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It's hard to understand why, but sometimes very, very bad
things happen to people. The attacks on the Pentagon and the
World Trade Center are examples of such things. Many people
died, and many others were hurt. The places where they
worked every day were torn apart. It made people everywhere
sad, and scared, and angry, too!
Sometimes kids think they are the only ones to have these
feelings, but that's not true. Everyone has them!
"I don't want my mom to go to work. What if somebody
blows up her office?" says Maria. Do you ever worry like
that? Many children become afraid that something will happen
to their parents and no one will be left to take care of
them. Sometimes feeling scared causes a stomach ache, or
makes you afraid to go to school or spend the night with a
friend. It's good to talk to your mom or dad about what
scares you. Think of things you could do if an emergency
came up, like calling 911 or running to a neighbor's house
for help. Ask who would take care of you if your parents
could not. See if an aunt, a grandfather, or another friend
would agree to be your special buddy to talk to anytime your
parents are not at home and you begin to feel scared.
"My friends never want to do what I want to do
anymore. It's no fun to be with them now," says Michael.
Does it seem like it has gotten harder to get along with
friends, brothers and sisters, and maybe even your parents?
Does everyone just seem to want to bother you? Sometimes we
are "mad at the world" after something very bad happens.
This is not a nice feeling; we want to get rid of it
fast!
One way is to play hard--running, swimming, or playing
active games. Making your body move around is a good way to
lose those grouchy feelings. Another way is to draw pictures
that show how you are feeling or acting. This is another
time your buddy can help--by listening to you talk about
your problems.
"I feel sad for those people I saw on television,"
says Rebecca. We do feel unhappy when something bad happens
to people, don't we? We wish we could have kept it from
happening, but we couldn't. When you are very sad, you may
not feel like doing anything that you used to do, like
riding your bike or doing your chores. You may even have
trouble going to sleep, because you can't stop thinking
about the things that make you sad.
There are ways to make yourself feel better that help
other people, too. Many children wrote poems and sent cards
and drawings to people who were hurt when a disaster
happened a few years ago in Oklahoma City. Doing things for
others reminds us that most people are loving and kind. Both
the helpers and those who receive help are better off when
we put our concern into action. Talk to your buddy about
ways to help others.
"I want all this to go away!" says Shane.
Everybody wishes the disaster had never happened, and we
want to feel better right now. It may not happen quickly,
but if you try to help yourself by playing, doing things for
others, and talking to your special buddy, in time you will
feel like yourself once more.
Posted September 2001
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