It’s 5 a.m., and I’ve been awake for some time now. Sleep eludes me; it feels impossible. I’m typing quickly because my children will soon wake, and they will seek answers. I must come up with something reassuring to share. Though they’re still quite young, kids grasp more than we often realize. I want to spin the events of today in a positive light.
I will tell my children that their father and I will always protect and love them. Their lives haven’t changed. They will still attend school while my husband and I go to work, and we’ll return home to enjoy pizza together. Our plans for a summer trip to Disney World remain intact. We are still a family, and my children will continue to learn what it means to lead a good life.
My husband and I strive to instill the values of kindness and service in our children. Each year, before the holiday season, we encourage them to select toys to donate to children in need. We take part in food drives at their schools and give away clothes that no longer fit. They understand that lying, cheating, and stealing are wrong, but that’s just the beginning.
I want to show them that the idea of service is powerful. I want them to know they can make a difference in the world through acts of kindness. The recent election cycle has left many of us feeling bruised and upset. We have a lot of healing to do.
My children are privileged; they are the offspring of a white, middle-class, heterosexual couple. With privilege comes great responsibility—a truth worth repeating. We must care for one another.
I will remind them to befriend everyone they meet, today and every day. I will demonstrate how to accept defeat with grace. I will teach them that we can’t always be on the winning side. We cannot alter the outcome of this election, but it cannot change our essence.
I will encourage them to see people as individuals. The superficial differences among us in this diverse nation should not be a source of fear. They will learn that we share more similarities than differences. When disagreements arise, respectful discourse is possible, and I hope they can engage with those who may not reciprocate that respect.
Our faith and conscience prohibit us from harming others with our words. I aim to teach my children to choose their words wisely. I want them to recognize when to speak up against injustice, as silence in the face of racism or homophobia renders us complicit.
While we cannot alter the election results, we can change our own behavior. Let’s set aside our political views momentarily and breathe together. We can reach out to those with differing opinions, making a conscious effort to understand and foster mutual respect. We have the power to be the change we wish to see in the world. We can still mend the harm that’s been caused. We can choose to be the good.
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In summary, the message is clear: despite the challenges we face, we can still choose to be better, to foster kindness, and to face the world with love and understanding.