Few of us will ever forget where we were and what we were doing when we heard about the Twin Towers collapsing on September 11, 2001. Those of us who were in New York City on that day can surely remember all the events of that day fourteen years ago like it was yesterday.
But many of our younger sons and daughters were too young to remember, or too young to know what was going on that day (thank goodness). As we commemorate the passing of another year since that tragic day, take a few minutes to think about the fallen, and talk with your children about the bravery of those who risked (and lost) their lives helping others escape. Tell them about how the nation and the world banded together to help New Yorkers get through those awful first days after the attack.
Need tips on how to talk to your sons about this? You can find them on the 911memorial.org site here. The Today Show offers parents an age-by-age guide to talking with children about 9/11 which you can read here. You can read Maira Kalman’s book “Fireboat” to your sons ages 4-8 which tells the true story of how the John J. Harvey fireboat helped battle the World Trade Center fire.
In a radio address in 2011, President Obama talked about how we can honor those who lost their lives on September 11. He said, ““Even the smallest act of service, the simplest act of kindness, is a way to honor those we lost, a way to reclaim that spirit of unity that followed 9/11.” We should all encourage our sons and daughters (and remind ourselves) to perform those small acts of service and simple acts of kindness today and going forward.
***This post is in memory and honor of Michael J. Berkeley and all of the other men and women who perished in the World Trade Center attack on September 11, 2001***
