A September 11 History Lesson

The school bus arrived at the bus stop and my 10 year old son buzzed by me, with a smile and a nod, on his way to the back yard.

My 6 year old son came bounding off the bus and walked up to me. While I noticed he had his usual smile, he came up and wrapped his arms around my waist and gave me a big long hug. Then he asked in a quiet voice, "Mom, do you remember what happened 5 years ago today?"

Yes. I do.

I told my son I also remember a September when I too was 6 years old. The beginning of a new school year. Walking home, going up to our 7th floor apartment in Brooklyn, grabbing my father's big heavy black binoculars. I would climb up in the window seat and scrunch up so I could balance the binoculars on my knees. Fixing my gaze on a point across the river. There I would sit for a few minutes, every day after school, keeping track of the progress. Watching the tiny men through the big black binoculars balancing on my knees. Watching the buildings get bigger and bigger. And this would be my ritual for three more years until the World Trade Center was completed.

And then we talked about how those buildings I was watching "way back when" were the same ones he learned about in school today. It was an odd realization for both of us and we were quiet for a long time as we sat on the steps of our house together.

When children are trying to wrap their brains around something difficult, it may be easier for them to understand if they can be told of story from your own life, or that of someone else they have heard about or know, which relates to the situation. Keeping the story age appropriate and including familiar person, place or thing may make the concept less scary, less overwhelming, etc.