Like many of us, I am in shock and grief this morning at the thought that Donald Trump will be our next president. None of us can predict exactly what this will mean for ourselves or for our country, but this is what I do know.
- I know my family is still a family. No matter what the law or anyone else says, nothing can change that.
- I know good people have been standing up against what Trump stands for—bullying, name calling, racism, and misogyny—and will keep doing so.
- I know others in this country will be hit harder by a Trump presidency than I, and I must keep fighting for them, too. I am privileged in being White and middle class and not currently disabled, despite being a lesbian and a Jew. I feel extra pain today thinking of my friends of color and those who are Muslim. I know they wouldn’t want my pity, however, but my allyship.
- I know many of those who voted for Trump are expressing a discontent with our current system and their place in it. We must listen to their fears and concerns, too, and work to create a more equitable society for all.
- I know we must keep telling our stories and listening to those of others. Stories help drive understanding. Understanding drives action.
- I know we must tell our kids that when bullies win, the good people try harder.
- I know we must tell them that change takes time, but we will always love and protect them.
- I know we have work to do—but that we will do it. Our country has made progress towards a more just and equitable society over the course of its history. That progress has not always been a straight line, but it has happened because of the courage and commitment of many. I know that will continue.
Many parents are wondering what to tell our children today, after months of talking to them about why Trump would be a bad choice for president. Sarina Behar Natkin, a licensed social worker, has offered “4 Key Messages Your Children Need To Hear The Day After The Election.” And teacher Ali Michael gives us “What Do We Tell The Children?“—suggestions for teachers, but useful for parents, too. I hope you find them useful, too. As a parent, I have often found it hard to tread the line between showing my son the reality of life and soothing his fears. He’s at an age where he now knows a fair bit of the reality—but that doesn’t make it easier, sometimes.
I am trying to keep in mind this morning the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. in the images above, and also those of Albus Dumbledore: “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
Light and love to all of us.