One of our regular contributors, Susannah Ludwig, is an award-winning filmmaker whose work focuses on documentation and families. Here, she speaks to how we are supposed to make sense of the election and its aftermath within our homes.
The election of our new president was an intense and emotional experience for all of us regardless of the side you happened to be voting for. There were many fervent feelings leading up the election – much conviction, strong words and powerful positioning.
And since early Wednesday morning, the unforeseen shift has been grand and evocative for us and for our children. There are so many questions and there is so much feeling. Many of us have wondered how to make sense of it all for ourselves, let alone our children. Here are some suggestions for how to ease the transition and provide comfort:
- Do not shy away from the conversations or from the feelings. Our children need to feel safe to express their feelings. Seeing us express our feelings helps. It is healing for all of us to make the space for feelings of all kinds, to allow them and to encourage them.
- Talk to children about the democratic process. Explain to them the gifts of living in our great nation, how the democratic process works, and why it is important. Instill a belief in that process. Tell them that their voice matters, that their opinion counts.
- Spend time in your community. Find other like-minded friends and neighbors who share in your opinions. We are stronger together and it can feel comforting to be with others who have the same feelings.
- At the same time encourage conversation and listening with others whose opinions differ. The election went the way it did because there was an overall lack of listening in this country. If we push for more listening and deeper conversation, we will expand the boundaries of connection, which is good for us, for our children, for the nation. Encouraging respectful discussion is paramount for all of us.
- Encourage Activism. Talk to your children about what they can do to affect their local and national governments. Tell them how they can get involved. Ask them what is important to them. Show your children how they can stand up for those in this country that need their support now and in the future.
- Tell them that the only thing we can be sure about is change. Each day is a new day. We are entering a new political climate following the 2016 election and, in time, that climate will shift again. We can count on that. We are all human. We all want to love and be loved.
- Find joy. Most of all, our children need us to stay joyful. To find hope. To tell that that we are safe and loved and there is still laugher and fun and much to be grateful for. Feeling pain and joy creates resilience and as parents, we need to create space for that. We need to model that for them. Find a laugh. Do something silly, snuggle, sing, plan activities that make you feel close, connected and happy. We have this day and we’ll deal with the next when it comes.
Brooklyn mom and Philadelphia native Susannah Ludwig is the founder and executive producer of Portraits that Move, a boutique company that creates professional documentary-quality videos for families, preserving memories and moments for all time. Susannah produced the feature documentary ON MEDITATION, which will be released via Netflix in December 2016. She produced KINGS POINT, which was nominated for an Academy Award and premiered on HBO in March 2013. She is also the co-founder/ executive producer of Snapdragon Films, a commercial production company. Portraits that Move helps families celebrate holidays with a holiday video card, a moving image message for families to share holiday greetings and traditions with everyone on their list, and Signature Portrait holiday gifts for parents, grandparents and other loved ones.