I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)...UPDATE!!!

God give me the strength.

Nick is 9.5 years old.

I was 4 months pregnant with him on 9-11.

He knows a VERY vague story about 9-11, but this Sunday on the 10th anniversary, I think I would like to read him my memoir.

This is it again for those who don't remember (and for those of you who asked to see it again):

"I remember the maternity shirt and capris I was wearing that day.

I remember my friend came into my classroom to tell me that she would watch my students...for me to call my husband.

I remember walking down to the office, people giving me a sympathetic and worried look, and me not knowing why.

I remember calling his office, and first getting voicemail. Calling back and getting a busy signal.

I remember overhearing a school aide saying the second tower was hit.

I remember my principal coming out and bringing me water.

I remember hearing, for the first time, what had happened.

I remember my brother and mother coming to my school, to pick me up, and bringing me to my Grandparents' house.

I remember what my beloved and DEARLY MISSED grandfather said to me. Still in the early stages of Alzheimer's...he told me "Baby doll, this is the starts of a war." He was a WWII vet...he knew.

I remember my MIL calling me, to tell me the second tower fell. The tower where my husband worked on the 69th floor as an accountant. The tower that held my life. The father of my unborn child. The man that was my everything from the day I met him in 1992. My husband of 4 years (at that time). That tower held my heart.

I remember getting back in my brother's car, to go to my parents' house. I thought that IF Russ was alive, he wouldn't be able to find me (my cell was dead), but he would call my mother's house. This was my logic, and the only thing keeping me sane.

I remember going to my mother's house in Glendale, Queens. The house I grew up in. On the block where everyone knew me from when I was a baby. The block where everyone knew that my husband was missing.

I remember people on their stoops, running over to me when I got out of my brother's car, running to see if I had heard from Russ. Maybe it would give them hope for their loved ones as well. I had to report, that I hadn't heard from my husband, since we said goodbye that morning.

I remember walking up the block to my childhood friend's house with my mom. He was a Police Officer. I thought he could help me, but I wasn't sure how.

Then I remember...my brother shouting up the block that Russ was on the phone.

He called.

He said he was ok.

He said to meet us at the Jamaica Court houses.

He said he borrowed someone's phone.

He said, he couldn't talk, but was coming home.

I remember jumping in my brother's car again.

I remember him driving. I remember going deaf. I remember that life moved in slow motion. It felt like a movie.

I remember pulling up the block of the Court houses.

I remember seeing my husband....

He was covered head to foot in ashes.

I could only see his eyes and a small speck of black on his shoes.

I remember jumping out of the car, while it was still moving, grabbing my husband, and collapsing to the ground in sobs on a street in Jamaica.

I remember the locals applauding us, knowing what they had just witnessed.

I remember turning to look at my little brother, who was 19 years old, gripped onto his steering wheel...sobbing for the brother-in-law he though he had lost.

I remember the drive back to my mother's house. We all just cried...no words were spoken. Just cries and "I love you's".

I remember pulling up to my mother's house, neighbors out cheering, my mother running down her long driveway, to embrace the son-in-law she considers her own.

I remember my husband saying he couldn't talk. Didn't want to talk. Just wanted to cry.

I remember not feeling my baby kick all day.

I remember calling my doctor. I wanted a sonogram. I wanted to know if God had granted me 2 miracles that day.

I remember going to the doctor, him seeing my husband covered in soot. I remember my doctor crying, and saying that he will never, ever forget my husband for as long as he lives.

I remember seeing Nicholas' heartbeat on the monitor. I remember feeling that I must be the luckiest woman in the world.

I remember getting home from the doctor and seeing 37 messages on our machine.

All frantic. All wanting to know if I had heard from Russ.

I remember calling 2 people, and telling them to make a phone chain, to relay the news that we had been blessed.

I remember holding my husband in bed that night, sobbing.

I remember his chilling story, every detail...and will until the day I die.

I don't know why I wrote this.

I don't know if anyone will read it.

All I know is that my life as I knew it ended on 9/11/01...and my new life began.

I threw that maternity outfit away that night.

