Whether it's nurturing a vegetable garden in the White House or tending to their children's needs amid all their work, the Obamas are like any other American family, juggling personal and professional lives, US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women's Issues Melanne Verveer said here Friday.

'The Obama family has been very positively received because they are like any other American family. Michelle Obama specially is an inspiration to all American women,' Verveer said while interacting with reporters at the Indian Women Press Corps (IWPC) in the capital.

Verveer is on a visit to India to discuss issues concerning women with Indian leaders and to participate in the World Economic Forum India Summit Nov 8-10.

'You know just like all parents who tell their kids not to eat junk food, the Obamas have started growing a vegetable garden in the White House to send the message one step further,' Verveer said.

'Michelle Obama was a practicing lawyer before she became the first lady. She talks to the families of military personnel, addresses women's issues and is very conscious of her family's needs - just like other working mothers would. She is therefore an inspiration,' she added.

All American first families leave their mark, and the Obamas are the 'symbol of many new things', Verveer said.

While she went on to say that the creation of her post by the Obama administration reflects the elevated importance of women's issues to the administration, Verveer said that she hoped to see a woman president in her lifetime.

'Hillary Clinton ran a wonderful race and she said now there are 80 million cracks in the glass ceiling, signifying the votes she got,' Verveer said.

'History was created when America got its first black American president. But I hope to see a women president in my lifetime. In any case the glass ceiling is already cracked!' she added.