Kids are very perceptive

They pick up on things

Even when you try and shield them from harm

I remember being in New York on 9/11

My kids were at school in Manhattan 

They were teenagers and well informed

It was easy to tell them what was happening

They saw TV images of the towers collapsing

After multiple showings I unplugged the TV

There was no need for them to see it over and over

We discussed what was going on

That was the easy part of parenting

But then came the difficult questions

Why did people deliberately crash planes into buildings

Its hard to answer the why when you do not know yourself

I feel for those with young children today

Trying to make them feel safe

After seeing such graphic violent scenes

From the Capital on Jan 6th

They will naturally want to know why

Any well thought out but slightly lame answer 

Will prompt them to ask why again

After three or four whys from them

You will run out of facts to share

Opinions will start to come out

Sharing your opinions shapes the way your kids see the world

They are the citizens of the future

We are simply temporary custodians

Our job is to not to screw it all up for them