Each Sept. 11, the anniversary of the terrorist attacks on America, brings back a swirl of emotions in US citizens. A decade later, the processing still continues. While some people prefer discussing the event, others create their own healing through drawing, painting, sculpting and other hands-on art activities. Read the rest of this entry »

In preparing my contributions for the 9-11 Remembrance website, I interviewed several of my former students who were just youngsters when the World Trade Center buildings came crashing down on September 11, 2001. Kaitlyn, now a history major in college, graciously shared her memories with me… I was in sixth grade... Read the rest of this entry »

Just because an event is “over” in time, doesn’t mean the effects aren’t still going on inside each one of us subconsciously. Most of us didn’t have a relative or loved one die on Sept. 11, 2011. But the fear that we might not really be safe anywhere, anytime began to infiltrate our thoughts that day, and for many, have only continued to grow stronger. Read the rest of this entry »

One teacher poked her head in my classroom for one quick moment, told me to turn on the television, that a serious accident had occurred in New York City. My third graders and I sat, confused and mesmerized as we watched the repeated showing of the first tower hit by the plane. We then witnessed in real time the devastating collapse of the second tower at the World Trade Center. Somehow it seemed fitting to see President George Bush speaking to a classroom of second graders youngsters at Booker Elementary School the very moment he was informed about the second tower being hit. Read the rest of this entry »

As the tenth anniversary of the September 11 tragedy nears, chances are that new anxieties may arise in some of the youngest of Americans. It’s hard to believe, but children in elementary and middle schools now have no or little memory of the event that so impacted the belief systems of our nation. But as the media shows the numerous remembrance ceremonies and the footage of that fateful day, some children may begin to feel generalized anxiety and fear for their own safety and that of those they love. Read the rest of this entry »

“Turn on the TV!” the teacher next door called to me. “An airplane just crashed into one of the twin towers!” My class of third graders and I watched in astonishment and confusion as the first tower burned and the second one crumbled. The questions poured out. “Is that in America?” “How can a giant building fall?” “What is the Pentagon?” Read the rest of this entry »

As confusing as the news coverage seemed on September 11, 2001, one glaring truth emerged crystal clear through the replays. All Americans realized that life in the United States would never be the same. The safe place we called home had been forever altered. Join me as parents across America share how Sept. 11 changed their children’s lives…in their own words. Read the rest of this entry »

The confusion and shock America experienced on September 11 glued many to the television screen, including children. Before we even realized what was happening, our own children had witnessed people jumping from World Trade Centers to their deaths. Before we could shield them from the scenes, the truth emerged, stated directly from the lips of our country’s leaders. The act was deliberate. Americans of all ages were forced to introduce a new word into their daily vocabularies. Terrorism. As part of the remembrance of this day, we are again faced with scenes of terrorism on home soil. Should we allow our children to watch the news coverage? How do we explain what we cannot comprehend ourselves? How can we help our children cope with the memories we face each Sept. 11? Read the rest of this entry »

Have you wondered about setting aside some food in the pantry for emergencies? With gas prices soaring and food prices along with them, now is the perfect time to stock your pantry. But what to buy? Read the rest of this entry »

Recently she did an interview with Ed Hauk, a retired senior fire captain with 32 years experience in Houston's busiest stations. He has a degree in fire protection and arson investigation. Read the rest of this entry »