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Innocence is another casualty.Sep 12 '01 (Updated Sep 14 '01) Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line What they understand may surprise you.
11-Sep When I picked up my kids from day care, I was told that the caregivers were told to NOT talk about the events in front of the kids at all. The administrator felt that it is the parents' place to tell their children about what happened today. I still have the chills from trying to explain to a six year old what a terrorist is. When he first saw a picture of the second plane impact, he said 'cool' ... then it seemed to sweep over him exactly what happened to the people in the plane and in the building when that happened. Innocence is another casualty of the day. updated ... 12-Sep The six year old is handling everything very matter-of-factly as he handles most things. I've always treated him like a person and not an ignorant kid who isn't capable of understanding "grown up stuff". The three year old has been present each time I've explained the events to her big brother. This morning I was explaining to them how they could pray for the victims if they want to, and for the rescue workers, and tried to explain that people were still trapped in the building. She said with resolve "I'm going to make some doors" and I was wondering what that had to do with anything ... I said "What?" and she repeated, "I'm going to make some doors, so those trapped people can get out." A three year old folks. It makes you think. updated ... 14-Sep Last night, as we were driving home with pizza for dinner, Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" came on the radio and I turned it up a little. The kids were quiet and listened, and I sang along quietly. When the song finished, my son asked, "Did they make that song about the ... terrorist attack?" I said, "No, honey, that song has been around a long time. They are just playing it a lot right now." Took my son to school this morning as usual. His uniform is navy pants and a white shirt. Red sweaters are also acceptable, and he was insistent on wearing red, white and blue today. Boy was he ever proud! Even pulled up his sleeves a little so everyone would know he had a white shirt on under his sweater. Got out of the car and went around to his door, waiting for him to come out ... he sits, intent. I open the door, he sits. I say "come on, I'll walk you across" ... he sits, and now I can see his lips moving. I lean in, and he says "Wait, I'm singing." He continues to sing, in a voice so low I can't hear the words. So I lean closer to the car stereo speaker. He is listening to "The Star Spangled Banner". I waited and watched until he had mouthed the final words. He would not leave the car until the song was done. Then he hopped out of the car and was his normal bouncy self, running to join his class, lined up in front of the school facing the flag pole for Flag Ceremony which is held every morning before class begins. The entire school says the Pledge of Allegiance and then sings a patriotic song like "America the Beautiful" or "It's a Grand Ol' Flag" or of course, "The Star Spangled Banner". What is a mom to do when she is so touched but doesn't want to cry in front of her brave, proud son?  |
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