On September 11, 2001, I was sitting in the sandbox in my yard with two of the children enrolled in my home-based day care. I never had the television or radio on during my workday, so I did not know what was happening in New York, Pennsylvania or Washington D.C. Families started to call. Most of them worked in downtown Chicago and were trying to evacuate. They begged me to remain in my yard rather than go on a walk or to the park. No one knew exactly what was happening or if Chicago would be the next city to be attacked. They wanted to be sure that their children were safe. They wanted to know where their children were. At one point, one of my clients came to drop his son off. He stayed with the group outside while I went inside to watch the horrible images on the news. Parents began to arrive to pick up their children. Most of us will never forget where we were or what we were doing on 9/11. Whenever I sit in a sandbox with young children I remember that day. I think about those we lost. I think about those who bravely and selflessly gave their time to help others in need. I do not think I will ever forget.
