Michelle Obama once revealed that Barack still 'tucks' her in: '31 years and a lifetime to go'

Barack and Michelle Obama are celebrating a special milestone in their relationship: their 31st wedding anniversary! The former presidential couple tied the knot in 1992, three years after dating. The power couple first met in the '90s in Chicago when Michelle was assigned to mentor Barack while he was at a summer internship at a law firm.

Michelle, 59, shared a sweet snap on Instagram of the two with the caption: "31 years and a lifetime to go. I love going through life with you by my side, @BarackObama. Happy anniversary, honey!️" The former POTUS, now 62, also posted a touching tribute to his wife on Instagram, writing, "Happy anniversary, sweetheart! @MichelleObama, you're brilliant, kind, funny and beautiful — and I'm lucky to call you mine."

Despite being together for over three decades, the couple reportedly still share a sweet routine together where Barack "tucks" in his wife every night. Michelle told PEOPLE in 2012: "We call it tucking. He'll come and say good night and turn the lights out and give me a kiss and we'll talk. But I do call it – he's like, ready to be tucked? I'm like, yes, I am. That's usually a time when we can check in if I'm not really already asleep. Sometimes I am."

The two have been through incredibly stressful situations together and are often each other's safe space during tough times. According to the former POTUS, Michelle is not just a loving partner; she also helps bring him back down to earth and grounds him. "She sees the humor in situations where I might be taking myself too seriously," he said. "She always knocks me down a peg and it's important."

What people most admire about this couple is that they're not afraid to be honest about the not-so-pretty parts of their marriage. During an interview with CBS Mornings in April 2023, the former first lady opened up about her marriage struggles, saying she "couldn't stand" her husband for a decade when their children, Malia and Sasha, were little. "A lot of young people quit on marriage over things that are just a part of the commitment," she said at the time.

"We've been married for 30 years. If I fell out with him for 10 and we had a great 20 years. I'd take those odds anytime." She added that discussing these things is essential "because marriage is hard" and it's not just about a "dress." Committing to be with someone means compromise, which "ain't always fun." "Don't add kids to the mix because they really mess up your life," she joked.

As for her girls, she wants them to be independent and have compassion and empathy. Another important lesson she hopes they'll learn is that their happiness is up to them. "That the world doesn't owe them anything and neither does anybody else. Control happens when you know how to make yourself happy, where you know how to create your own joy," she said.

With that comes boundaries, expectations, responsibility and "handing them their lives early." The "Becoming" author added that she wants them to be unafraid of not always winning and "sit in their failure." She also pointed out that they were "way more blessed" than she and the former president ever were and that she wanted them to understand the importance of gratitude. Some great nuggets of wisdom, indeed!