Saturday, September 11, 2010

Explaining 9/11 to children

Over dinner tonight I had a conversation with my daughter Courtney about the events of 9/11/2001. Courtney was three years old on that day and doesn't have much of a recollection beyond television. We ate out tonight at Chili's and I was wearing my Pat Tillman ASU jersey. People in the restaurant were commenting on my jersey and one even shook my hand. Courtney wondered why.

Almost everyone of my generation has their own story about that day and I'm no exception. I won't go into my details at this time but for context my office window had a line of sight to the WTC. I watched the events in NY transpire not on television, but out my window.

Courtney and I had a long conversation that covered a wide range of topics related to 9/11. I realized that some young children may never be able to grasp the significance of the events of that day. At some point, it could turn into just being yet another question on some history test. Thinking that makes me a little sad.  Having conversations with our children and explaining 9/11 isn't easy but something I feel needs to happen.

Never Forget.

9 comments:

Q said...

Man how scary to have been so close to that.

I still can't figure it all out. :-(

One Crazy Penguin said...

Well said. It may not always be comfortable or pleasant to talk about, but we can't ever forget the events that transpired that day.

Kathleen said...

My father lives in Manhatten and told me how after 9/11 he woke up from a thunder storm in a panic as he thought the sound was another attack. I lived in Manhattan for a period of time but haven't been back since 9/11 happened. It is important to remember that day.

Julie said...

Hi Rock Star,
This was a great post. OMG, I can't believe that you were watching the events from your office window. I was a flight attendant at that time and thankfully was at home with my family. I will never forget sitting by the TV for five days in a row crying my eyes out and mourning the disaster with the entire nation.

Unknown said...

Watching it from your window. Wow...

Aka Alice said...

Turbo (my son) was about the same age as Courtney at the time. After it happened, we had the TV on, pretty much all the time, for the next several days as we tried to understand just what the heck happened. At one point Turbo asked, "mama, why do people keep driving planes into buildings?" Since he was only 2 1/2, he didn't realize that it was just footage.

We decided to turn the TV off after that, but he still remembers that part of it...so do I

Shelly said...

My kids were 10 and 12. I work in Manhattan, but I was off on that day. The schools had an early dismissal, but didn't tell the kids why. I told them when they go off the bus. We talk about it every year on 9/11, what they remember, what DH and I remember, and how the world has changed. It's important to keep talking about it.

teacherwoman said...

Never forget, indeed. I agree that these conversations need to happen between parents and their children..

Caroline said...

well I found your post...the thing you say about it being a history test question...it is coming...sadly...it is now in the school books in 2nd grade. I agree the discussion is one that needs to be done...in my case I was not ready to do it at 7 yrs old

Never forget for sure...for sure. I will be Running the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Run - on 9-11 this year.