Barack Obama may be the world's most powerful man, but like any other father he is sometimes worried about the length of his growing daughter's skirt and often turns to God seeking the well-being of his children.

The U.S. President spoke at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, where he started off by touching on more serious issues like the Tucson shooting incident and the upheaval in Egypt.

But later, he revealed his lighter side, venturing into his concerns as a father and poking fun on himself and his better-half. His worries about Malia, who will turn 12 in July, found the first mention.

“As I travel across the country, folks often ask me what is it that I pray for. And like most of you, my prayers sometimes are general: Lord, give me the strength to meet the challenges of my office,” he said.

“Sometimes they're specific: Lord, give me patience as I watch Malia go to her first dance — [laughter] — where there will be boys. Lord, have that skirt get longer as she travels to that dance,” said Mr. Obama.

The President also joked that given a critic of a wife like Michelle, it has not bee much difficult for him to retain his humility.

“That's why a second recurring theme in my prayers is a prayer for humility. Now, God answered this prayer for me early on by having me marry Michelle. Because whether it's reminding me of a chore undone, or questioning the wisdom of watching my third football game in a row on Sunday, she keeps me humble,” said Mr. Obama amid roars of laughter. — PTI