She also hinted at her future.
Hillary Clinton has made her first public appearance since her concession speech Wednesday night, looking noticeably drained and exhausted.
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She addressed the audience at the annual Children’s Defense Fund “Beat the Odds” gala in Washington, saying: “Coming here wasn’t the easiest thing for me.”
The former New York senator added that losing the presidential election to Donald Trump has been a hard pill to swallow.
Clinton said: "There have been a few times this past week where all I wanted to do was curl up with a good book and our dogs and never leave the house again."
The former first lady also hinted as to what she will be doing next, which is focus on moving forward with social issues that are important to her.
“As long as any child in America lives in poverty, as long as any child in America lives in fear, as long as any child, not just here but in the world, faces these challenges, there is work to do,” she said.
Clinton also discussed the impact her mother, who was abused at the hands of her grandparents, had on her.
She got emotional as she discussed what she would like to say to her mother when she was younger: “I dream of going up to her, and sitting next to her and taking her in my arms and saying, 'Look, look at me and listen. You will survive. You will have a family of your own — three children — and as hard as it might be to imagine, your daughter will grow up to be a United States senator, represent our country as secretary of state, and win more than 62 million votes for president of the United States."
Clinton started her career as an intern for the Children’s Defense Fund and regularly spoke about the institution during her campaign.
The 69-year-old was spotted in public the day after her concession speech by a supporter who was on a hike near the Clinton home in Chappaqua, New York. Her husband, Bill, has also been seen around town.
Watch: Hiker Says Her Photo With Hillary Clinton Was 'Absolutely Not' Staged
