Our family was winding down and watching television before bedtime Sunday night when the network news broke into our programming: A major announcement was forthcoming regarding a developing situation regarding Osama Bin Laden.
I looked over at Jim, whose eyebrows were in the exact same position as mine. Another terrorist plot thwarted? Yet one more threat via video release? We waited tensely as news anchors and field reporters bantered back and forth as information slowly leaked from the White House.
And then the formal announcement: Osama Bin Laden was found and confirmed dead in an Abbottabad, Pakistan mansion, after a gun battle at the hands of U.S. Navy Seals.
Jordan and Jamie’s reactions were as polar opposite as could be. Jordan jumped off the bed and ran around the room. “It’s over! It’s over! Osama is dead! No more terrorists!”
Jamie sat quietly with his arms folded across his chest. “Jordan, it’s not over. What if the other terrorists are mad and come after us? I’m happy he’s dead, but what about our soldiers? Dad, are we safe?”
Jim and I sat in quiet shock. Osama Bin Laden was dead and both our minds were racing. Yes, of course we were happy he was dead and none of our own soldiers were injured or harmed, but at the same time worried about the repercussions we as a country might face at the behest of Bin Laden’s followers.
We all listened to President Obama’s brief statement and network commentators’ analyses for about an hour, slowly realizing the historic events unfolding before our children’s eyes, moments they were experiencing and would long remember far into adulthood.
As both grew tired of the repetitive coverage, Jordan fell asleep quickly and easily while Jamie was restless. “Do you promise we’re safe?” he asked for at least the fifth time.
Jim and I refuse to lie to our children; never have, never will. We have always told them age-appropriate, need-to-know-basis facts. I chose my words carefully as I explained that it was possible there might be some small-scale attacks in the months’ ahead, but I thought our immediate family was very safe.
Hearing an answer that sounded slightly scary but honest, Jamie buried himself in his covers and drifted off to sleep. An hour later, Jim and I fell asleep with the television still on, footage of a growing and joyous demonstration in front of the White House streaming across the screen.
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