Remembering 9/11by Teresa McEntire | More from this Blogger 07 Sep 2006 07:55 AM This year marks the fifth anniversary of 9/11. I have noticed an increase in media references and even conversation about the event. This is a good time to talk to your children about fears that they might have concerning terrorism and also reaffirm the most important things in life. Terrorism is a real thing. You only have to turn on the news to be reminded of that. Your children might have questions and it is hard to know how to best respond. To be honest it depends on the child. There is no need to discuss the tragedy and current terrorism with really young children. With older children it depends on their maturity level and desire to know. Wait for your child to ask, since many children who were young at the time are unaware of the event. If your child does ask you might try to focus on the heroes of 9/11. Talk to your children about the brave firefighters and policeman that risked their lives and even died to save those trapped inside the towers. Or the many volunteers who gave their time helping and the thousands of dollars that were donated. My son wants to be a policeman because he wants to be a "saver." That is exactly what so many men and women did on 9/11. Talk about how the country came together. How a national prayer day was called, all of the flags that were flown, and the new patriotism that gripped our nation. Answering a child's fears of another terrorist attack can be difficult. The best thing is to be honest. It might happen again. You as a parent have no control over that. Dr. Truglio tells parents, "You might say, 'Nobody knows if this will happen again, but we will do everything we can to keep you safe.' However, every child is different, and you know your child best." Talk to your child about the safety precautions that have been put in places like airports. You might mention that the FBI has hired a lot more people to help protect our country. Thousands of men and women are working every day to keep us safe. The anniversary of 9/11 is also a good time to remember that our families are really what matters. I am reminded of the Alan Jackson song as he asks, "Where were you when the world stopped turning that September day?" A few of the things he mentioned are, "Did you look up to heaven for some kind of answer and look at yourself to what really matters? Did you just stay home and cling tight to your family, thank God you had somebody to love?" These are good questions to ask ourselves as we remember the tragedy of that day. I know that on 9/11 I did cling tightly to my family grateful that no one I loved was killed. I also cried for the many families that were left behind. I made a new resolve within myself to focus more on what was truly important in life. Those that were able to make a call before dying called those they loved. They didn't call to find out the latest sports score or Hollywood gossip. They wanted to hear the voices of their family. We can all remember the heroes and those who perished during the 9/11 attacks by making our own homes and communities a better place to live. Teach your children love and tolerance of others. Help them understand that all Muslims are not bad. That there are bad people of every color and that most Muslims are just like them. Give your children an opportunity to give back and feel like they are making a difference. A little love goes a long way. More articles about 9/11 by Families.com bloggers. Five Years Later: Let Us Take a Moment Where were you when the world stopped turning? Five Years Later: The Aftermath Education: A-Z: R for Remembering 9/11 in the Classroom Where were you on Septemeber 11, 2001? September 11: In Honor of the Fallen and Those Who Defend Us Fitness Thoughts & More for September Learn more about Teresa McEntire  Teresa McEntire grew up in Utah the oldest of four children. She currently lives in Kuna, Idaho, near Boise. She and her husband Gene have been married for almost ten years. Relevantparenting tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags 911, family, heroes, terroist, terrorist Discuss this article
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