on 9/11/01 Did you pick your child(ren) up at school early?

[Nancy]

My kids schools were in lock down. I did not pick up my kids because I din't want them to panic. I think I was so upset because i was worried about my BIL and his wife that I really thought they were better off in school in case I got bad news. When my MIL finally found out that they were both ok, she called the schools for me and the school officials let my kids know that their Aunt and Uncle were ok. When I went to pick them up at regular time they had police in the parking lot.everything was very secure.
If we have another attack on our country or if we go to code Red I will be getting my kids and keeping them with me.

 

[suzannen]

I was in NYC that day, my DD was at her school in Queens, about 6 miles away. MY DH and I could not walk over the 59th Street Bridge fast enough to get to her. Luckily my DH and I are in good shape and both by circumstance happened to have decent walking shoes on that day and averaged 15 minute miles. We were the first parents who got to her school from Manhattan. The school did a great job holding things together and stayed open late until the last parent was able to get there (luckily no parent died), but we needed to be together as a family.

MY DH and I have already laid out plans that the second we hear anything happening, we both just leave work and go straight to her school.

I have tears in my eyes again and am shaking reliving the feelings I had that day.

 

[Michelle]

No. The schools were in lock down, I knew she was safe. Plus I could WALK to her school in five minutes or drive there in one minute.

 

[chelsea&austinsmom]

No, I did not pick up my kids that day. I was at work and unable to leave. I'm a police dispatcher and we where very busy that day, and my DH is a paid fire fighter and he was dispatched up to NYC for standby.

 

[jamsmom]

I was in Baltimore, Maryland, for a convention. My parents did not go pick up my son. I think it was good because the school pretty much went on as needed and my parents had the news on non-stop.

 

[MAC3]

No I didn't. I was going to, but then I figured she'd be better off staying & playing with other children. She's an only, I wanted her to have other children to laugh & giggle with.

 

[trayletha]

I left work after the Pentagon was hit and picked up DD(4) from Daycare. Her center is right up against the back entrance to a military base (and FBI facilities) plus I just need her with me. My mom called me through out the day with up dates on friends and family and other news as I did not turn on the news with DD there. We lost one family friend at the Pentagon but 2 family members made it out (Thank you GOD )

 

[aprincessmom]

No I did not but then again we were in no imminent danger near my home.

But her school called all the parents within about an hour of the disaster to let parents know their children were safe. They also told us that the children were unaware of the events of the day and that it would not be discussed with them at any point. We were told we were free to take our children home early or let them stay until normal pickup times. One of the things I remember most about the call was how they noted that if the children didn't know and were not in danger, it was probably best to let them complete the day and allow the children to have as normal a day as possible because life wasn't going to be so normal going forward. A wise observation for that moment in time.

So I decided to let her stay there since we were frantically trying to track down employees and contractors who were traveling to CA that day, leaving out of Boston as well as those contractors and vendors who worked with us in and around WTC. It was a sad day here as we lost a number of good friends and colleagues. It was a comfort to me to know that my DD could have a regular day, free from the fear and anxiety and enormous sadness I was experiencing.

 

[Keli]

I picked Ashli up from school early but not because I was worried about her safety. I remember how significant world events are ingrained in my memory and I knew that 9/11 would be such a day for Ashli and I wanted her to spend the time watching the news with me, for us to experience what was going on together.

 

[Beast fan]

I was treating my DS (now almost 5) to McD's for breakfast before his first day of Nursery School, when the manager came screaming from the drive-thru window after each of the WTC crashes. I knew it was terrorism, no doubt about it. I allowed my 2 DS's to watch everything. DW and I took the DS to school, and all of the parents were "hush-hush" about the attacks and they weren't letting their children know anything. How sad. I think children should be allowed to experience the good and the bad (with parental supervision). I pointed out to my kids that the fire fighters and police officers who went to heaven (that's about whom my kids were concerned) were very, very brave and good people.

 

[Pembo]

I arrived at ds's preschool early but waited until normal dismissal time. I arrived at ds's kindergarten early and waited in the building. I was glad to have them both home with me by lunch time.

 

[Laurajean1014]

We picked up my son early. We wanted the entire family together that day.

