Talking to teenagers can be easier than you think just ask Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama paid a flying visit to Britain last week with her two pretty daughters Malia and Sasha and she came with purpose.

America’s First Lady, who grew up in a working class home in Chicago and became a lawyer, has never forgotten the lessons her parents taught her a girl can be everything she wants to be, but it takes effort.

Last week, she visited a school in London’s Tower Hamlets and dozens of teenage girls welcomed her and paid heed to her down-to-earth advice.

Michelle is smart, sussed and touchy-feely. She spoke honestly to them about concentrating on their school work, being disciplined with their time, getting involved in their local community, caring about the world around them and loving their families.

She listened to their stories attentively. She peppered her advice with hugs. Is it any wonder they were bowled over?

The next day, when those teenage girls were interviewed by a reporter, they were still starry-eyed about the experience of meeting someone who seemed to understand their lives even though she grew up on another continent and is married to the leader of the free world.

What is it about Americans that they so often have the knack of getting down to what really matters?

We may get sniffy about their psycho-babble and their Oprah chat show culture where people are encouraged to share their emotions, but sometimes it works. Especially with teenage girls.

If you’ve been one or had one, you know that there moments when even the most grounded girl responds better to advice which appeals to her heart as much as it does to her head. So for a successful and attractive woman to come and talk to you frankly about what you need to make it as a girl in this tough old world and to understand your pressures is encouraging.

Very often we tend to treat teenagers like a problem to be solved. Don’t do this. Beware of that. We lecture and we hector and before too long they switch off, bored and indifferent.

Our well-meaning advice is ignored. A huffy response, a slammed door. And we ask ourselves why don’t they listen?

But Michelle got them on side. No blame game. She appealed to their better nature. You too can make a success of your life if you value yourself, if you make the right choices, if you work at achieving your ambitions, if you try to make your corner of the world a little better.

On her visit Michelle, her mum and her daughters visited Downing Street then had tea with Prince Harry.

When she was growing up a black teenager in Chicago I bet none of that seemed possible.

But Michelle dared to dream. And if just one of those schoolgirls last week decides to do that, who knows where life will lead her?