simply, "Everything has changed."
That's pretty scary to think about, no matter how old you are. In fact, you might notice that the adults in your life have been more afraid or concerned than they used to be.
While it's important to honor their memory, you may feel like the attacks, and the continuing events related to
them, are everywhere. If so, you're not alone:
- Nejaud, 10, has been afraid to travel on an airplane since September 11th. Her folks are planning a family trip to Florida later this year and she's hoping they'll cancel it so she doesn't have to deal with flying.
- Rachel, 10, is still haunted by the TV images of the World Trade Center towers and the Pentagon after the attacks.
- Ethan, 12, has a good friend who lived very close to "Ground Zero" and had to move after the attacks. He feels badly and wishes there was something he could do to help his buddy.
- Amanda, 10, was upset when she saw a group of kids teasing an Arab-American boy at school and calling him a terrorist. She defended the boy and helped him tell a teacher what was going on. Amanda wishes she could help other kids in the same situation.
- Jason, 12, wishes there were something he could do to stop terrorism, but feels he is "just a kid."
Can you relate? The good news is that there are many ways to help both yourself and others take control of these feelings and move forward. IML has put together this section filled with ideas, suggestions, and kids' first-hand experiences.
It's a big future out there, so let's get started! First, what to do when you're Feeling Freaked Out.