Political commentators who were clearly aligned "With Her" Tuesday night bemoaned the difficult task that faced parents the morning after the election, when they'd have to face their children at the breakfast table. I didn't have that luxury.
When you have young adult kids who vote and routinely stay up late, you have to sound wise and comforting on the fly as projections are coming in, which is exactly how I didn't sound as I responded to texts from one despondent first-time Hillary Clinton supporter at college, and "Omigod" (repeatedly) from another folded up in the fetal position on the couch.
By morning I had coffee and clarity, and I asked for a second chance to say what I wanted to say to them. For what it's worth, here are my thoughts in no particular order:
First, kids, winning is fun. Losing is not fun. But we must in life practice, and model, losing with grace. That means saying we tried our darnedest but it wasn't enough and we wish the victors well. Consider, even, inviting one among them out for coffee.
We must resist the temptation to point fingers because such behavior makes us small, and it traps us in a cycle of forever blaming that professor or boss or coach or partner.
On the other hand, don't retreat in defeat. All that good energy you put into the fight? Build on it. There's nothing quite like losing to motivate a person to jump into activism (once we arise from the fetal position).
So, what matters to you, kids? Is it shattering, finally, the glass ceiling or fighting climate change? Smoothing the lack of civility online or on your own campus? Creating a safe environment for friends who are marginalized or bullied?
There's a club for that. Join it. You will feel much better, I promise.