From one First Lady to another: Michelle Obama's tips for Valerie Trierweiler

"What interests me, is the beginning, the children, equal opportunity," she said after a visit to a French school in Chicago, where Nato leaders held a summit.

"There is an expectation and we are getting huge amounts of letters from associations. I'll look into it, little by little."

Ms Trierweiler, who has raised eyebrows as she is not married to new French President Francois Hollande although the couple have been together since 2007, confirmed she did not intend to give up her career.

A twice-divorced 47-year-old journalist and mother of three teenagers she plans to continue her media career and combine it with her first lady role.

"I've given up being a political journalist, so that's done, but I am still counting on carrying on," she said.