Our daughters woke up very upset this morning. One has a friend that is very fearful to walk around on campus. I personally am not fearful, yet I am so sad that others are.
Hug someone if you are feeling sad or scared. Talk through your feelings. Remember that we are more alike that we are different. There is more good in the world than we can possibly be shown on television.
Be the good!
Choose Kindness and Love
November 9th, 2016 at 04:01 pm
November 9th, 2016 at 04:18 pm 1478708301
November 9th, 2016 at 06:04 pm 1478714694
But last night she phoned to ask, "Ms. Joan, is it true Trump is winning? What's going to happen?" Her sister who has been trying to get her head around the electoral college (studying it in school) was watching the news on TV. I have never known either of these girls to watch TV at all, much less the news! About a year ago, kids at school started calling the older girl "ISIS" and saying cruel things to her. More things have been said in connection with the election in the last couple weeks.
So, at the last minute, the two girls began to take a nervous interest in the presidential election. The younger asked me several times this week, "Why can't Obama be president again?" Last night, feeling personally afraid, she asked, "How old is Trump? Do you think he could just die soon?" In answer to her question of what's going to happen, I told her that no matter who wins, we are going to just keep living our lives the best we can, being the best people we can be. I told her that her sister is learning about how it is not the president who makes laws, but the Senate and House of Representatives, so that a lot of what she has heard "will happen" cannot happen just by a president saying so. She told me she did not think she could sleep and that her mother was telling her to go to bed. At some point my throat tightened up, and tears were running down my face as I said again that we will just keep living our lives the best we can no matter who is president. I tried not to let my voice waiver so that I would not pass along my own emotions. I was glad I was on the phone.
I'll see her after school today I hope that whatever words will re-assure her will somehow come to me. I hope at school today the teachers are okay.
November 9th, 2016 at 06:15 pm 1478715348
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Later she posted videos on the private daycare facebook group of a little dance party for the preschoolers, who don't really get what's going on.
My older daughter goes to a school that's over 50% minority, mainly Somali Muslims and Hispanics. Some of her friends wear hijabs. I told her we will be all right but need to make sure we give our non-white friends and family extra love and protection in this new climate.
November 9th, 2016 at 06:49 pm 1478717385
November 9th, 2016 at 09:29 pm 1478726996
You're all smart financially-savvy women! Teach your daughters that they are empowered to build their lives regardless of what leader or party is in power. Because they are. I don't have daughters but my sons know (and said) that our family would be fine no matter who won the election.
The very idea that a teenager cried because she thought the results of a US election made her immediately unsafe at school is crazy. Shame on the adults that led her to believe such a thing.
Check out this blogger's entry called "Why the Presidential Election Doesn't Matter" - he states this better than I can. http://www.thinksaveretire.com/2016/10/24/2016-presidential-election-not-matter/
November 9th, 2016 at 09:46 pm 1478728018
I don't know more than I already stated about my daughter's friend and her fear. But she is feeling fear, and I find that sad.
November 9th, 2016 at 09:49 pm 1478728145
November 10th, 2016 at 12:38 am 1478738286
And my thoughts are that it has to be very disheartening to have someone in charge who has made disparaging remarks about plenty of segments of the population, and then comes to power. I live in Chicago and know families who fear being torn apart because of illegal immigration status. Right, wrong or otherwise, these are families and they now face something pretty horrific based on the POTUS-elect banter. We can say and do whatever to model sanity, but sometimes the idea of things happening is stressful enough. I will remain hopeful,
I would say comfort and cry with our children. My children needed to listen to me lament about the lack of kindness in the world.
November 10th, 2016 at 12:58 am 1478739497
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