In her first public post-election speech, Hillary Clinton admits making the appearance "wasn't the easiest”

Hillary Clinton, in her first public speech since last week's crushing presidential loss, admitted making the appearance "wasn't the easiest."

But speaking at the Children's Defense Fund's "Beat The Odds" Gala on Wednesday night, Clinton emotionally reflected about the 2016 loss and how she wished she could tell her mother -- who decades ago was abandoned as a child -- that her struggles were worth it because of what her daughter had accomplished.

"I will admit, coming here tonight wasn't the easiest thing for me," 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."

But Clinton did not wallow in defeat during the speech, instead turned to what she will focus on going forward, and the impact her mother had on her life. Hillary Clinton accepts the Democratic Party's nomination for president at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 28. The former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state was the first woman to lead the presidential ticket of a major political party.

Dorothy Rodham was put on a train to California with her younger sister to live with her grandparents. Those grandparents abused the children, and Rodham moved back to her hometown of Chicago, Illinois, to establish her life.

On Wednesday, Clinton said she wished she could talk to her mother as she sat on that train to California.

"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,'" Clinton said, choking up. "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."