9/11 a day of memories

Today we honor everyone who were touched by this day. Millions around the globe feel the City cry. Please take a moment and hold your kids a little tighter and hold kisses a little longer.

This New Yorker Remember

Speaking to Your Children about 9/11

This New Yorker Remembers

This morning I was laying in my bed and my eyes were wide opened. The clock said 3:34 (yes, that’s AM) and I couldn’t close my eyes and rest. I kept thinking that at this time, on this day, in 2001 everyone was resting sound asleep not knowing the events that would unfold that day.

As most of you know, I’m a native New Yorker. I’m born and raised right here in Little Italy and have never lived out of this area other then for a college internship in Disney. My family arrived here from Italy in 1916, came to this neck of the woods, and never left. If you’ve watched the movie Gangs of New York, you’ll know exactly what my ancestors life was like. I live in what was then the five points area. Now it’s simply called Little Italy and the Italian population is shrinking every year.

The reason I gave you a little “Natalie Diaz history lesson” is because I want you to know that my roots here are deep. Very deep. The life I live here in NYC is not the life you see on New York Housewives on Bravo. I live a very normal life surrounded by family (all in the same building) in my small town that just happens to be the Big Apple.

To say that this day is somber for me is an understatement. Poor Jill this morning got an earful as I vented about this day. Sorry Jill. I just had to get it off my chest.

Talking to your kids about September 11th

This is a post I’ve been dreading to write, but I think it should be done. As a native New Yorker, and a mom, this is a moment in time I’ve had to discuss with my children, much earlier than expected.

(Keep in mind, I am not a therapist; a social worker; or a medical professional; I’m just a mom who witnessed the whole tragic event live, as it happened. This is what I did and my story may help you explain it to your kids.)

Two years ago, when my kids were four-years-old, we sat down and told them about 9/11. True, you may say this might be a bit young, and I would normally agree with you. However, since we live in lower Manhattan, about a mile from Ground Zero, there is no getting around explaining all that was happening around us (memorials; stores selling mini twin towers, etc).