It’s time to take all of the hope we poured into Kamala’s campaign and pour it instead into the hearts and minds of the next generation.
In the near future, children will be seeing images splashed everywhere of humans being treated unfairly. They need to know that’s not the right way to treat people.
Kindness is Still a Thing
There are still good people in this world. Children need to know that.
While negativity will undoubtedly dominate the Internet (even more than it already does), countless acts of kindness and compassion still occur daily. From volunteers dedicating their time to helping others to everyday heroes performing selfless acts, there’s evidence of goodness everywhere.
For children’s sake, try to focus on the goodness and emphasize its’ importance.
Repeatedly.
Subscribing to social media groups that focus on kindness is a great way to get ideas for sharing. Here are a few resources to get started:
There are lots more social groups that post daily acts of kindness. It doesn’t necessarily have to be social media, if you read a news blurb, witness kindness in real life, or hear a story in a podcast or elsewhere, share it!
Overcompensate
Overcompensation is key here. Make a big deal out of all acts of kindness. It can either be something you witnessed together with your child or something you experienced on your own that you think would be helpful to point out.
It’s crucial to remind children, repeatedly, that not everyone is motivated by animosity and self-interest. Fairness and integrity are values (most) Americans still prioritize.
More silver lining: acts of kindness will undoubtedly stand out against the backdrop of what’s to come. Try to think about it by envisioning a bright neon green ball (or whatever) in the middle of a ramshackle scrapyard and how it stands out amid a landscape of dark gray destruction.
It might sound crazy but try it. It works and it’s incredibly important.
Parents Are in the Driver’s Seat
The U.S. government does NOT have control over how you raise your child. Remember that. Parents have the primary responsibility for their children’s upbringing, including their moral development.
Keep in mind however that empathy isn’t a lesson that kids learn on their own—they need to be specifically guided (with words or actions, or both) by the people they love and trust the most.
Yes, diversity and inclusion efforts will likely disappear from federal policies, but in no way does that sad truth apply to households. This is good news. It means that parents and caregivers have complete authority over the next generation’s moral compass.
Instilling moral values at home is by far the best way to combat the upcoming lack of morality at the federal level. Your kids might be confused between what you’re encouraging at home and what they hear/see from others.
But try to remember this: while it’s true that children can be influenced by others, it’s parents who ultimately have the biggest impact on their moral development as they grow into adulthood.
Glass Half Full
I’m an eternal optimist which is likely annoying to some people but hear me out.
While the importance of diversity and inclusion will undoubtedly take a backseat to petty hatred during the next four years, it’s more important than ever to remind your kids (and yourself!) that this is just a blip on the radar.
Big picture: humans are generally kind, unless they’re taught otherwise.
The “glass half full” news is that we’ve lived through this chaos before and are now more equipped to “Trump-proof” what’s coming. Blue state governments are already scrambling to prepare legal game plans to thwart conservatives’ threats to existing policies.
This same type of preparedness can be accomplished in households too. If parents can “talk up” the value of kindness and respect during daily household routines, federal acts of injustice will hopefully only exist on the smaller back burner of the next generation’s consciousness.
What’s Next?
Where do we go from here?
Admittedly, the election results are horrifying. But there’s ALWAYS a way to make a bad situation less horrible by planning for the future. Always.
In a future that’s sure to be more divided and chaotic than it already is, even small acts of kindness can have a profound impact because they’ll stand out more in the eyes of children.
Here’s to paying homage to Kamala’s vision of dignity and respect for all humans.
“It’s time to roll up our sleeves and get to work.”
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