We saw Meghan today.

[conuly]

Saw her at the boat, played together, then walked back with her to the boat (or, in her case, the train).

Passed by the WTC memorial - a hunk of sculpture taken from the ruins and with a flame in front of it. Very good, better than the expensive shit they're pulling out that doesn't help anybody but only... but I digress.

And Meghan goes into this whole bit about the people, they died, they in heaven, and the plane (cue hand motion for plane), and...

It's just like "Meghan! You weren't even born then! You're creeping me out!"

I mean, I know - her parents were walking with her, and she asked about it, and they told her. Perfectly reasonable. But she's three, not even. Really surprised me.

I'm not sure I'd've gone into that much detail - I was planning on just saying "Yeah, that's from the World Trade Center" and letting it drop. I mean, the kiddlets are three (or not), how much information do they need yet?

Comments

[ganas-de-ti.livejournal.com]

thats pretty interesting, i've been wondering about how ppl not born when the WTC attack occurred will think of it or how parents will have to tell their kids about it. at what point will parents stop talking about it and when will it become "history class material"?

[leora.livejournal.com]

I don't know how old I was when I learned about the Holocaust. I am pretty certain I knew when I was six, but I don't remember ever not knowing. My mother's family tried to help people get out. My father's father was in the US, but his 12 siblings were in Poland - one survived and that family lives mainly in Israel, sometimes in the US. It was something I knew, and knew many details about at a young age. My Elementary School had a survivor who had been in a camp come in to discuss what it was like at a big assembly. I read books about it once my reading level was good enough.

September 11 was bad, but not as bad. And so I think it's okay for kids to know. Bad things happen in the world, and it's okay to know that. Just also teach that good people try to help out and do their best to make it better. Don't just teach the Holocaust; teach about the righteous gentiles who risked their lives to save people or get the word out (I learned about the White Rose papers at the DC Holocaust museum - quite fascinating and I am glad to have learned of it, look it up if you want to read about people trying to fight back against hopeless odds. They died, but they didn't give in.). Teach about September 11, but also teach about the firefighters and medical teams and such that drove in from various places, different states, to risk their lives (and sometimes lose them) to help people. Teach about the countless people who offered to adopt children orphaned by the disaster (although it turned out there was only one orphan, and that one had extended family to take care of him/her (I forget which sex).

[ganas-de-ti.livejournal.com]

thats pretty interesting, i've been wondering about how ppl not born when the WTC attack occurred will think of it or how parents will have to tell their kids about it. at what point will parents stop talking about it and when will it become "history class material"?

[leora.livejournal.com]

I don't know how old I was when I learned about the Holocaust. I am pretty certain I knew when I was six, but I don't remember ever not knowing. My mother's family tried to help people get out. My father's father was in the US, but his 12 siblings were in Poland - one survived and that family lives mainly in Israel, sometimes in the US. It was something I knew, and knew many details about at a young age. My Elementary School had a survivor who had been in a camp come in to discuss what it was like at a big assembly. I read books about it once my reading level was good enough.

September 11 was bad, but not as bad. And so I think it's okay for kids to know. Bad things happen in the world, and it's okay to know that. Just also teach that good people try to help out and do their best to make it better. Don't just teach the Holocaust; teach about the righteous gentiles who risked their lives to save people or get the word out (I learned about the White Rose papers at the DC Holocaust museum - quite fascinating and I am glad to have learned of it, look it up if you want to read about people trying to fight back against hopeless odds. They died, but they didn't give in.). Teach about September 11, but also teach about the firefighters and medical teams and such that drove in from various places, different states, to risk their lives (and sometimes lose them) to help people. Teach about the countless people who offered to adopt children orphaned by the disaster (although it turned out there was only one orphan, and that one had extended family to take care of him/her (I forget which sex).