 

[glo]

I could not...I had my parents go and get them. I wanted them near family, as planes flew out of Boston, and we were terrified that something was going to happen here. I could not get to them, because my school was in lockdown and we had to wait until all our students were picked up and on busses home. It was such a mess

 

[snowball22]

Yes I did. First I went to the lunch room to pick up my son. I told his teacher. She said that all they knew was that two planes crashed into the WTC. I then told her that a plane had crashed into the Pentagon and into a field in PA. I was looking into her eyes and I could see that she was totally freaked out. I was holding back the tears. I told my son that I needed him at home right away. He was in second grade at the time. I had my dd brought to the school office. There were about 20 other parents there picking up their kids. I still cry everytime I think of this.

 

[SuiteDisney]

I didn't know anything was wrong until almost noon. I fell back asleep after the kids went to school and it was probably the only time my DS forgot to plug the phone back in when he got off the internet, so no one could call me and let me know what was going on. As soon as I woke up and saw what was happening, I went and picked up both kids. And I would do it again.

 

[snoopy]

One thing while reading this thread occurred to me, and is worth relating to you guys.

I was NEVER so proud and in awe of my son's teachers than I was on 9/11. Because my son goes to D.C. public school, a good percentage of the teachers at the school had someone they knew at the Pentagon. His teacher in particular was very worried about her father, who was stationed at the Pentagon. However, her first priority was those kids. She said she would call and inquire about her Dad's whereabouts when she had the last child accounted for by his parents, and not until. Bravery at its finest, imo.

 

[twinmomplus2]

we did not pick our oldest up from school high school age. I did get my 1st grader. Actually that morning I had just dropped off the first grader. Drove through a friends street where a few woman were out walking the babies in strollers. And on the radio in my car they reported the first plane hitting the tower. I said to my friends what had happened and we were like how could a commercial plane hit? Well we live near the otis base, That is where they sent the inital f-15s to try and intercept the 2nd plane. so all of a sudden the jets started roaring. And I said somthing is going on the jets are flying, the other mom's said oh stop. no way.... stuff in that vein. I went home sat on my couch and watched the 2nd plane hit. more jets took off. I went to get my younger child. Brought him here, put on a video for him and sat nursing my twins crying. and watching the news by then it was still fluid and Then Pentagon got hit, and The penn crash. I called an old boyfriend who has small children who go to a JCC preschool. Asked where they were? the mom had just dropped them off. I freaked and made him go get them. I was so afraid as they were at a jewish school and it unerved me. He called back and said he had them and was going home. My husband works at the navy yard which was on lock down. and I think other than the burger king drive thru. We stayed at home and watched tv. and became unglued each time a jet took off. For about a year after the jets caught my attention every time they took off. Now we are watching and listening very closely. There has been minimal activity the last few days. If it picks up I will worry. The plan in the current situation... Is simple if the jets abruptly and actively start flying I am picking up my children. both this time. Intellectually we are aware the jets are flying over for protection, But emotionally I am terribly unnerved every time they take off.

 

[ennazus]

I called the school & called the school but it was busy (probably ringing right off the hook with lots of parents calling in). I wanted to know what the school was doing, if they were going to dismiss the students or what.

Finally I drove over to the school (5 minutes from work) and the school was in lock down. A teacher came to the door & said that they weren't being dismissed early. The younger children were not being told about the the act but the 7th. & 8th. graders were discussing it with their teachers. I was pleased with that decision. When I picked my DS up, he didn't know anything about it so I got to explain it to him.

We went to a church mass that night and were up a little late for a school night, so I kept my DS home on 9/12. Maybe the being up late part was just an excuse, but I felt that was the right thing to do for him.

My son's school now keeps all the doors locked. Visitors can only enter through the front door after being buzzed in. I'm very pleased about that!

 

[Kirby]

No, my children were just as safe at their schools as they were with me at home.

 

[BethR]

Although I knew that my children were safe in their school, I went and got my younger two (the older 2 were in college).

1. I wanted them with me.
2. I knew that many other parents were getting their children, and I did not want my children wondering what was wrong and why didn't THEIR Mom or Dad come to get them TOO?

I was crazy until I was in contact with my other 2 DDs who were in college (and I could not get a hold of them at first), my DH, and my parents.

I was not necessarily afraid for anyone's safety, I just felt a need to have everyone gathered around.

It was heartbreaking when my oldest who was at school down in Pittsburgh (about 25 minutes away) called me from school crying. She was distraught. She could not go into her dorm because they were locked out (they are high-rise buildings located at one of the highest points of our city) and that we could not get to her because the city was in grid-lock.

I did not hear from our second oldest until late in the morning or early afternoon.

It was a terrible time.