Almost ten years ago, when Barack Obama first entered the White House, Malia was just 10 years old. Today, she’s a 19-year-old Harvard freshman, and that first day of school was a tough one for Dad.
The former president stopped by a reception for the Beau Biden Foundation for the Protection of Children Monday in Delaware to honor former Vice President Joe Biden’s late son, who died of brain cancer in 2015.
While speaking, Barack discussed his own daughter and being grateful for each and every moment.
“For those of us who have daughters, it just happens fast,” he said in a video obtained by WDEL 101.7FM. “I dropped off Malia at college and I was saying to Joe and Jill [Biden] that it was a little bit like open-heart surgery.”
“I was proud that I did not cry in front of her, but on the way back, the Secret Service was looking straight ahead, pretending they weren’t hearing me as I sniffled and blew my nose. It was rough,” he said.
Despite the tears, it was a moment of reflection and appreciation.
“It’s a reminder that at the end of our lives, whatever else we’ve accomplished, the thing that we’ll remember are the joys that our children ― and hopefully way later our grandchildren ― [experience],” he added. “Holding their hand, swinging on a swing, listening to them talk about what happened at school. Simple stuff, but ultimately that’s what matters.”
President Barack Obama, with daughters Malia and Sasha and first lady Michelle Obama, watch musical performances at the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014, on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington.
Malia, Sasha, Michelle, Barack
President Barack Obama leans over to talk with his daughter Sasha as they sit with first lady Michelle Obama and Malia and watch the performances at the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014, on the Ellipse near the White House in Washington.
Barack, Sasha, Malia
President Barack Obama, joined by his daughters Malia and Sasha, speaks at the White House on Nov. 26, 2014, during the presidential turkey pardon ceremony, an annual Thanksgiving tradition. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Barack, Malia, Michelle
President Barack Obama bike rides with daughter Malia and first lady Michelle Obama on Aug. 15, 2014, on the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest bike path outside of West Tisbury, Mass., during the Obama family vacation on the island of Martha's Vineyard.
Michelle, Malia, Barack
President Barack Obama -- with first lady Michelle Obama, and their daughter Malia -- waves as they arrive at the White House in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015, from a family vacation in Hawaii.
Barack and Malia
President Barack Obama eats shave ice with daughter Malia Obama at Island Snow, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2015, in Kailua, in Hawaii during the Obama family vacation.
Sasha, Barack, Michelle, Malia
President Barack Obama, his daughter Sasha, the first lady Michelle Obama and their other daughter Malia disembark Air Force One after arriving at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for their annual family Christmas vacation Friday, Dec. 19, 2014, in Honolulu.
Malia, Sasha, Barack, Michelle
The first family -- Malia Obama, Sasha Obama, President Barack Obama, and first lady Michelle Obama -- join performers Aloe Blacc, Darius Rucker and Rita Ora on the stage during the taping of the annual 2014 Christmas in Washington presentation at the National Building Museum in Washington, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014.
Malia, Barack, Sasha, Michelle
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha arrive at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu on December 19, 2014, at the start of their annual Christmas vacation in Hawaii.
Malia, Sasha, Barack, Michelle
Malia Obama, Sasha Obama, President Barack Obama, and first lady Michelle Obama speak onstage at TNT Christmas in Washington 2014 at the National Building Museum on December 14, 2014 in Washington, DC.
Sasha, Malia, Michelle
First lady Michelle Obama and her daughters Sasha and Malia walk across the tarmac before boarding Air Force One prior to their departure from Andrews Air Force Base, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014. The first family traveled to Westchester County, N.Y., to attend the wedding ceremony of White House chef Sam Kass and MSNBC host Alex Wagner.
Malia
Malia Obama participates in a service project at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, in Washington.
Michelle, Barack, Malia
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama walk with their daughter Malia across the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Sunday, Aug. 24, 2014, following their arrival on Marine One.
Malia and Barack
President Barack Obama waves to reporters as he walks with his daughter Malia on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2014.
Michelle, Sasha, Malia, Barack
President Barack Obama speaks with Col. John C. Millard, Commander, 89th Airlift Wing, accompanied by his daughters, Malia and Sasha, and first lady Michelle Obama, upon their arrival at Andrews Air Force Base in Md., on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, en route to Westchester County, N.Y., to attend the wedding ceremony of White House Chef Sam Kass and MSNBC host Alex Wagner.
Malia, Barack, Michelle
President Barack Obama walks from Marine One with Vice Commander of the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrew Air Force Base Col. Preston Williamson IV, followed by his daughter Malia Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and Christine Williamson, to board Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014. en route to a family vacation on the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Sasha and Barack
President Barack Obama walks out of the White House with his daughter Sasha toward Marine One, Friday, Dec. 19, 2014.
Michelle, Malia, Sasha, Barack
First lady Michelle Obama, Malia Obama, Sasha Obama and President Barack Obama react as they light the 2014 National Christmas Tree during the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony at the Ellipse near the White House in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014.
Sasha and Barack
President Barack Obama and his daughter Sasha Obama leave the White House for their holiday vacation December 19, 2014, in Washington.
Malia and Sasha
Malia Obama and Sasha Obama speak onstage at TNT Christmas in Washington 2014 at the National Building Museum on December 14, 2014 in Washington.
Sasha and Malia
First daughters Sasha Obama, left, and Malia Obama look back for their parents as they walk out of the White House in Washington, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014, and head to Marine One.
Barack, Sasha, Michelle
Marine Commandant Gen. James Amos, President Barack Obama, Sasha Obama and first lady Michelle Obama look on during the Marine Barracks Evening Parade, on Friday, June 27, 2014, in Washington.
Malia, Michelle, Sasha
First lady Michelle Obama walks with her daughters Sasha and Malia and her mother Marian Robinson on their way to see pandas at the Giant Panda Research Base in Chengdu in southwest China's Sichuan province Wednesday, March 26, 2014.
Malia, Michelle, Sasha
First lady Michelle Obama dances with performers during her visit to an ancient city wall with her daughters Malia and Sasha in Xi'an, in northwestern China's Shaanxi province, Monday, March 24, 2014.
Michelle, Malia, Sasha
First lady Michelle Obama shares a light moment with her daughters Malia and Sasha as they visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China in Beijing, Sunday, March 23, 2014.
Barack and Sasha
President Barack Obama and his daughter Sasha make burritos at D.C. Central Kitchen as part of a service project in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, Jan. 20, 2014, in Washington.
Michelle and Barack
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama share a laugh during the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015.
Malia, Sasha, Michelle, Barack
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, their daughters Sasha and Malia and other family members watched the Oregon State University vs. University of Akron college basketball game at the Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu, on December 22, 2013.
Barack and Malia
President Barack Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia purchase books at Politics and Prose bookstore for 'Small Business Saturday' on November 29, 2014 in Washington, DC.
Malia, Michelle, Sasha
First lady Michelle Obama hugs her daughters Malia and Sasha when they watch a performance during their visit to an ancient city wall in Xi'an, in northwestern China's Shaanxi province, Monday, March 24, 2014.
Michelle and Barack
President Barack Obama kisses first lady Michelle Obama for the 'Kiss Cam' while attending the Olympic men's exhibition basketball game between Team USA and Brazil, Monday, July 16, 2012, in Washington.
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