How I wish I could take my kids on vacations like that! I don't know that I would take them seperately, though. Taking them with me shopping seperately is the closest we are going to get any one on one vacations for a long time.

I think that trips individually are a great idea! I think it gives parents and that child the opportunity to open up in ways they may not when with their siblings. It also shows value in their indivuality. However, nowadays, it's a stretch financially for families to vacations together much less doing individual overnight trips with separate hotel costs and travel expenses. Finding ways to do this with day trips or short outings might be a better option for many.

Must be nice to be able to take such a trip!! How much in tax dollars will this cost us (secret service,flight,etc). Millions of Americans out of work,many working mom's,who would love to be able to just take a day off and go to the beach,but are struggling to pay the bills!!! Have had enough of the First Family and their vacations,separate or together!! Our country is in dire straights and are tired of footing the bills as taxpayers for all the trips they take. What would be more newsworthy and interesting is what many are doing as working parents to give their children a "fun" summer!!

I could never affort separate vacations but I would take my children to dinners, shows,sporting events etc. individually. I live in Michigan and there are great diners and coney islands has we call them, my son and I would get in the car and just drive and eat at a different spot at least once a week. I feel the times that we spent together one on one is the reason we have great relationship now.

But wasn't it the President himself who said something to the effect that Americans need to reconnect as families?  What the heck?  Also, in this economy, I can barely afford to take my child to the beach, let alone a trip abroad.  Once again, the President and his family have absolutely no idea how the American common folk live. 

How lovely...I love this idea. I have an only child, however, I usually pick one day a month and choose a really fun activity for him and I to do together...just us...Mom and son. He loves it, I love it...It really doesn't need to be a long vacation or anything, just something for them. And please, everyone, keep your disdain and hatefullness to a minimum. We are talking about family issues not how much you hate the president and his family...ugh!

Don't try to give me advice, Michelle. Oh...and stop bearding for your gay husband.

Like Cheryl-2092972, I too pick one day a month and spend time with my daughter. I have 2 kids. The younger baby just turned 1 and takes up most of my time and attention. We take family vacations as much as we can. But so that my older daughter (now 5) does not feel left out of mommy's attention, I spend some time with her every night but once a week, we have a "girls date day". It could be something as simple as window shopping and then grabbing chicken nuggets at Wendy's or catching a kids movie, or get hair cut together, we try to make the best of it. It's not what the first lady says or what anyone else, it's parenting. Our kids deserve this (and more). And like us, the Obama's are parents too and doing the best they can with their kids.

Don't try to make something as simple as this subject into political agenda.

When you have 3 in 4 1/2 years, you don't need to go for the big trip abroad (very unrealistic for the average American family). We send kids to Grandma one at a time, and do simple one-on-outings (ie mini-golf, ice cream, the park to play on a climber, playing tennis, etc.) The kids are not a package deal. Each are individuals and should have to opportunity to be treated as such.