Where were you?

5 years ago today we were at Fort Stewart, GA.
We lived and worked on post. My husband was with the 26th Forward Support Battalion, I worked at the One Hour Photo at the PX.
Got up that morning and got ready for work, got the kids up and fed them and got them ready for the day.
I walked Abby to school, and took Mike to Mary, our temporary sitter. Danielle was on vacation in California. Then I went to work.
Elizabeth, my friend and co-worker, and I got all the equipment set up the sat in the back office to shoot the breeze. Elizabeth was sitting on a stool, I was sitting at the desk with my feet up when th ephone rang.
It was Mary. She had just seen on the news that the first tower had been hit. She said she had to call her mom, and asked if she should send Mikey to pre-k. I said yes.
Elizabeth and I went into the PX and watched it all happen on the TV.
She and I both wanted to call our husbands, but we knew that all the lines would be busy. After a while I sent Elizabeth home, she was worried about her son who was in daycare off post.
Finally my husband called me and asked me to call his dad.
I had to go home to get my address book and when I walked into the house I turned on the TV just in time to see someone jumping from the Tower. I turned it off crying, got my address book and went back to work.
I called my hubbys dad and told him that everything where we were was OK and that we would call him as soon as we knew anything. Then I called my mom.
Mom was worried and said that she felt the kids and I would be safer if we were there with her. I pointed out the fact that they had hit civilian targets, not military, and we were probably safer than she was.
When I went to pick up Abby from school she was crying. The teacher said she did not know what was wrong, but that they did not tell the kids what had happened, I think that she just knew something bad had happened that day.
I closed the shop that day at 4:30. We had made only $14.01. I had sold two passport photos that were going to be used for college reunion pictures.
We tried not to watch the news, so as to not scare the kids, but it was everywhere. I had to tell the kids that bad men stole our planes and crashed them into buildings because they wanted to hurt America. They didn't understand.
We had armed soldiers in full battle gear at the schools and the PX the next day.
Again Mary asked if she should send Mikey to school, and I told her yes. It's just another day.
She was to frightened to send her daughter to school, so she kept her home.
I refused to show my fear. Especially in front of my kids.

Last night I watched the brain dead TV on Fox and taped the 9/11 documentary done by the french brothers. My kids and I watched it this morning.
They are 10 and 9 this year.
And though it hurt to watch it and to expose my kids to such evil, they need to know what today is all about.
They need to know why we are at war, and the lengths others will go to to hurt America.
They also need to know that though they migh be afraid they still need to be strong. To go on with their day as if nothing could happen to us. Because we do live in the greatest nation on Earth. Yep we have problems and difficulties, but people still see America as a place where you can dream. A place where, if you are willing to work, you can accomplish anything.

What I know

My hometown paper, http://www.journaltimes.com, has a blog called "mommy talk".
There is always some nifty little topic of conversation, that usually turns into a free-for-all of I'm a better mom than you. And I have come to the conclusion that I might just have all my ducks in a row when it comes to this parenting thing.
So here is the stuff I know:

• I know that saying NO to my kids will not cause them to have low self esteem. I was told NO as a kid and I still know that I am a goddess.
• I know that kids need boundaries and rules, and that what works for my daughter may not necessarily work for my sons.
• I know that being a mom isn't easy, but if you just go with flow and pay attention to whats going on around you, you will make it through just fine.
• I know that my kids are smart and well behaved when I am around.
• I know that my kids act just as goofy, foolish, or nasty as the kids they are hanging out with when I am not around.
• I know that my kids not having the same name brand clothing as their class mates does not mean that I don't love them as much as Janies mom loves her.
• I know that chores and responsibilities are a good thing.
• I know that a runny nose does not mean that my kids is dying from some disease that will wipe out his whole class if I send him to school.
• I know that my kids do not brush their teath like they should.
• I know my daughter feels akward because she is not boy crazy like some of her friends.
• I know my oldest son will be a heartbreaker when he gets older.
• I know that I have a better chance of getting the tree in my front yard to obey then of convincing my three year old to not run in the house.
• I know that my older son is more likely to tell me whats bothering him if I am not looking at him when he talks.
• Finally, I know that the list of things I do NOT know is much longer than this one, but I know that I will figure it out as we go along.