I will never forget. "



I want Nick to know what his dad and I went through that day. I want him to know what the country suffered. And I want him to be proud of being an American, a New Yorker, and of his dad's courage.

If you have a child around Nick's age, did you tell them about 9-11?

Will you?

God...give me the strength.
------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE 9/11/11:
We spoke to Nick. It was one of the hardest conversations I've ever had.

My husband and I sat Nicholas down and first asked him if he knew anything about Sept.11, 2001.

He had a VERY vague story of how NY was attacked.

I explained the events to him, in the most non-scary way I could. But did present all the facts.

He cried, and asked his dad how he made it out alive.

My DH said it was knowing that he was going to meet Nick in a few short months, and that's what gave him the strength.

We all cried. Nick thanked us for telling him. He did NOT want me to read my memoir...but that's ok.

I printed it and saved it for him to read when he is ready.

Thanks for all your kind words and encouragement.

Love to all...

Message edited 9/11/2011 2:14:32 PM.

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

Wow. That is an amazing story. I'm just in tears. I can't imagine your day and what you went through and how grateful you must feel every single day.

I don't know how to teach your son about 9/11. I think it's important that you share your story with him. I just want to thank you for sharing it with us.

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

I don't have an older child so I have no advice but your story brought tears to my eyes. And I'm sure there are so many stories like yours . I think having your son read that will be a wonderful way to teach him about how 9/11 affected you and your family and so many others.

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

I cry every time I read this. There are tears of happiness for you and tears of sorrow for those that didn't have the happy ending. God Bless You and your decision to tell him this year.

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

Val your story gets me everytime i read it Praise God your dh made it that day. He had an angel guiding him that day.

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

that just gave me goosebumps...what a story!

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

I think people want to hear your story because you narrated perfectly how people felt that day. The daze, the unbelievable news. The way we felt that day. The miracles. I don't think any one will ever forget. Not just what happened but how we felt inside. Lost!

If you feel your DS is ready and mature enough to understand, I would share!

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

Message edited 9/9/2011 1:21:48 PM.

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

I wouldn't even know where to begin telling your son, but thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for sharing your story with us every year. You wrote it beautifully.

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

Barb...thank you for sharing your "story".

My husband and I contemplated telling Nick for the past few years, and always came up with excuses of why we shouldn't.

We kept thinking:

*He's too young
*We don't want to scare him
*He won't understand

But in reality, I don't think WE were ready.

Now on the 10th anniversary, and being that Nick is a very mature almost 10 year old...we think WE are finally ready to tell him.

It is not going to be easy. The emotions are still so raw. But, I think it's time.

Barb...that is so great that you have always shared your experiences with your son about that tragic day. I guess we should have done it earlier...but here we go...

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

its not about his age its about his maturity and what he can handle and only you know the answer to that,
i will say i started tearing up reading your story,

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

I have no words...

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

lots of hugs. what an emotional story... i'm crying at my desk.

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

I cry every time i read this story.... God was watching him that day

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

i've read this the past few years and it makes me cry every time.

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

I also cry every single time I read this story!! You had an Angel that day! I think your son would love to hear this story because it is part of his birth story and something he will tell his children one day.

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

i remember reading this a long time ago and im still crying while i read it. i can't imagine...

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

wow... thank you for sharing your story!

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

I don't how I enver saw this before, but it is an amazing story and brought tears to my eyes.

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

that just gave me goosebumps and my eyes are filled with tears.

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

reading that brought me to tears.

i think it is right to tell your son. he will learn about it and hear things regardless. better to have it start coming from you so that when he has questions, he feels he can come to you.

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

Your story gets me everytime!!! I literally have tears running down my face. Such an amazing story and what a miracle. I think your son is ready to hear what happened and just how brave you and your husband were that day!!! God bless you all!!!

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

I would definately tell your son your story.
My dd was 3 at the time and my son was not even born. They both have learned about 9/11 in school and at home watching movies and shows on TV.

Re: I think it's time to tell my 9 1/2 year old son about 9-11 (also a copied and pasted memoir of my 9-11 experience)

Wow, what an amazing story. It brought me to tears. Thanks for sharing