Barack and Michelle Obama may have had to do some arm-twisting to convince grandma to come live with them at the White House, but now that she has settled in a bit at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, it turns out she’s liking her new life just fine.

Not only does the first lady’s mom, Marian Robinson, help look after Obama daughters Sasha and Malia and takes them to and from school, but she attends fancy White House dinners and concerts, is a regular in the president’s box at the Kennedy Center, and wines and dines with the likes of Teresa Heinz Kerry — of the Heinz ketchup fortune and wife of Sen. John Kerry, D-MA. But, The New York Times says, the 71-year-old Mrs. Robinson has such a busy social life now, the Obamas actually have to hire a babysitter every once in a while when grandma’s out on the town. The best part is — she doesn’t have to clean the house herself anymore! Who wouldn’t love that?!

“She has a very full social life, so much so that sometimes we have to plan our schedule around her schedule,” Mrs. Obama said jokingly last week during a lunch with Congressional spouses, adding that having her mom around definitely helps Washington feel more like home. “I feel like I’ve never left Chicago … and we’re shuttling kids back and forth to play dates, just like usual, although now my mom does a little more of the shuttling than I do. I’m glad to have her here.”

Michelle and her mom grace this month’s cover of Essence magazine for their first public interview together, talking about being role models for the black community, family values, and Mrs. Obama’s new role as first lady. Michelle can’t stop giving her mother props, and Mrs. Robinson said she never had any doubt her daughter would go far.

"I never doubted that she could do this," said Mrs. Robinson. "She is doing it with such grace and dignity. So I am just proud. I just hope she does what she wants to do. [Chuckles] Because the things that she wants to do are very important. They mean a lot to her."