Today I am grieving.

My daughter has grown up in such phenomenal times. Lucy has never known anything but having a black president. A great leader. A kind leader. An accepting leader. She been witness to a beautiful marriage between two amazing men, surrounded by love. She has learned acceptance in ways I could never teach her by being a foster sister. She has siblings of all races, religion, cultures and backgrounds. She just loves them. She has seen a woman run for president. She has seen the potential and the path that women can walk with pride. Seeing all of these amazing things. I have to believe that Lucy will change the world. She is seeing the good. the love. the acceptance.

What she doesn’t realize? Her great-great-great grandparents came over to America and didn’t know how to speak English. Her great-great Grandma went and worked to support her family when her great-great Grandpa was killed in tragic accident in a coal mine. Her great-Grandma unselfishly made the choice to raise her siblings to make the whole process happen.

Lucy comes from such strength. She comes from some of the most bad-ass women I know. They fought through poverty and immigration to make their lives better. Lucy and I have an obligation to never let them down.

Good news: I made an amazing choice eight years ago. I married a man that is grieving as much as I am today. I am proud to be married to a man that is supportive and wants the best for the strong women in his life.

Driving to school today, Lucy was almost in tears realizing that a woman wasn’t elected president. It’s not about Hillary vs. DT… it was about the amazing idea that woman could be elected Madam President. It was about confirming our parental beliefs in teaching loving, kindness, acceptance, and gratitude.

This guy nailed the idea of why we are grieving: http://johnpavlovitz.com/2016/11/09/heres-why-we-grieve-today/

Basically it helped me cope with my feelings today: “Hillary supporters believe in a diverse America; one where religion or skin color or sexual orientation or place of birth aren’t liabilities or deficiencies or moral defects. Her campaign was one of inclusion and connection and interdependency. It was about building bridges and breaking ceilings. It was about going high. “

I want nothing more than my daughter to go high. I want her to love unconditionally. To spread kindness effortlessly. I want her to know how much her voice matters. I want her to NEVER see sexual orientation or skin color as a basis of judgment. I want her light to shine brighter than my light even knew existed. I want her to be proud to be a woman and all the potential and limitless opportunities it brings her. I want her to never be afraid of being herself.

I believe she will change the world. She is the good. She is the love. She is the acceptance.