9/11 remembrance, and young children

anyone going to a 9/11 remembrance event in their community ?

I want to go to ours, but my hubby thinks we'd have to explain it to the kids and theyre too young to understand..

I think we can just tell them we're doing something special for heroes, police and firefighters that helped so many people)
Im sure it will be brought up in school in this way also. (heroes in our lives, etc.)

Message edited 9/9/2007 8:33:59 PM.

Re: 9/11 remembrance, and young children

My only concern would be if there were any attendees who became very upset that it might upset the kids. My daughter gets upset if she sees someone else angry or crying, so I know for us it wouldn't be a good idea yet.

Re: 9/11 remembrance, and young children

I hate being a teacher and having to explain it. I give them the very brief synopsis and thats it...it's all I can handle. I always get choked up and have to turn away from them when I am talking about it. They don't understand what happened because they were little when it happened

Message edited 9/9/2007 9:18:16 PM.

Re: 9/11 remembrance, and young children

I will not bring it up this year.

My students were 2 when it happened and I feel that their parents could explain it to them if they want to.

I tried explaining it last year to my 4th graders and they didnt get it at all

Re: 9/11 remembrance, and young children

We are having 2 moments of silence...I can't ignore it...I have to say something because they are going to ask...I hate this day

I am always conflicted by this day. It is something that should never be forgotten. It really hits home for me since we lost a family member and know of many other people who died. I just hate being a teacher on this day. I wish I could just stay home.

Message edited 9/9/2007 9:47:46 PM.

Re: 9/11 remembrance, and young children

My son knows what it is because I explained it to him. There's a memorial in the park where we go to.

I explained what happened, the whole being pregnant thing, how sad everyone was & worried & how he was kicking on the train ride home to remind Daddy he was safe.

I was talking to a mom on my son's soccer team. Her son was born on 9/11. Her teacher told her that they would try to squeeze in cupcakes between assemblies.

eta. I think I would like to go & bring my kids to the memorials. I am still surprised that people plan get togethers & meetings on that day like it's any other day. It's not another day for me anymore.

Message edited 9/9/2007 10:06:34 PM.

Re: 9/11 remembrance, and young children

My kids are too young to understand. Even though my DS is almost 5 and is very on the ball with stuff, he won't get it. We might go to the memorial, our town lost a bunch of people.

My one nephew was 5 when it happened and his school decided to do a memorial assembly where they had the kids sing "Proud to be an American". The teachers never told the parents what it would be about and my nephew came home that day and told my SIL about it and that "Everyone was crying so I was crying too" (Can you imagine - all those sweet innocent voices singing that song?? I'd be bawling too) My SIL was livid bc my nephew was still all upset and had no idea why...and she was forced to explain something he didn't understand at all.

Message edited 9/10/2007 2:52:00 AM.

Re: 9/11 remembrance, and young children