September 11th With Kids
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Be grateful for the current moment. Teach your kids to do the same.
Most parents have a pretty strong memory of where they were on September 11th, 2001. For most, it was a normal day and they were already at school when the world changed in a way that we could never go back from. As most sat at their desks and watched at what was happening in New York, it was tough to process what this really meant and why we were being attacked.
This year marks the 20 year anniversary since the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001, and it’s pretty incredible to think about the events that occurred that day - fortunately, we’ve not seen anything quite like it since. Most parents were at least of school age, and even though many were young at the time, the image of the planes slamming into the twin towers is something that you’ll likely never forget.
Teach your children about this event, and what it means to you. For the United States, it was a time of panic, but even more it became a time of mourning and sadness. It also became a time of great unity. Regardless of a person’s background, we were unified together as a nation like we haven’t been since then. We mourned for those who fell, and we celebrated those who risked their lives to save others.
Perhaps the most important lesson that we can learn from the events of 9/11 are that the moments that we have with our loved ones are limited - you never know when they may come to an end. Telling your child that you love them every single day, and trying to do your best in raising them and spending time with them are lessons that we should have learned from 9/11. Enjoy the moment now, even if it’s hard.
Practice being a good citizen. Serve your neighbors in ways that are beneficial to them. Even if it just means that you mow their grass every now and then or pick their leaves up. There’s no reason to teach or practice hatred towards others. You may not agree with the political views or religious practice of your neighbors, but that doesn’t mean you can’t show respect to them. Teach your children to be accepting of the beliefs of others, especially when they don’t match your own.
Help your child to understand the many freedoms that they enjoy, and how lucky they are to have the things that they have. From the food they eat each day, to the bed they sleep on at night. Not everyone enjoys those basic things every single day, and teaching kids to be grateful for what they have is an important lesson you want to teach them. Live in the moment now, and show gratitude for what you enjoy.
Share experiences from your own life with your kids. Tell them about the fun times you had when you were a child, share with them the sad moments that you’ve lived through. Share the feelings you had in those moments, and help your child to see that you are just like them. You’re a human and you’ve had to learn to be the person that you are now. Help children to see that we’re all learning as we go.
If you get the chance, take your children to the memorial where the Twin Towers stood. Have them feel and see the powerful and moving monument to those who lost their lives, but also to the monument of the resiliency of the United States and its people. Rather than being scared, we vowed to come together and be strong. We did that at the time - much of that feeling has been lost though and it’s up to us, as citizens, to work together in rebuilding that trust and unity.
September 11th is a simple reminder that we should cherish the precious moments we have in this life. Too often, life is cut short when we don’t expect it. Enjoy it while you can.
