My kids were 7,5,4 & 1 when 9/11 happened. I was glued to the TV for days and days. We drove to the capital and around where they had make-shift memorials. I didn't realize how much the kids were paying attention while they played until they started being really scared and praying every night that the bad guys wouldn't be able to get to them. I only watched after that when the kids were in bed or away for some reason. I became a news junky and would miss sleep watching the news.
My kids started everyday at 9:11 when they noticed the clock and just let out one big scream and say it's 9/11. They only do it if they happen to notice and then once they got older stopped. Carson who was 1 at the time still kept doing it and eventually Heber. This morning I brought all the kids around the computer and we went on Utube and watched a few tributes and some news clips of 9/11 and were able to talk about it.
Luckily the older ones don't really remember the terror and the things that they remember aren't as scary as they had once been. Carson watched with interest, but said that he knew some things about it. BJ was surprised at how many people have told him that George Bush hired the terrorist to do that so he could go to war. Taft and Ammon have watched a lot about it at school and so were really aware but amazed at some of the pictures.
Heber was most surprising of all. He just said "Is this really why I scream 9/11 everyday? I didn't know anything so horrible could happen in America and I'm so glad I never lived in New York even though I wanted to when I was a kid" (He is 7 and in my mind still very much a kid). I'm really glad we had the opportunity to talk about it, set some things straight and remember all those who were sacrificed and lost.
It's hard to believe it has been 9 years. Thinking of all that was lost and all those whose lives were changed.
I'm grateful for the hero's that day that while others were leaving they were heading up the towers and those on the plane in Pennsylvania.
I'll always remember and am very grateful for the country that I love.
