Earlier this morning, I was snuggled up with my nursling watching the news & reading posts on social media when an overwhelming feeling of confusion washed over me...how do I explain this to my son? Today marks the 12th year since the 9/11 attacks and even though GQ is still a too young to understand, I eventually have to explain this atrocity (and sadly, many many more) to him. How do I explain hate to someone who doesn't understand what hate actually means. How do I help him understand that there's an entire world beyond our home and it isn't always as warm and inviting? It saddens me when I think about his sweet face looking up at me and asking me "why?" Ugh...I don't even know WHY.
I know I have (quite) a few years before this conversation will actually take place, but the realization that my job as a new parent is complicated is very REAL.
This is an example of one of the things you don't think about when you have a baby. Teaching GQ his colors, shapes and animals crossed my thoughts and made me smile while I was pregnant, but the realization that hate, terrorism & attacks on our country's safety are also my teaching responsibility is daunting to say the least. Fortunately, I am not alone in having to explain the good & bad of this world to GQ. His daddy and I will tackle each one of his questions as they come and (fingers crossed) we will do it in such a way that he still feels safe and secure.
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