I've tried to move on from this election as, perhaps, we all have. One glance at social media though and you're slapped in the face with what seems like an endless barrage of election backlash. Some people are angry. Some are terrified. Some are gloating. Others are just plain baffled. One thing is for sure, we have seen an unprecedented divide in our nation as a result of this Presidential election. Never before, at least in my lifetime, has America been so at odds when it comes to opinions on our future leader and the future of our nation. At a time when we need to be coming together, it seems we are further apart than ever.
There has been a lot of buzz from people wondering what to tell their daughters about Donald Trump becoming our President Elect. I've seen a lot of articles responding to this need. I can not help but wonder why no one is asking about what to tell their sons. This isn't just about our daughters. This concern over President Elect Trump is not a result of a woman losing the election. We are all able to put our big girl panties on and accept that a woman should not win simply because of her gender. The concern is because of the message that Donald Trump sends about women and other minorities. And the response to those concerns is just as important to our sons as it is to our daughters.
My daughter is three. I have so many hopes and dreams for her, all of which are dependent on her having the right to achieve them; to be treated as an equal in this world and to be given the same opportunities as everyone else. I dream of her maintaining the strong willed personality she lets shine and growing into a confident and strong woman who knows her worth in this world. I dream of her maintaining compassion for others, a desire to make the world a better place for everyone, regardless of gender, race, religion, sexual preference, country of origin. At night, when she says her prayers, she always ends with asking God to "help everyone make good choices and be kind to one another."
Those of us concerned and upset over the outcome of this election worry about the message that our children have been sent. That they pray for a world where others are kind to one another but that they will be exposed to a President who does not embody these values. Our nation witnessed Mr. Trump mock the disabled, refer to women as disgusting because of their menstrual cycles and breastfeeding. We watched him throw temper-tantrums, repeatedly interrupt and degrade a woman. We listened to him refer to people as "rapists", "lazy" and "drug-dealers" just because of their country of origin. We heard him threaten to single people out because of their religious beliefs. And, as a survivor of sexual assault, most concerning to me, we listened to him state that it is acceptable to grab women by their p***y if you are famous. We listened to him glorify rape culture and we validated these horrifying actions by electing him to the highest political position in our country.
It is not just our daughters who need to know that this is unacceptable and that the majority of this nation does not support these beliefs. It is our sons, as well. We need to continue to raise young women who believe they are valued and young men who value them and treat them with respect. We need to work harder then ever to instill the right values in our children. To those wondering what to tell their children, we need to tell them that "when they go low, we go high." We need to remind our daughters that they are fierce and history proves that. This year we had the opportunity to see a woman run for President of our country. A woman who, previously, wouldn't have even had the right to vote. Women have fought hard and come far as a result of such and will continue to do so. We need to teach our children, male and female, that their beliefs are worth fighting for and fighting hard. That they can and will make a difference in the world and that good will always prevail in the end. We need to teach them that "all people are created equal" and should be treated kindly. We can teach our children to face adversity , disappointment and fear and let it defeat them. Or we can teach them to take those moments and let it strengthen their determination, fuel them to work harder and smarter and to stand up and say we're not going to take this. If people quit when things got hard or didn't go their way, women would not have the right to vote. Neither would African Americans. Same sex couples would not have the right to celebrate their love through marriage. For that matter, we wouldn't have a country. Our country was built on standing up against inequality and we will continue to do so. It's in our blood.
We need to be more determined than ever to teach our children compassion, courage, tolerance, strength and a commitment to their beliefs and values. We need to teach them the ability to fight for good, truth and love and we need to lead by example. What should you tell your children in the wake of this election? The same thing we always have before: Be good. Be kind. Be tolerant. Respect others. Kindness matters. And we need to lead by example more than ever before. After all, our children are watching.