [Anthony Horowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-horowitz/) > [When a liquid boils, the temperature has been raised to such a pitch that the evaporating molecules are sufficient in number and speed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-bragg/when-a-liquid-boils-the-temperature-has-been-raised-to-such-a-pitch/) [William Henry Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-bragg/) > [I did stand-up for a good number of years while I was still living in New York, and those people primarily knew me as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samm-levine/i-did-stand-up-for-a-good-number-of-years-while-i-was-still-living-in/) [Samm Levine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samm-levine/) > [Obama did organize a great large number of people and many enthusiastic people, what's called in the press 'Obama's Army.' But the army is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/obama-did-organize-a-great-large-number-of-people-and-many/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [My ex texted me saying, You can delete my number, I don't give a damn no more. I texted back saying, Who's this?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/my-ex-texted-me-saying-you-can-delete-my-number-i-don-t-give-a-damn/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [When I was in high school, I was a bad singer. I mean, all my early acting was musical theater, and my first ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-claflin/when-i-was-in-high-school-i-was-a-bad-singer-i-mean-all-my-early/) [Sam Claflin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-claflin/) > [that person is lonely who has no one for whom he or she is Number One.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-deutsch/that-person-is-lonely-who-has-no-one-for-whom-he-or-she-is-number-one/) [Helene Deutsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-deutsch/) > [South Carolina, as a matter of compromise, displays the Confederate flag on a flagpole in front of the state capitol. 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Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-c-ting/) [Browse all 1,238 Number quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/number/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Start, as parents, with yourselves, number one.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michelle Obama" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/start-as-parents-with-yourselves-number-one/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Number" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/start-as-parents-with-yourselves-number-one/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f3/michelle-obama-518_number_start-as-parents-with-yourselves-number_232440.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f3/michelle-obama-518_number_start-as-parents-with-yourselves-number_232440.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f3/michelle-obama-518_number_start-as-parents-with-yourselves-number_232440.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Start, as parents, with yourselves, number one.” — Michelle Obama", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michelle Obama", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Start, as parents, with yourselves, number...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/start-as-parents-with-yourselves-number-one/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/start-as-parents-with-yourselves-number-one/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```