What did/do you pLAN TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT 9/11?

Ava just turned three. I told her that today is a "special" day. I dressed her in red, white and blue for day care. After, we went to church to light a candle and say a prayer for the "angels".

9/11 really changed my life and the lives of soo many others. I will never forget, and I will do all that I can so that she never forgets ...

My avatar picture was taken today at church. I wish I could make it larger, but I couldn't for some reason.

What did/will you do??

Message edited 9/11/2007 10:28:35 PM.

Re: What did/do you pLAN TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT 9/11?

Oh wow, I never really thought about that yet. Geesh, its such an emotional topic. I have to think about this one.

Re: What did/do you pLAN TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT 9/11?

I haven't told Maddie yet. She's too obsessed with death at the moment to bring it up. She still makes drawings of herself so we can remember her when she's dead.

Joseph was told that years ago two planes flew into a building & killed a lot of people. When Daddy finally came to get me at work, we worried that more planes were coming. Joseph was safe in my belly. We walked a long way. When we got to the trains, Daddy was worried that about him. He put his hand on my belly & then you kept kicking Daddy's hand to make sure he knew you were ok.

A week later, you were born.

Re: What did/do you pLAN TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT 9/11?

Probably nothing unless she asks more than what she learns in school. I'm sure it will be taught in history.

ETA: I think it's different for people not living in NY. It wasn't even a topic of conversation here today.

Message edited 9/11/2007 10:46:30 PM.

Re: What did/do you pLAN TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT 9/11?

I started today even though Grace is only 8 months. We said a prayer as we put the flag outside and I explained that today is a sad day for many people since they lost people they loved. I plan on building on this every year until she can handle the whole story.

Re: What did/do you pLAN TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT 9/11?

Posted by monkeybride

Probably nothing unless she asks more than what she learns in school. I'm sure it will be taught in history.

ETA: I think it's different for people not living in NY. It wasn't even a topic of conversation here today.

Re: What did/do you pLAN TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT 9/11?

My husband is a cop and was part of the recovery effort so this is a tricky one for me. She is so little now, but I want her to know how this impacted her father (and myself) and yet I don't want to scare her. I want to focus on how proud we should be of him. I am sure that she will quickly realize that her daddy has a difficult job and he may be in danger at times. I want to acknowledge the day with her, pray for those who lost their loved ones and continue to ask God to keep him safe.


* I bought a highly acclaimed children's book called "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers" I plan to read it to her every Sept. 11th

Re: What did/do you pLAN TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT 9/11?

I haven't even thought about it. I have no idea.

Re: What did/do you pLAN TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT 9/11?

Patrick has seen shows about it so he knows that bad men flew planes into the buildings & alot of people died.

When he went to school yesterday he wore a FDNY 9/11 shirt. I told him not to bring it up because you never know who lost a Mommy, Daddy or other loved ones. I told him it makes people sad.

He's at the age where he speaks first thinks later.

Re: What did/do you pLAN TO TELL YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT 9/11?

Lucas is only 3 months but we held him while we lit a candle and said a prayer. As he gets older we will explain that two planes hit two buildings in Manhattan and a lot of people died that day...so we light a candle to remember them and say a prayer for all the people that lost someone that day. I am sure we'll tell him the story about how I was in the city trying to get to Daddy and how Daddy was in Brooklyn trying to get to me. And how Uncle Sal was going to help people and was one of the lucky ones to get out with most of his guys.

I want to be careful about how I tell the story - to be truthful but careful. I remember calling my house to let my family know that I was in Queens (they were down south) and my sister (who was very little) kept saying "are you dead?" My mom had such a hard time consoling her - everytime she saw the news she thought more planes were hitting buildings - she didn't realize that it was just the same image over and over. Of course they turned off the news but the damage was done.